LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


211 .ZIZ 
H629 
cop. 2 


I  •  H  •  S  , 


THE 


HISTORY 


OK 


Coles  County. 


ILLINOIS, 


CONTAINING 


A  History  of  the  County — its  Cities,  Towns,  &c. ;  a  Directory  of  its 
Tax-Payers;  Portraits  of  Early  Settlers  and  Prominent 
Men;  General  and  Local  Statistics;  Map  of  Coles 
County;    History  of   Illinois,    Illustrated; 
History  of  the  North >A/-est,  Illustrated; 
Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
Miscellaneous  Matters, 
&c.,  <&c. 


IIjXjTJSTK.A.TEID 


CHICAGO: 
WM.  LE  BARON,  Jr.,  &  CO.,  186  DEARBORN  STREET. 

1879. 


PREFACE 


TN  presenting  our  History  of  Coles  County,  we  deem  a  few  prefatory  words 
necessary.  We  have  spared  neither  pains  nor  expense  to  fulfill  our  engagement  with 
our  patrons  and  make  the  work  as  complete  as  possible.  We  have  acted  upon  the 
principle  that  justice  to  those  who  have  subscribed,  be  they  few  or  many,  requires  that 
the  work  should  be  as  well  done  as  if  it  was  patronized  by  every  citizen  in  the  county. 
We  do  not  claim  that  our  work  is  entirely  free  from  errors ;  such  a  result  could  not.  be 
attained  by  the  utmost  care  and  foresight  of  ordinary  mortals.  The  County  History  was 
compiled  by  our  historians,  W.  H.  Perrin,  A.  A.  Graham  and  D.  M.  Blair,  and  received 
much  material  and  assistance  from  Judge  William  E.  Adams.  Some  of  the  Town- 
ship Histories  are  indeed  longer  than  others,  as  the  townships  are  older,  containing 
larger  cities  and  towns,  and  have  been  the  scenes  of  more  important  and  interesting 
events.  While  fully  recognizing  this  important  difference,  the  historians  have  sought  to 
write  up  each  township  with  equal  fidelity  to  the  facts  and  information  within  their 
reach.  We  take  this  occasion  to  present  our  thanks  to  all  our  numerous  subscribers 
for  their  patronage  and  encouragement  in  the  publication  of  the  work.  In  this  confident 
belief,  we  submit  it  to  the  enlightened  judgment  of  those  for  whose  benefit  it  has  been 
prepared,  believing  that  it  will  be  received  as  a  most  valuable  and  complete  work. 

THE  PUBLISHERS. 


CHICASO: 

Oni.VKK,   PAGE,   HOYHK   A  CO.,   PRTITTSBS, 

lit  ud  lao  MoQto*  BmrL 


^'7 


4/ 


/ 


i? 


CONTENTS. 


HISTORIC  A  JL. 


Page. 

History  North  west  Territory 19 

Geographical 19 

Early  Exploration 20 

Discovery  of  the  Ohio 33 

English    Explorations    and  Settle- 
ments   35 

American  Settlements 60 

Division   of  the   Northwest  Terri- 
tory    66 

Tecumseh  and  the  war  of  1812 70 

Black  Hawk  and  the  Black  Hawk 
War 74 


Page. 

Other  Indian  Troubles 79 

Present  Condition  of  the  Northwest  87 

Illinois 99 

Indiana 101 

Iowa 102 

Michigan 103 

Wisconsin 104 

Minnesota 106 

Nebraska 107 

History  of  Illinois 109 

Goal 125 

Compact  of  1787 117 


Paok^ 

History  of  Chicago 132 

Early  Discoveries 109 

Early  Settlements 115 

Education 129 

First  French  Occupation 112 

Genius  of  La  Salle 113 

Material  Resources 124 

Massacre  of  Fort  Dearborn 141 

Physical  Features 121 

Progress  of  Development 123 

Religion  and  Morals 128 

War  Record  of  Illinois 130 


II^IilTiSTRATIOXS. 


Page. 

Source  of  the  Mississippi 21 

Mouth  of  the  Mississippi 21 

Wild  Prairie 23 

La  Salle  Landing  on  the  Shore  of 

Green  Bay 25 

Buffalo  Hunt 27 

Trapping 29 

Hunting 32 

Iroquois  Chief. 34 

Pontiac,  the  Ottawa  Chieftain 43 

Indians  Attacking  Frontiersmen...  56 

A  Prairie  Storm 59 

A  Pioneer  Dwelling 61 

Breakiug  Prairie 63 


Page. 
Tecumseh,  the  Shawnee  Chieftain...  69 

Indians  Attacking  a  Stockade 72 

Black  Hawk,  the  Sac  Chieftain 75 

Big  Eagle 80 

Captain  Jack,  the  Modoc  Chieftain..  83 

Kinzie  House 85 

Village  Residence 86 

A  Representative  Pioneer 87 

Lincoln  Monument,  Springfield,  111.  88 

A  Pioneer  School  House 89 

Farm  View  in  the  Winter 90 

High  Bridge  and  Lake  Bluff 94 

Great  Iron  Bridge  of  Chicago,  Rock 
Island  &  Pacific  Railroad,  Cross- 


Page. 

ing  the  River  at  Davenport,  Iowa  96  • 

A  Western  Dwelling 109 

Hunting    Prairie    Wolves    at    an 

Early  Day lOS 

Starved  Rock,  on  the  Illinois  River, 

La  Salle  County,  111 110 

An  Early  Settlement , 116 

Chicago  in  1833 133 

Old  Fort  Dearbron  in  1830 136 

Present  site  of  Lake  Street  Bridge, 

Chicago,  in  1833 136 

Pioneers'  First  Winter 142 

View  of  the  City  of  Chicago 144 

Shabbona 149 


COL.KS    COIJKTY    HISTORY. 


Page. 
General  History  of  Coles  County. ...223 

Ashmore  Township     391 

Charleston       "         289 

East  Oakland  Township 443 

Hutton  Township 430 


Page. 

Humbolt  Township 469 

La  Fayette        "        478 

Maftoon  "        324 

Morgan  "        456 


Page. 

North  Okaw  Township .489 

Pleasant  Grove      "        407 

Paradise  "        496 

Seven  Hickory      "       463 


I^ITHOORAPHIC    PORTRAITS. 


>i 


Page. 


-^^Adams,  W.  E 239 

-<^  Adams,  J.  J.. 221 

-^Cunningham,  J.  T 257 


I 


Page. 

Cash,  L.  S 293 

Gordon,  John 275 


Page. 

Pemberton,  J.  J :U1 

Kutherford,  H a29 


BIOORAPHICAL.    SKKTCHKS. 


Page. 

''>  Ashmore  Township 592 

511 

558 

607 


^Charleston 
^^ast  Oakland  " 
iwHutton  " 


Page. 
Humbolt  Township 633 


La  Fayette 

Mattoon 

Morgan 


.689 
.539 
.620 


Page. 

North  Okaw  Township 646 

Pleasant  Grove      "        682 

Paradise  "        649 

Seven  Hickory      "        639 


t 


DIRECTORY    OF    TAX-PAYERS. 


^  Page. 

"^ivAsbmore  Township 669 

i^  Charleston       "        657 

^East  Oakland  "        777 

--Hutton  "        675 


Page. 

Humbolt   Township 684 

La  Fayette        "         689 

Mattoon  "         663 

Morgan  "        680 


Page  , 

North  Okaw  Township 687 

Pleasant  Grove     "        673 

Paradise  "        691 

Seven  Hickory      "        r 682 


IV 


CONTENTS. 


ABSTRACT    <>F    iril.INOTS    STATE    LiA^VS. 


Page. 

Adoption  of  Children ICO 

Bills  of  Exchange  and  Promissory 

Notes 151 

County  Courts 155 

Conveyances 164 

Church  Organizations 189 

Descent 151 

Deeds  and  Mortgages 157 

Drainage 163 

Damages  from  Trespass 169 

Definition  of  Commercial  Terms 173 

Exemptions  from  Forced  Sale 156 

Estrays 157 

Fences 168 

Forms: 

Articles  of  Agreement 175 

Bills  of  Purchase 174 

Bills  of  Sale 176 

Bonds 176 


Paoe. 
Forms : 

Chattel  Mortgages 177 

Codicil 189 

Lease  of  Farm  and   Build- 
ings  179 

Lease  of  House 180 

Landlord's  Agreement 180 

Notes 174 

Notice  Tenant  to  Quit 181 

Orders 174 

Quit  Claim  Deed 185 

Receipt 174 

Real  Estate  Mortgaged  to  Secure 

Payment  of  Money 181 

Release 186 

Tenant's  Agreement 180 

Tenant's  Notice  to  Quit 181 

Warranty  Deed 182 

Will 187 


Paob. 

Game 158 

Interest 155 

Jurisdiction  of  Courts 151 

Limitation  of  Action 151 

Landlord  and  Tenant 165 

Liens 179 

Married  Women 152 

Millers 159 

Marks  and  Brands 159 

Paupers 104 

Roads  and  Bridges 161 

Surveyors  and  Surveys ICO 

Suggestions  to  Persons  Purchasing 

Books  by  Subscription 190 

Taxes 154 

Wills  and  Estates 152 

Weights  and  Measures 158 

Wolf  Scalps 164 


BIISCELiIiANEOIJS. 


Page. 

Map  of  Coles  County Front 

Constitution  of  the  U.  S 192 

Electors  of  President  and  Vice  Pres- 
ident  206 

Practical  Rules  for  Every  Day  Use.207 
U.  S.  Government  Land  Measure. ..210 
Agricultural   Productions  of   Illi- 
nois by  Counties,  1870 210 

Surveyors"  Measure 211 

How  to  Keep  Accounts 211 


Page. 

Interest  Table 212 

Miscollaneoua  Tables ^12 

Names  of  the  States  of  the  Union 

and  their  Signification 213 

Population  of  the  United  States 214 

Population  of  Fifty  Principal  Cities 

of  the  United  States 214 

Population  and  Area  of  the  United 

States 215 

Population  of  the  Principal  Coun- 
tries in  the  World 215 


Pack. 

Population  of  Illinois 216-217 

State  Laws  Relating  to  Interest 218 

State  Laws  Relating  to  Limitations 

of  Actions 219 

Productions  of  Agriculture  of  Illi- 
nois  220 

Population  of  Coles  Co 699 

Business  Directory 693 

Errata.... 656 


mKl  QT  (Di  ®  IL  ®  i 

ILLINOIS 


R.  7     C 


T./4N1 


TON 


T.I2 


rt  II  E 


R  /♦  W. 


COUNTr 

T 


The    Northwest    Territory. 


GEOGRAPHICAL    POSITION. 

When  the  Northwestern  Territory  was  ceded  to  the  United  States 
by  Virginia  in  1784,  it  embraced  only  the  territory  lying  between  the 
Ohio  and  the  Mississippi  Rivers,  and  north  to  the  northern  limits  of  the 
United  States,  It  coincided  with  the  area  now  embraced  in  the  States 
of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Michigan,  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  and  that  portion  of 
Minnesota  lying  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi  River.  The  United 
States  itself  at  that  period  extended  no  farther  west  than  the  Mississippi 
River  ;  but  by  the  purchase  of  Louisiana  in  1803,  the  western  boundary 
of  the  United  States  was  extended  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the 
Northern  Pacific  Ocean.  The  new  territory  thus  added  to  the  National 
domain,  and  subsequently  opened  to  settlement,  has  been  called  the 
"  New  Northwest,"  in  contradistinction  from  the  old  "  Northwestern 
Territory. " 

In  comparison  with  the  old  Northwest  this  is  a  territory  of  vast 
magnitude.  It  includes  an  area  of  1,887,850  square  miles  ;  being  greater 
in  extent  than  the  united  areas  of  all  the  Middle  and  Southern  States, 
including  Texas.  Out  of  this  magnificent  territory  have  been  erected 
eleven  sovereign  States  and  eight  Territories,  with  an  aggregate  popula- 
tion, at  the  present  time,  of  13,000,000  inhabitants,  or  nearly  one  third  of 
the  entire  population  of  the  United  States. 

Its  lakes  are  fresh-water  seas,  and  the  larger  rivers  of  the  continent 
flow  for  a  thousand  miles  through  its  rich  alluvial  valleys  and  far- 
stretching  prairies,  more  acres  of  which  are  arable  and  productive  of  the 
highest  percentage  of  the  cereals  than  of  any  other  area  of  like  extent 
on  the  globe. 

For  the  last  twenty  years  the  increase  of  population  in  the  North- 
west has  been  about  as  three  to  one  in  any  other  portion  of  the  United 
States. 

(19) 


20  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


EARLY    EXPLORATIONS. 

In  the  year  1541,  DeSoto  first  saw  the  Great  West  in  the  New 
World.  He,  however,  penetrated  no  farther  north  than  the  35th  parallel 
of  latitude.  The  expedition  resulted  in  his  death  and  that  of  more  than 
half  his  army,  the  remainder  of  whom  found  their  way  to  Cuba,  thence 
to  Spain,  in  a  famished  and  demoralized  condition.  DeSoto  founded  no 
settlements,  produced  no  results,  and  left  no  traces,  unless  it  were  that 
he  awakened  the  hostility  of  the  red  man  against  the  white  man,  and 
disheartened  such  as  might  desire  to  follow  up  the  career  of  discovery 
for  better  purposes.  The  French  nation  were  eager  and  ready  to  seize 
upon  any  news  from  this  extensive  domain,  and  were  the  first  to  profit  by 
DeSoto's  defeat.  Yet  it  was  more  than  a  century  before  any  adventurer 
took  advantage  of  these  discoveries. 

In  1616,  four  years  before  the  pilgrims  "  moored  their  bark  on  the 
wild  New  England  shore,"  Le  Caron,  a  French  Franciscan,  had  pene- 
trated through  the  Iroquois  and  Wyandots  (Hurons)  to  the  streams  which 
run  intq  Lake  Huron  ;  and  in  1634,  two  Jesuit  missionaries  founded  the 
first  mission  among  the  lake  tribes.  It  was  just  one  hundred  years  from 
the  discovery  of  the  Mississippi  by  DeSoto  (1541)  until  the  Canadian 
envoys  met  the  savage  nations  of  the  Northwest  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary, 
below  the  outlet  of  Lake  Superior.  This  visit  led  to  no  permanent 
result;  yet  it  was  not  until  1659  that  any  of  the  adventurous  fur  traders 
attempted  to  spend  a  Winter  in  the  frozen  wilds  about  the  great  lakes, 
nor  was  it  until  1660  that  a  station  was  established  upon  their  borders  by 
Mesnard,  who  perished  in  the  woods  a  few  months  after.  In  1665,  Claude 
Allouez  built  the  earliest  lasting  habitation  of  the  white  man  among  the 
Indians  of  the  Nortliwest.  In  1668,  Claude  Dablon  and  James  Marquette 
founded  the  mission  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary,  and  two 
years  afterward,  Nicholas  Perrot,  as  agent  for  M.  Talon,  Governor  Gen- 
eral of  Canada,  explored  Lake  Illinois  (Michigan)  as  far  south  as  the 
present  City  of  Chicago,  and  invited  the  Indian  nations  to  meet  him  at  a 
grand  council  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie  the  following  Spring,  where  they  were 
taken  under  the  protection  of  the  king,  and  formal  possession  was  taken 
of  the  Northwest.  This  same  year  Marquette  established  a  mission  at 
Point  St.  Ignatius,  where  was  founded  the  old  town  of  Michillimackinac. 

During  M.  Talon's  explorations  and  Marquette's  residence  at  St. 
Ignatius,  they  learned  of  a  great  river  away  to  the  west,  and  fancied 
— as  all  others  did  then — that  upon  its  fertile  banks  whole  tribes  of  God's 
children  resided,  to  whom  the  sound  of  the  Gospel  had  never  come. 
Filled  with  a  wish  to  go  and  preach  to  them,  and  in  compliance  with  a 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


21 


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22  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITOitY. 

request  of  M.  Talon,  who  earnestly  desired  to  extend  the  domain  of  his 
king,  and  to  ascertain  whether  the  river  flowed  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
or  the  Pacific  Ocean,  Marquette  with  Joliet,  as  commander  of  the  expe- 
dition, prepared  foV  the  undertaking. 

On  the  13th  of  May,  1673,  the  explorers,  accompanied  by  five  assist- 
ant French  Canadians,  set  out  from  Mackinaw  on  their  daring  voyage  of 
discovery.  The  Indians,  who  gathered  to  witness  their  departure,  were 
astonished  at  the  boldness  of  the  undertaking,  and  endeavored  to  dissuade 
them  from  their  purpose  by  representing  the  tribes  on  the  Mississippi  as 
exceedingly  savage  and  cruel,  and  the  river  itself  as  full  of  all  sorts  of 
frightful  monsters  ready  to  swallow  them  and  their  canoes  together.  But, 
nothing  daunted  by  these  terrific  descriptions,  Marquette  told  them  he 
was  willing  not  only  to  encounter  all  the  perils  of  the  unknown  region 
they  were  about  to  explore,  but  to  lay  down  his  life  in  a  cause  in  which 
the  salvation  of  souls  was  involved  ;  and  having  prayed  together  they 
separated.  Coasting  along  the  northern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  the 
adventurers  entered  Green  Bay,  and  passed  thence  up  the  Fox  River  and 
Lake  Winnebago  to  a  village  of  the  Miamis  and  Kickapoos.  Here  Mar- 
quette was  delighted  to  find  a  beautiful  cross  planted  in  the  middle  of  the 
town  ornamented  with  white  skins,  red  girdles  and  bows  and  arrows, 
which  these  good  people  had  offered  to  the  Great  Manitou,  or  God,  to 
thank  him  for  the  pity  he  had  bestowed  on  them  during  the  Winter  in 
giving  them  an  abundant  "  chase."  This  was  the  farthest  outpost  to 
which  Dablon  and  Allouez  had  extended  their  missionary  labors  the 
year  previous.  Here  Marquette  drank  mineral  waters  and  was  instructed 
in  the  secret  of  a  root  which  cures  the  bite  of  the  venomous  rattlesnake. 
He  assembled  the  chiefs  and  old  men  of  the  village,  and,  pointing  to 
Joliet,  said :  "  My  friend  is  an  envoy  of  France,  to  discover  new  coun- 
tries, and  I  am  an  ambassador  from  God  to  enlighten  them  with  the  truths 
of  the  Gospel."  Two  Miami  guides  were  here  furnished  to  conduct 
them  to  the  Wisconsin  River,  and  they  set  out  from  the  Lidian  village  on 
the  10th  of  June,  amidst  a  great  crowd  of  natives  who  had  assembled  to 
witness  their  departure  into  a  region  where  no  white  man  had  ever  yet 
ventured.  The  guides,  having  conducted  them  across  the  portage, 
returned.  The  explorers  launched  their  canoes  upon  the  Wisconsin, 
which  they  descended  to  the  Mississippi  and  proceeded  down  its  unknown 
waters.  What  emotions  must  have  swelled  their  breasts  as  they  struck 
out  into  the  broadening  current  and  became  conscious  that  the}^  were 
now  upon  the  bosom  of  th3  Father  of  Waters.  The  mystery  was  about 
to  be  lifted  from  the  long-sought  river.  The  scenery  in  that  locality  is 
beautiful,  and  on  that  deliiihtful  seventeenth  of  June  must  have  been 
clad  in  all  its  primeval  loveliness  as  it  had  been  adorned  by  the  hand  of 


THE   NORTHWEST  TERRITORY. 


23 


Nature.  Drifting  rapidly,  it  is  said  that  the  bold  bluffs  on  either  hand 
'^  reminded  them  of  the  castled  shores  of  their  own  beautiful  rivers  of 
France."  By-and-by,  as  they  drifted  along,  great  herds  of  buffalo  appeared 
on  the  banks.  On  going  to  the  heads  of  the  valley  they  could  see  a 
country  of  the  greatest  beauty  and  fertility,  apparently  destitute  of  inhab- 
itants yet  presenting  the  appearance  of  extensive  manors,  under  the  fas- 
tidious cultivation  of  lordly  proprietors. 


-~         •««=—;, 


THE    WILD    PRAIEIE. 


On  June  25,  they  went  ashore  and  found  some  fresh  traces  of  men  upon 
the  sand,  and  a  path  which  led  to  the  prairie.  The  men  remained  in  the 
boat,  and  Marquette  and  Joliet  followed  the  path  till  they  discovered  a 
village  on  the  banks  of  a  river,  and  two  other  villages  on  a  hill,  within  a 
half  league  of  the  first,  inhabited  by  Indians.  They  were  received  most 
hospitably  by  these  natives,  who  had  never  before  seen  a  white  person. 
After  remaining  a  few  days  they  re-embarked  and  descended  the  river  to 
about  latitude  33°,  where  they  found  a  village  of  the  Arkansas,  and  being 
satisfied  that  the  river  flowed  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  turned  their  course 


24  THE   NORTHWPIST   TERtlTTORY. 

up  the  river,  and  ascending  the  stream  to  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois, 
rowed  up  that  stream  to  its  source,  and  procured  guides  from  that  point 
to  the  lakes.  "  Nowhere  on  this  journey,"  says  Marquette,  •'  did  we  see 
such  grounds,  meadows,  woods,  stags,  buffaloes,  deer,  wildcats,  bustards, 
swans,  ducks,  parroquets,  and  even  beavers,  as  on  the  Illinois  River." 
The  party,  without  loss  or  injury,  reached  Green  Bay  in  September,  and 
reported  their  discovery — one  of  the  most  important  of  the  age,  but  of 
which  no  record  was  preserved  save  Marquette's,  Joliet  losing  his  by 
the  upsetting  of  his  canoe  on  his  way  to  Quebec.  Afterward  Marquette 
returned  to  the  Illinois  Indians  by  their  request,  and  ministered  to  them 
until  1675.  On  the  18th  of  May,  in  that  year,  as  he  was  passing  the 
mouth  of  a  stream — going  with  his  boatmen  up  Lake  Michigan — he  asked 
to  land  at  its  mouth  and  celebrate  Mass.  Leaving  his  men  with  the  canoe, 
he  retired  a  short  distance  and  began  his  devotions.  As  much  time 
passed  and  he  did  not  return,  his  men  went  in  search  of  him,  and  found 
him  upon  his  knees,  dead.  He  had  peacefull}'-  passed  away  while  at 
prayer.  He  was  buried  at  this  spot.  Charlevoix,  who  visited  the  place 
fifty  years  after,  found  the  waters  had  retreated  from  the  grave,  leaving 
the  beloved  missionary  to  repose  in  peace.  The  river  has  since  been 
called  Marquette. 

While  Marquette  and  his  companions  were  pursuing  their  labors  in 
the  West,  two  men,  differing  widely  from  him  and  each  other,  were  pre- 
paring to  follow  in  his  footsteps  and  perfect  the  discoveries  so  well  begun 
by  hira.     These  were  Robert  de  La  Salle  and  Louis  Hennepin. 

After  La  Salle's  return  from  the  discovery  of  the  Ohio  River  (see 
the  narrative  elsewhere),  he  established  himself  again  among  the  French 
trading  posts  in  Canada.  Here  he  mused  long  upon  the  pet  project  of 
those  ages — a  short  way  to  China  and  the  East,  and  was  busilj^  planning  an 
expedition  up  the  great  lakes,  and  so  across  the  continent  to  the  Pacific, 
when  Marquette  returned  from  the  Mississippi.  At  once  the  vigorous  mind 
of  LaSalle  received  from  his  and  his  companions'  stories  the  idea  that  by  fol- 
lowing the  Great  River  northward,  or  by  turning  up  some  of  the  numerous 
western  tributaries,  the  object  could  easily  be  gained.  He  applied  to 
Frontenac,  Governor  General  of  Canada,  and  laid  before  him  the  plan, 
dim  but  gigantic.  Frontenac  entered  warmly  into  his  plans,  and  saw  that 
LaSalle's  idea  to  connect  the  great  lakes  by  a  chain  of  forts  with  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  would  bind  the  country  so  wonderfully  together,  give  un- 
measured power  to  France,  and  glory  to  himself,  under  whose  adminis- 
tration he  earnestly  hoped  all  would  be  realized. 

LaSalle  now  repaired  to  France,  laid  his  plans  before  the  King,  who 
warmly  approved  of  them,  and  made  him  a  Chevalier.  He  also  received 
from  all  the  noblemen  the  warmest  wishes  for  his  success.     The  Chev- 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


25 


alier  returned  to  Canada,  and  busily  entered  upon  his  work.  He  at 
once  rebuilt  Fort  Frontenac  and  constructed  the  first  ship  to  sail  on 
these  fresh-water  seas.  On  the  7th  of  August,  1679,  having  been  joined 
by  Hennepin,  he  began  his  voyage  in  the  Griffin  up  Lake  Erie.  He 
passed  over  this  lake,  through  the  straits  beyond,  up  Lake  St.  Clair  and 
into  Huron.  In  this  lake  they  encountered  heavy  storms.  They  were 
some  time  at  Michillimackinac,  where  LaSalle  founded  a  fort,  and  passed 
on  to  Green  Bay,  the  "  Baie  des  Puans"  of  the  French,  where  he  found 
a  large  quantity  of  furs  collected  for  him.  He  loaded  the  Griffin  with 
these,  and   placing  her  under  the    care  of  a  pilot  and   fourteen    sailors, 


hK   SALLE  LANDING  ON  THE  SHORE  OP  GREEN  BAY. 

started  her  on  her  return  voyage.  The  vessel  was  never  afterward  heard 
of.  He  remained  about  these  parts  until  early  in  the  Winter,  when,  hear- 
ing nothing  from  the  Griffin,  he  collected  all  the  men — thirty  working 
men  and  three  monks — and  started  again  upon  his  great  undertaking. 

By  a  short  portage  they  passed  to  the  Illinois  or  Kankakee,  called  by 
the  Indians,  "Theakeke,"  wolf,  because  of  the  tribes  of  Indians  called 
by  that  name,  commonly  known  as  the  Mahingans,  dwelling  there.  The 
French  pronounced  it  KiakiTci,  which  became  corrupted  to  Kankakee. 
"Falling  down  the  said  river  by  easy  journeys,  the  better  to  observe  the 
country,"  about  the  last  of  December  tliey  reached  a  village  of  the  Illi- 
nois   Indians,    containing   some   five    hundred    cabins,    but   at   that    moment 


26  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

no  inhabitants.  The  Seur  de  LaSalle  being  in  want  of  some  breadstuffs, 
took  advantage  of  the  absence  of  the  Indians  to  help  himself  to  a  suffi- 
ciency of  maize,  large  quantities  of  which  he  found  concealed  in  holes 
under  the  wigwams.  This  village  was  situated  near  the  present  village 
of  Utica  in  LaSalle  County,  Illinois.  The  corn  being  securely  stored, 
the  voyagers  again  betook  themselves  to  the  stream,  and  toward  evening, 
on  the  4th  day  of  January,  1680,  they  came  into  a  lake  which  must  have 
been  the  lake  of  Peoria.  This  was  called  by  the  Indians  Fim-i-te-wi,  that 
is,  a  place  ivhere  there  are  tnanr/  fat  beasts.  Here  the  natives  were  met 
with  in  large  numbers,  but  they  were  gentle  and  kind,  and  having  spent 
some  time  with  them,  LaSalle  determined  to  erect  another  fort  in  that 
place,  for  he  had  heard  rumors  that  some  of  the  adjoining  tribes  were 
trying  to  disturb  the  good  feeling  which  existed,  and  some  of  his  men 
were  disposed  to  complain,  owing  to  the  hardships  and  perils  of  the  travel. 
He  called  this  fort  "'  Crevecoeur^'  (broken-heart),  a  name  expressive  of  the 
very  natural  sorrow  and  anxiet}'-  which  the  pretty  certain  loss  of  his  ship, 
Griffin,  and  his  consequent  impoverishment,  the  danger  of  hostility  on  the 
part  of  the  Indians,  and  of  mutiny  among  his  own  men,  might  well  cause 
him.  His  fears  were  not  entirely  groundless.  At  one  time  poison  was 
placed  in  his  food,  but  fortunately  was  discovered. 

While  building  this  fort,  the  Winter  wore  away,  the  prairies  began  to 
look  green,  and  LaSalle,  despairing  of  any  reinforcements,  concluded  to 
return  to  Canada,  raise  new  means  and  new  men,  and  embark  anew  in 
the  enterprise.  For  this  purpose  he  made  Hennepin  the  leader  of  a  party 
to  explore  the  head  waters  of  the  Mississippi,  and  he  set  out  on  his  jour- 
ney. This  journey  was  accomplished  with  the  aid  of  a  few  persons,  and 
was  successfully  made,  though  over  an  almost  u  iknown  route,  and  in  a 
bad  season  of  the  year.  He  safely  reached  Cana  ia,  and  set  out  again  for 
the  object  of  his  search. 

Hennepin  and  his  party  left  Fort  Crevecoeur  on  the  last  of  February, 
1680.  When  LaSalle  reached  this  place  on  his  return  expedition,  he 
found  the  fort  entirely  deserted,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  again  to 
Canada.  He  embarked  the  third  time,  and  succeeded.  Seven  days  after 
leaving  the  fort,  Hennepin  reached  the  Mississippi,  and  paddling  up  the 
icy  stream  as  best  he  could,  reached  no  higher  than  the  Wisconsin  River 
by  the  11th  of  April.  Here  he  and  his  followers  were  taken  prisoners  by  a 
band  of  Northern  Indians,  who  treated  them  with  great  kindness.  Hen- 
nepin's comrades  were  Anthony  Auguel  and  Michael  Ako.  On  this  voy- 
age they  found  several  beautiful  lakes,  and  "  saw  some  charming  prairies." 
Their  captors  were  the  Isaute  or  Sauteurs,  Chippewas,  a  tribe  of  the  Sioux 
nation,  who  took  them  up  the  river  until  about  the  first  of  May,  when 
they  reached  some  falls,  which  Hennepin  christened  Falls  of  St.  Anthony 


THE   NORTHWEST  TERRITORY. 


27 


in  honor  of  his  patron  saint.  Here  they  took  the  land,  and  traveling 
nearly  two  hundred  miles  to  the  northwest,  brought  them  to  their  villages. 
Here  they  were  kept  about  three  months,  were  treated  kindly  by  their 
captors,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time,  were  met  by  a  band  of  Frenchmen, 


BUFFALO    HUNT. 


headed  by  one  Seur  de  Luth,  who,  in  pursuit  of  trade  and  game,  had  pene- 
crated  thus  far  by  the  route  of  Lake  Superior ;  and  with  these  fellow- 
countrymen  Hennepin  and  his  companions  were  allowed  to  return  to  the 
borders  of  civilized  life  in  November,  1680,  just  after  LaSalle  had 
returned  to  the  wilderness  on  his  second  trip.  Hennepin  soon  after  went 
to  France,  where  he  published  an  account  of  his  adventures. 


28 


THE  NORTHWEST  TERRITORY. 


The  Mississippi  was  first  discovered  by  De  Soto  in  April,  1541,  in  his 
vain  endeavor  to  find  gold  and  precioas  gems.  In  the  following  Spring, 
De  Soto,  weary  with  hope  long  deferred,  and  worn  out  with  his  wander- 
ings, he  fell  a  victim  to  disease,  and  on  the  21st  of  May  died.  His  followers, 
reduced  by  fatigue  and  disease  to  less  than  three  hundred  men,  wandered 
about  the  country  nearly  a  year,  in  the  vain  endeavor  to  rescue  them- 
selves by  land,  and  finally  constructed  seven  small  vessels,  called  brigan- 
tines,  in  which  they  embarked,  and  descending  the  river,  supposing  it 
would  lead  them  to  the  sea,  in  July  they  came  to  the  sea  (Gulf  of 
Mexico),  and  by  September  reached  the  Island  of  Cuba. 

They  were  the  first  to  see  the  great  outlet  of  the  Mississippi ;  but, 
being  so  weary  and  discouraged,  made  no  attempt  to  claim  the  country, 
and  hardly  had  an  intelligent  idea  of  what  they  had  passed    through. 

To  La  Salle,  the  intrepid  explorer,  belongs  the  honor  of  giving  the 
first  account  of  the  mouths  of  the  river.  His  great  desire  was  to  possess 
this  entire  country  for  his  king,  and  in  January,  1682,  he  and  his  band  of 
explorers  left  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan  on  their  third  attempt,  crossed 
the  portage,  passed  down  the  Illinois  River,  and  on  the  6th  of  February, 
reached  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi. 

On  the  13th  they  commenced  their  downward  course,  which  they 
pursued  with  but  one  interruption,  until  upon  the  6th  of  March  they  dis- 
covered the  three  great  passages  by  which  the  river  discharges  its  waters 
into  the  gulf.     La  Salle  thus  narrates  the  event : 

"  We  landed  on  the  bank  of  the  most  western  channel,  about  three 
leagues  (nine  miles)  from  its  mouth.  On  the  seventh,  M.  de  LaSalle 
went  to  reconnoiter  the  shores  of  the  neighboring  sea,  and  M.  de  Tonti 
meanwhile  examined  the  great  middle  channel.  They  found  the  main 
outlets  beautiful,  large  and  deep.  On  the  8th  we  reascended  the  river,  a 
little  above  its  confluence  with  the  sea,  to  find  a  dry  place  beyond  the 
leMih.  of  inundations.  The  elevation  of  the  North  Pole  was  here  about 
twenty-seven  degrees.  Here  we  prepared  a  column  and  a  cross,  and  to 
the  column  were  affixed  the  arms  of  France  with  this  inscription : 

Louis  Le  Grand,  Roi  De  France  et  de  Navarre,  regne  ;  Le  neuvieme  Avril,  1682. 

The  Avhole  party,  under  arms,  chanted  the  Te  Beum,  and  then,  after 
a  salute  and  cries  of  "  Vive  le  Roi,"  the  column  was  erected  by  M.  de 
LaSalle,  wlio,  standing  near  it,  proclaimed  in  a  loud  voice  the  authority  of 
the  King  of  France.  LaSalle  returned  and  laid  the  foundations  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi settlements  in  Illinois,  thence  he  proceeded  to  France,  where 
another  expedition  was  fitted  out,  of  which  he  was  commander,  and  in  two 
succeeding  voyages  failed  to  find  the  outlet  of  the  river  by  sailing  along 
the  shore  of  the  gulf.     On  his  third  voyage  he  was  killed,  through  the 


THE  NORTHWEST  TERRITORY. 


29 


treachery  of  his  followers,  and  the  object  of  his  expeditions  was  not 
accomplished  until  1699,  when  D'Iberville,  under  the  authority  of  the 
crown,  discovered,  on  the  second  of  March,  by  way  of  the  sea,  the  mouth 
of  the  "  Hidden  River."  This  majestic  stream  was  called  by  the  natives 
*'' Malhoucliia,'"    and  by  the  Spaniards,  ''la  Palissade,''  from  the  great 


-St  Cl-^-" " 


ai^LJj 


^%.^^ 


TRAPPING. 

number  of  trees  about  its  mouth.  After  traversing  the  several  outlets, 
and  satisfying  himself  as  to  its  certainty,  he  erected  a  fort  near  its  western 
outlet,  and  returned  to  France. 

An  avenue  of  trade  was  now  opened  out  which  was  fully  improved. 
In  1718,  New  Orleans  was  laid  out  and  settled  by  some  European  colo- 
nists. In  1762,  the  colony  was  made  over  to  Spain,  to  be  regained  by 
France  under  the  consulate  of  Napoleon.     In   1803,   it  was   purchased   by 


30  THE   NOliTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

the  United  States  for  the  sum  of  fifteen  million  dollars,  and  the  territory 
of  Louisiana  and  commerce  of  the  Mississippi  River  came  under  the 
charge  of  the  United  States.  Although  LaSalle's  labors  ended  in  defeat 
and  death,  he  had  not  worked  and  suffered  in  vain.  He  had  thrown 
open  to  France  and  the  world  an  immense  and  most  valuable  country ; 
had  established  several  ports,  and  laid  the  foundations  of  more  than  one 
settlement  there.  "  Peoria,  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia,  are  to  this  day  monu- 
ments of  LaSalle's  labors ;  for,  though  he  had  founded  neither  of  them 
(unless  Peoria,  which  was  built  nearly  upon  the  site  of  Fort  Crevecoeur,) 
it  was  by  those  whom  he  led  into  the  West  that  these  places  were 
peopled  and  civilized.  He  was,  if  not  the  discoverer,  the  first  settler  of 
the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  as  such  deserves  to  be  known  and  honored." 

The  French  early  improved  the  opening  made  for  them.  Before  the 
year  1698,  the  Rev.  Father  Gravier  began  a  mission  among  the  Illinois, 
and  founded  Kaskaskia.  For  some  time  this  was  merely  a  missionary 
station,  where  none  but  natives  resided,  it  being  one  of  three  such  vil- 
lages, the  other  two  being  Cahokia  and  Peoria.  What  is  known  of 
these  missions  is  learned  from  a  letter  written  by  Father  Gabriel  Marest, 
dated  "  Aux  Cascaskias,  autrement  dit  de  I'lmmaculate  Conception  de 
la  Sainte  Vierge,  le  9  Novembre,  1712."  Soon  after  the  founding  of 
Kaskaskia,  the  missionary,  Pinet,  gathered  a  flock  at  Cahokia,  while 
Peoria  arose  near  the  ruins  of  Fort  Crevecoeur.  This  must  have  been 
about  the  year  1700.  The  post  at  Vincennes  on  the  Oubache  river, 
(pronounced  Wa-ba,  meaning  summer  cloud  moving  siviftly^  was  estab- 
lished in  1702,  according  to  the  best  authorities.*  It  is  altogether  prob- 
able that  on  LaSalle's  last  trip  he  established  the  stations  at  Kaskaskia 
and  Cahokia.  In  July,  1701,  the  foundations  of  Fort  Ponchartrain 
were  laid  by  De  la  Motte  Cadillac  on  the  Detroit  River.  These  sta- 
tions, with  those  established  further  north,  were  the  earliest  attempts  to 
occupy  the  Northwest  Territory.  At  the  same  time  efforts  were  being 
made  to  occupy  the  Southwest,  which  finally  culminated  in  the  settle- 
ment and  founding  of  the  City  of  New  Orleans  by  a  colony  from  England 
in  1718.  This  was  mainly  accomplished  through  the  efforts  of  the 
famous  Mississippi  Company,  established  by  the  notorious  John  Law, 
who  so  quickly  arose  into  prominence  in  France,  and  who  with  his 
scheme  so  quickly  and  so  ignominiously  passed  away. 

From  the  time  of  the  founding  of  these  stations  for  fifty  years  the 
French  nation  were  engrossed  with  the  settlement  of  the  lower  Missis- 
sippi, and  the  war  with  the  Chicasaws,  who  had,  in  revenge  for  repeated 

•  There  is  considerable  dispute  about  tliis  date,  some  asserting  it  was  founded  as  late  as  1742.  Wlien 
the  new  court  liouse  at  Vincennes  was  erected,  all  authorities  on  the  subject  were  carefully  examined,  and 
AV03  fixed  upou  as  the  correct  date.    It  was  accordingly  engraved  on  the  corner-stone  of  the  court  house. 


i 


THE   NORTHWEST    TERRITORY.  31 

injuries,  cut  off  the  entire   colony  at  Natchez,     Although  the  company- 
did  little  for  Louisiana,  as  the  entire  West  was  then  called,  yet  it  opened 
the  trade  through  the  Mississippi  River,  and  started  the  raising  of  grains 
indigenous  to  that  climate.     Until  the  year  1750,  but  little  is  known  of 
the  settlements  in  the  Northwest,  as  it  was  not  until  this  time  that  the 
attention  of  the  English  was  called  to  the  occupation  of  this  portion  of  the 
New  World,  which  they  then  supposed  they  owned.     Vivier,  a  missionary 
among  the  Illinois,  writing  from  "  Aux  Illinois,"  six  leagues  from  Fort 
Chartres,    June  8,   1750,  says:     "We  have  here    whites,  negroes    and 
Indians,  to  say  nothing  of  cross-breeds.     There  are  five  French  villages, 
and  three  villages  of  the  natives,  within  a  space  of  twenty-one  leagues 
situated  between  the  Mississippi  and  another  river  called  the  Karkadaid 
(Kaskaskias).     In  the  five  French  villages  are,  perhaps,  eleven  hundred 
whites,  three  hundred  blacks  and  some  sixty  red  slaves  or  savages.     The 
three  Illinois  towns  do  not  contain  more  than  eight  hundred  souls  all 
told.     Most  of  the  French  till  the  soil;  they  raise  wheat,  cattle,  pigs  and 
horses,  and  live  like  princes.     Three  times  as  much  is  produced  as  can 
be  consumed;  and  great  quantities  of  grain  and  flour  are  sent  to  New 
Orleans."     This  city  was  now  the  seaport  town  of  the  Northwest,  and 
save  in  the  extreme  northern  part,  where  only  furs  and  copper  ore  were 
found,  almost  all  the  products  of  the  country  found  their  way  to  France 
by  the  mouth  of  the  Father  of  Waters.     In  another  letter,  dated  Novem- 
ber 7,  1750,  this    same  priest   says :     "  For   fifteen  leagues    above  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi  one  sees  no  dwellings,  the  ground  being  too  low 
to  be  habitable.     Thence  to  New  Orleans,  the  lands  are  only  partially 
occupied.      New   Orleans ,  contains  black,   white   and  red,  not  more,  I 
think,  than  twelve   hundred   persons.     To   this  point  come  all  lumber, 
bricks,  salt-beef,  tallow,  tar,  skins  and  bear's  grease  ;  and  above  all,  pork 
and  flour  from  the  Illinois.     These  things  create  some  commerce,  as  forty 
vessels   and  more  have  come   hither  this  year.      Above   New   Orleans, 
plantations  are  again  met  with ;  the  most  considerable  is  a  colony  of 
Germans,  some  ten  leagues  up  the  river.     At  Point  Coupee,  thirty -five 
leagues  above  the  German  settlement,  is  a  fort.     Along  here,  within  five 
or  six  leagues,  are  not  less  than  sixty  habitations.     Fifty  leagues  farther 
up  is  the  Natchez  post,  where  we  have  a  garrison,  who  are  kept  prisoners 
through  fear  of  the  Chickasaws.     Here  and  at  Point  Coupee,  they  raise 
excellent  tobacco.     Another  hundred  leagues  brings  us  to  the  Arkansas, 
where  we  have  also  a  fort  and  a  garrison  for  the  benefit  of  the  river 
traders.    *     *     *     From  the  Arkansas  to  the  Illinois,  nearly  five  hundred 
leagues,  there  is  not  a  settlement.     There  should  be,  however,  a  fort  at 
the  Oubache  (Ohio),  the  only  path  by  which  the  English  can  reach  the 
Mississippi.     In  the  Illinois  country  are  numberless  mines,  but  no  one  to 


32 


THE    NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


work  them  as  they  deserve."  Father  Marest,  writing  from  the  post  at 
Vinceniies  in  1812,  makes  the  same  observation.  Vivier  also  says  :  "  Some 
individuals  dig  lead  near  the  surface  and  supply  the  Indians  and  Canada. 
Two  Spaniards  now  here,  who  claim  to  be  adepts,  say  that  our  mines  are 
like  those  of  Mexico,  and  that  if  we  would  dig  deeper,  we  should  find 
silver  under  the  lead  ;  and  at  any  rate  the  lead  is  excellent.  There  is  also 
in  this  country,  beyond  doubt,  copper  ore,  as  from  time  to  time  large 
pieces  are  found  in  the  streams." 


'^^'^m^^v^j^^^^''  -' 


A'/CKCK' 


HUNTING. 


At  the  close  of  the  year  1750,  the  French  occupied,  in  addition  to  the 
lower  Mississippi  posts  and  those  in  Illinois,  one  at  Du  Quesne,  one  at 
the  Maumee  in  the  country  of  the  Miamis,  and  one  at  Sandusky  in  what 
may  be  termed  the  Ohio  Valley.  In  the  northern  part  of  the  Northwest 
they  had  stations  at  St.  Joseph's  on  the  St.  Joseph's  of  Lake  Michigan, 
at  Fort  Ponchartrain  (Detroit),  at  Michillimackanac  or  Massillimacanac, 
Fox  River  of  Green  Bay,  and  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie.  The  fondest  dreams  of 
LaSalle  were  now  fully  realized.  The  French  alone  were  possessors  of 
this  vast  realm,  basing  their  claim  on  discovery  and  settlement.  Another 
nation,  however,  was  now  turning  its  attention  to  this  extensive  country, 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  33 

and  hearing  of  its  wealth,  began  to  lay  plans  for  occupying  it  and  for 
securing  the  great  profits  arising  therefrom. 

The  French,  however,  had  another  claim  to  this  country,  namely,  the 


DISCOVERY   OF   THE   OHIO. 

This  "  Beautiful"  river  was  discovered  by  Robert  Cavalier  de  La- 
Salle  in  1669,  four  years  before  the  discovery  of  the  Mississippi  by  Joliet 
and  Marquette. 

While  LaSalle  was  at  his  trading  post  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  he  found 
leisure  to  study  nine  Indian  dialects,  the  chief  of  which  was  the  Iroquois. 
He  not  only  desired  to  facilitate  his  intercourse  in  trade,  but  he  longed 
to  travel  and  explore  the  unknown  regions  of  the  West.  An  incident 
soon  occurred   which  decided   hira   to  fit  out  an  exploring  expedition. 

While  conversing  with  some  Senecas,  he  learned  of  a  river  called  the 
Ohio,  which  rose  in  their  country  and  flowed  to  the  sea,  but  at  such  a 
distance  that  it  required  eight  months  to  reach  its  mouth.  In  this  state- 
ment the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries  were  considered  as  one  stream. 
LaSalle  believing,  as  most  of  the  French  at  that  period  did,  that  the  great 
rivers  flowing  west  emptied  into  the  Sea  of  California,  was  anxious  to 
embark  in  the  enterprise  of  discovering  a  route  across  the  continent  to 
the  commerce  of  China  and  Japan. 

He  repaired  at  once  to  Quebec  to  obtain  the  approval  of  the  Gov- 
ernor. His  eloquent  appeal  prevailed.  The  Governor  and  the  Intendant, 
Talon,  issued  letters  patent  authorizing  the  enterprise,  but  made  no  pro- 
vision to  defray  the  expenses.  At  this  juncture  the  seminary  of  St.  Sul- 
pice  decided  to  send  out  missionaries  in  connection  with  the  expedition, 
and  LaSalle  offering  to  sell  his  improvements  at  LaChine  to  raise  money, 
the  offer  was  accepted  by  the  Superior,  and  two  thousand  eight  hundred 
dollars  were  raised,  with  which  LaSalle  purchased  four  canoes  and  the 
necessary  supplies  for  the  outfit. 

On  the  6th  of  Jul}^  1669,  the  party,  numbering  twenty-four  persons, 
embarked  in  seven  canoes  on  the  St.  Lawrence ;  two  additional  canoes 
carried  the  Indian  guides.  In  three  days  they  were  gliding  over  the 
bosom  of  Lake  Ontario.  Their  guides  conducted  them  directly  to  the 
Seneca  village  on  the  bank  of  the  Genesee,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  present 
City  of  Rochester,  New  York.  Here  they  expected  to  procure  guides  to 
conduct  tliem  to  the  Ohio,  but  in  this  they  were  disappointed. 

The  Indians  seemed  unfriendly  to  the  enterprise.  LaSalle  suspected 
that  the  Jesuits  had  prejudiced  their  minds  against  his  plans.  After 
waiting  a  month  in  the  hope  of  gaining  their  object,  they  met  an  Indian 


34 


THE   NORTHWEST  TERRITORY. 


from  the  Iroquois  colony  at  the  head  of  Lake  Ontario,  who  assured  them 
that  they  could  there  find  guides,  and  offered  to  conduct  them  thence. 

On  their  way  they  passed  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  River,  when  they 
heard  for  the  first  time  the  distant  thunder  of  the  cataract.     AiTiving 


XBOyUOlS    CUIKF. 

among  the  Iroquois,  they  met  with  a  friendly  reception,  and  learned 
from  a  Shawanee  prisoner  that  they  could  reach  the  Ohio  in  six  weeks. 
Delighted  with  the  unexpected  good  fortune,  they  made  ready  to  resume 
their  journey ;  but  just  as  they  were  about  to  start  they  heard  of  the 
arrival  of  two  Frenchmen  in  a  neighboring  village.  One  of  them  proved 
to  be  Louis  Joliet,  afterwards  famous  as  an  explorer  in  the  West.     He 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  35 

had  been  sent  by  the  Canadian  Government  to  explore  the  copper  mines 
on  Lake  Superior,  but  had  failed,  and  was  on  his  way  back  to  Quebec. 
He  gave  the  missionaries  a  map  of  the  country  he  had  explored  in  the 
lake  region,  together  with  an  account  of  the  condition  of  the  Indians  in 
that  quarter.  This  induced  the  priests  to  determine  on  leaving  the 
expedition  and  going  to  Lake  Superior.  LaSalle  warned  them  that  the 
Jesuits  were  probably  occupying  that  field,  and  that  they  would  meet 
with  a  cold  reception.  Nevertheless  they  persisted  in  their  purpose,  and 
after  worship  on  the  lake  shore,  parted  from  LaSalle.  On  arriving  at 
Lake  Superior,  they  found,  as  LaSalle  had  predicted,  the  Jesuit  Fathers, 
Marquette  and  Dablon,  occupying  the  field. 

These  zealous  disciples  of  Loyola  informed  them  that  they  wanted 
no  assistance  from  St.  Sulpice,  nor  from  those  who  made  him  their  patron 
saint ;  and  thus  repulsed,  they  returned  to  Montreal  the  following  June 
without  having  made  a  single  discovery  or  converted  a  single  Indian. 

After  parting  with  the  priests,  LaSalle  went  to  the  chief  Iroquois 
village  at  Onondaga,  where  he  obtained  guides,  and  passing  thence  to  a 
tributary  of  the  Ohio  south  of  Lake  Erie,  he  descended  the  latter  as  far 
as  the  falls  at  Louisville.  Thus  was  the  Ohio  discovered  by  LaSalle,  the 
persevering  and  successful  French  explorer  of  the  West,  in  1669. 

The  account  of  the  latter  part  of  his  journey  is  found  in  an  anony- 
mous paper,  which  purports  to  have  been  taken  from  the  lips  of  LaSalle 
himself  during  a  subsequent  visit  to  Paris.  In  a  letter  written  to  Count 
Frontenac  in  1667,  shortly  after  the  discovery,  he  himself  says  that  he 
discovered  the  Ohio  and  descended  it  to  the  falls.  This  was  regarded  as 
an  indisputable  fact  by  the  French  authorities,  who  claimed  the  Ohio 
Valley  upon  another  ground.  When  Washington  was  sent  by  the  colony 
of  Virginia  in  1753,  to  demand  of  Gordeur  de  St.  Pierre  why  the  French 
had  built  a  fort  on  the  Monongahela,  the  haughty  commandant  at  Quebec 
replied  :  "  We  claim  the  country  on  the  Ohio  by  virtue  of  the  discoveries 
of  LaSalle,  and  will  not  give  it  up  to  the  English.  Our  orders  are  to 
make  prisoners  of  every  Englishman  found  trading  in  the  Ohio  Valley." 

ENGLISH  EXPLORATIONS  AND  SETTLEMENTS. 

When  the  new  year  of  1750  broke  in  upon  the  Father  of  Waters 
and  the  Great  Northwest,  all  was  still  wild  save  at  the  French  posts 
already  described.  In  1749,  when  the  English  first  began  to  think  seri- 
ously about  sending  men  into  the  West,  the  greater  portion  of  the  States 
of  Indiana,  Ohio,  Illinois,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota  were  yet 
under  the  dominion  of  the  red  men.    The  English  knew,  however,  pretty 


86  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

conclusively  of  the  nature  of  the  wealth  of  these  wilds.  As  early  as 
1710,  Governor  Spotswood,  of  Virginia,  had  commenced  movements  to 
secure  the  country  west  of  the  Alleghenies  to  the  English  crown.  In 
Pennsylvania,  Governor  Keith  and  James  Logan,  secretary  of  the  prov- 
ince, from  1719  to  1731,  represented  to  the  powers  of  England  the  neces- 
sity of  seciu'ing  the  Western  lands.  Nothing  was  done,  however,  by  that 
power  save  to  take  some  diplomatic  steps  to  secure  the  claims  of  Britain 
to  this  unexplored  wilderness. 

England  had  from  the  outset  claimed  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific, 
on  the  ground  that  the  discovery  of  the  seacoast  and  its  possession  was  a 
discovery  and  possession  of  the  country,  and,  as  is  well  known,  her  grants 
to  the  colonies  extended  "  from  sea  to  sea."  This  was  not  all  her  claim. 
She  had  purchased  from  the  Indian  tribes  large  tracts  of  land.  This  lat- 
ter was  also  a  strong  argument.  As  early  as  1684,  Lord  Howard,  Gov- 
ernor of  Virginia,  held  a  treaty  with  the  six  nations.  These  were  the 
great  Northern  Confederacy,  and  comprised  at  first  the  Mohawks,  Onei- 
das,  Onondagas,  Cayugas,  and  Senecas.  Afterward  the  Tuscaroras  were 
taken  into  the  confederacy,  and  it  became  known  as  the  Six  Nations. 
They  came  under  the  protection  of  the  mother  country,  and  again  in 
1701,  they  repeated  the  agreement,  and  in  September,  1726,  a  formal  deed 
was  drawn  up  and  signed  by  the  chiefs.  The  validity  of  this  claim  has 
often  been  disputed,  but  never  successfully.  In  1744,  a  purchase  was 
made  at  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  of  certain  lands  within  the  "  Colony  of 
Virginia,"  for  which  the  Indians  received  <£200  in  gold  and  a  like  sum  in 
goods,  with  a  promise  that,  as  settlements  increased,  more  should  be  paid. 
The  Commissioners  from  Virginia  were  Colonel  Thomas  Lee  and  Colonel 
William  Beverly.  As  settlements  extended,  the  promise  of  more  pay  was 
called  to  mind,  and  Mr.  Conrad  Weiser  was  sent  across  the  mountains  with 
presents  to  appease  the  savages.  Col.  Lee,  and  some  Virginians  accompa- 
nied him  with  the  intention  of  sounding  the  Indians  upon  their  feelings 
regarding  the  English.  They  were  not  satisfied  with  their  treatment, 
and  plainly  told  the  Commissioners  why.  The  English  did  not  desire  the 
cultivation  of  the  country,  but  the  monopoly  of  the  Indian  trade.  In 
1748,  the  Ohio  Company  was  formed,  and  petitioned  the  king  for  a  grant 
of  land  beyond  the  Alleghenies.  This  was  granted,  and  the  government 
of  Virginia  was  ordered  to  grant  to  them  a  half  million  acres,  two  hun- 
dred thousand  of  which  were  to  be  located  at  once.  Upon  the  12th  of 
June,  1749,  800,000  acres  from  the  line  of  Canada  north  and  west  was 
made  to  the  Loyal  Company,  and  on  the  29th  of  October,  1751,  100,000 
acres  were  given  to  the  Greenbriar  Company.  All  this  time  the  French 
were  not  idle.  They  saw  that,  should  the  British  gain  a  foothold  in  the 
West,  especially  upon  the  Ohio,  they  might  not  only  prevent  the  French 


THE    NORTHWEST    TERRITORY.  37 

settling  upon  it,  but  in  time  would  come  to  the  lower  posts  and  so  gain 
possession  of  the  whole  country.  Upon  the  10th  of  May,  ITT-i,  Vaud- 
reuil,  Governor  of  Canada  and  the  French  possessions,  well  knowing  the 
•consequences  that  must  arise  from  allowing  the  English  to  build  trading 
posts  in  the  Northwest,  seized  some  of  their  frontier  posts,  and  to  further 
secure  the  claim  of  the  French  to  the  West,  he,  in  1749,  sent  Louis  Cel- 
eron with  a  party  of  soldiers  to  plant  along  the  Ohio  River,  in  the  mounds 
and  at  the  mouths  of  its  principal  tributaries,  plates  of  lead,  on  which 
were  inscribed  the  claims  of  France.  These  were  heard  of  in  1752,  and 
within  the  memory  of  residents  now  living  along  the  "•  Oyo,"  as  the 
beautiful  river  was  called  by  the  French.  One  of  these  plates  was  found 
with  the  inscription  partly  defaced.  It  bears  date  August  16,  1749,  and 
a  copy  of  the  inscription  with  particular  account  of  the  discovery  of  the 
plate,  was  sent  by  DeWitt  Clinton  to  the  American  Antiquarian  Society, 
among  whose  journals  it  may  now  be  found.*  These  measures  did  not, 
however,  deter  the  English  from  going  on  with  their  explorations,  and 
though  neither  party  resorted  to  arms,  yet  the  conflict  was  gathering,  and 
it  was  only  a  question  of  time  when  the  storm  would  burst  upon  the 
frontier  settlements.  In  1750,  Christopher  Gist  was  sent  by  the  Ohio 
■Company  to  examine  its  lands.  He  went  to  a  village  of  the  Twigtwees, 
on  the  Miami,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  above  its  mouth.  He- 
afterward  spoke  of  it  as  very  populous.  From  there  he  went  down 
the  Ohio  River  nearly  to  the  falls  at  the  present  City  of  Louisville, 
and  in  November  he  commenced  a  survey  of  the  Company's  lands.  Dur- 
ing the  Winter,  General  Andrew  Lewis  performed  a  similar  work  for  the 
Greenbriar  Company.  Meanwhile  the  French  were  busy  in  preparing 
their  forts  for  defense,  and  in  opening  roads,  and  also  sent  a  small  party 
of  soldiers  to  keep  the  Ohio  clear.  This  party,  having  heard  of  the  Eng- 
lish post  on  the  Miami  River,  early  in  1652,  assisted  by  the  Ottawas  and 
Chippewas,  attacked  it,  and,  after  a  severe  battle,  in  which  fourteen  of 
the  natives  were  killed  and  others  wounded,  captured  the  garrison. 
(They  were  probably  garrisoned  in  a  block  house).  The  traders  were 
carried  away  to  Canada,  and  one  account  says  several  were  burned.  This 
fort  or  post  was  called  by  the  English  Pickawillany.  A  memorial  of  the 
king's  ministers  refers  to  it  as  "  Pickawillanes,  in  the  center  of  the  terri- 
tory between  the  Ohio  and  the  Wabash.  The  name  is  probably  some 
variation  of  Pickaway  or  Picqua  in  1773,  written  by  Rev.  David  Jones 
Pickaweke." 

*  Tlie  following  is  a  translation  of  the  inscription  on  tlie  plate:  "In  the  year  1749.  reign  of  Louis  XV., 
King  of  France,  we,  Celeron,  commandant  of  a  detachment  l)y  Monsieur  the  Marquis  of  Gallisoniere,  cum- 
mander-in-chief  of  New  France,  to  establish  tranquility  in  certain  Indian  villages  of  these  cantons,  have 
buried  this  plate  at  the  confluence  of  the  Toradalioin,  this  twenty-ninth  of  July,  near  the  river  Oliio,  otherwise 
Beautiful  River,  as  a  monument  of  renewal  of  possession  whicli  we  have  taken  of  the  said  river,  and  all  its 
tributaries;  inasmuch  as  the  preceding  Kings  of  France  have  enjoyed  it,  and  maintained  it  by  their  arms  and 
'treaties;  especially  by  those  of  Ryswick,  Utrecht,  ami  Aix  La  Chapelle." 


58  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

This  was  the  first  blood  shed  between  the  French  and  English,  and 
occurred  near  the  present  City  of  Piqua,  Ohio,  or  at  least  at  a  point  about 
forty-seven  miles  north  of  Dayton.  Each  nation  became  now  more  inter- 
ested in  the  progress  of  events  in  the  Northwest.  The  English  deter- 
mined to  purchase  from  the  Indians  a  title  to  the  lands  they  Avished  to 
occupy,  and  Messrs.  Fry  (afterward  Commander-in-chief  over  Washing- 
ton at  the  commencement  of  the  French  War  of  1775-1763),  Lomax  and 
Patton  were  sent  in  the  Spring  of  1752  to  hold  a  conference  with  the 
natives  at  Logstown  to  learn  what  they  objected  to  in  the  treaty  of  Lan- 
caster already  noticed,  and  to  settle  all  difficulties.  On  the  9th  of  June^ 
these  Commissioners  met  the  red  men  at  Logstown,  a  little  village  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Ohio,  about  seventeen  miles  below  the  site  of  Pitts- 
burgh. Here  had  been  a  trading  point  for  many  years,  but  it  was  aban- 
doned by  the  Indians  in  1750.  At  first  the  Indians  declined  to  recognize 
the  treaty  of  Lancaster,  but,  the  Commissioners  taking  aside  Montour,^ 
the  interpreter,  who  was  a  son  of  the  famous  Catharine  Montour,  and  a 
chief  among  the  six  nations,  induced  him  to  use  his  influence  in  their 
favor.  This  he  did,  and  upon  the  loth  of  June  they  all  united  in  signing- 
a  deed,  confirming  the  Lancaster  treaty  in  its  full  extent,  consenting  to  a 
settlement  of  the  southeast  of  the  Ohio,  and  guaranteeing  that  it  should 
not  be  disturbed  by  them.  These  were  the  means  used  to  obtain  the  first 
treaty  Avith  the  Indians  in  the  Ohio  Valle3^ 

Meanwhile  the  powers  beyond  the  sea  were  trying  to  out-manoeuvre 
each  other,  and  were  professing  to  be  at  peace.  The  English  generally 
outwitted  the  Indians,  and  failed  in  many  instances  to  fulfill  their  con- 
tracts. They  thereby  gained  the  ill-will  of  the  red  men,  and  further 
increased  the  feeling  by  failing  to  provide  them  with  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion. Said  an  old  chief,  at  Easton,  in  1758:  "  The  Indians  on  the  Ohio 
left  you  because  of  your  own  fault.  When  we  heard  the  French  were 
coming,  we  asked  you  for  help  and  arms,  but  we  did  not  get  them.  The 
French  came,  they  treated  us  kindly,  and  gained  our  affections.  The 
Governor  of  Virginia  settled  on  our  lands  for  his  own  benefit,  and,  when 
we  wanted  help,  forsook  us." 

At  the  beginning  of  1653,  the  English  thought  they  had  secured  by 
title  the  lands  in  the  West,  but  the  French  had  quietly  gathered  cannoa 
and  military  stores  to  be  in  readiness  for  the  expected  blow.  The  Eng- 
lish made  other  attempts  to  ratify  these  existing  treaties,  but  not  until 
the  Summer  could  the  Indians  be  gathered  together  to  discuss  the  plans 
of  the  French.  They  had  sent  messages  to  the  French,  warning  them 
away ;  but  they  replied  that  they  intended  to  complete  the  chain  of  forts- 
alread}'  begun,  and  would  not  abandon  the  field. 

Soon  after  this,  no  satisfaction  being  obtained  from  the  Ohio  regard- 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  39 

ang  the  positions  and  purposes  of  the  French,  Governor  Dinwiddie  of 
Virginia  determined  to  send  to  them  another  messenger  and  learn  from 
them,  if  possible,  their  intentions.  For  this  purpose  he  selected  a  young 
man,  a  surveyor,  who,  at  the  early  age  of  nineteen,  had  received  the  rank 
of  major,  and  who  was  thoroughly  posted  regarding  frontier  life.  This 
personage  was  no  other  than  the  illustrious  George  Washington,  who  then 
held  considerable  interest  in  Western  lands.  He  was  at  this  time  just 
twenty-two  years  of  age.  Taking  Gist  as  his  guide,  the  two,  accompanied 
by  four  servitors,  set  out  on  their  perilous  march.  They  left  Will's 
Creek  on  the  10th  of  November,  1753,  and  on  the  22d  reached  the  Monon- 
gahela,  about  ten  miles  above  the  fork.  From  there  they  went  to 
Logstown,  where  Washington  had  a  long  conference  with  the  chiefs  of 
the  Six  Nations.  From  them  he  learned  the  condition  of  the  French,  and 
also  heard  of  their  determination  not  to  come  down  the  river  till  the  fol- 
lowing Spring.  The  Indians  were  non-committal,  as  they  were  afraid  to 
turn  either  way,  and,  as  far  as  they  could,  desired  to  remain  neutral. 
Washington,  finding  nothing  could  be  done  with  them,  went  on  to 
Venango,  an  old  Indian  town  at  the  mouth  of  French  Creek.  Here  the 
French  had  a  fort,  called  Fort  Machault.  Through  the  rum  and  flattery 
of  the  French,  he  nearly  lost  all  his  Indian  followers.  Finding  nothing 
•of  importance  here,  he  pursued  his  way  amid  great  privations,  and  on  the 
11th  of  December  reached  the  fort  at  the  head  of  French  Creek.  Here 
he  delivered  Governor  Dinwiddle's  letter,  received  his  answer,  took  his 
observations,  and  on  the  16th  set  out  upon  his  return  journey  with  no  one 
but  Gist,  his  guide,  and  a  few  Indians  who  still  remained  true  to  him, 
notwithstanding  the  endeavors  of  the  French  to  retain  them.  Their 
homeward  journe}^  was  one  of  great  peril  and  suffering  from  the  cold,  yet 
they  reached  home  in  safety  on  the  6th  of  January,  1754. 

From  the  letter  of* St.  Pierre,  commander  of  the  French  fort,  sent  by 
Washington  to  Governor  Dinwiddie,  it  was  learned  that  the  French  would 
not  give  up  without  a  struggle.  Active  preparations  were  at  once  made 
in  all  the  English  colonies  for  the  coming  conflict,  while  the  French 
finished  the  fort  at  Venango  and  strengthened  their  lines  of  fortifications, 
and  gathered  their  forces  to  be  in  readiness. 

The  Old  Dominion  was  all  alive.  Virginia  was  the  center  of  great 
activities  ;  volunteers  were  called  for,  and  from  all  the  neighboring 
colonies  men  rallied  to  the  conflict,  and  everywhere  along  the  Potomac 
men  were  enlisting  under  the  Governor's  proclamation — which  promised 
two  hundred  thousand  acres  on  the  Ohio.  Along  this  river  they  were 
gathering  as  far  as  Will's  Creek,  and  far  beyond  this  point,  whither  Trent 
had  come  for  assistance  for  his  little  band  of  forty-one  men,  who  were 


40  Tin-:    NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

working  away  in   hiint^er  and  want,  to   fortify  tliat  point   at  the   fork   of 
the  Ohio,  to  which  both  parties  were  looking  with  deep  interest. 

"  The  first  birds  of  Spring  filled  the  air  with  their  song ;  the  swiffc 
river  rolled  l)y  tlie  Allegheny  hillsides,  swollen  by  the  melting  snows  of 
Spring  and  the  April  showers.  The  leaves  were  appearing  ;  a  few  Indian 
scouts  were  seen,  but  no  enemy  seemed  near  at  hand  ;  and  all  was  so  quiet,, 
that  Frazier,  an  old  Indian  scout  and  trader,  Avho  had  been  left  by  Trent 
in  command,  ventured  to  his  home  at  the  mouth  of  Turtle  Creek,  ten 
miles  up  the  Mouongahela.  But,  though  all  was  so  quiet  in  that  wilder- 
ness, keen  eyes  had  seen  the  low  intrenchment  rising  at  the  fork,  and. 
swift  feet  had  borne  the  news  of  it  up  the  river ;  and  upon  the  morning- 
of  the  17th  of  April,  Ensign  Ward,  -who  then  had  charge  of  it,  saw 
upon  the  Allegheny  a  sight  that  made  his  heart  sink — sixty  batteaux  and 
three  hundred  canoes  filled  with  men,  and  laden  deep  with  cannon  and 
stores,  *  *  *  That  evening  he  supped  with  his  captor,  Contrecoeur^ 
and  the  next  day  he  was  bowed  off  by  the  Frenchman,  and  with  his  men 
and  tools,  marched  up  the  Monongahela." 

The  French  and  Indian  war  had  begun.  The  treaty  of  Aix  la 
Chapelle,  in  1748,  had  left  the  boundaries  between  the  French  and 
English  possessions  imsettled,  and  the  events  already  narrated  show  the 
French  were  determined  to  hold  the  country  watered  by  the  Mississippi 
and  its  tributaries  ;  while  the  English  laid  claims  to  the  country  by  virtue 
of  the  discoveries  of  the  Cabots,  and  claimed  all  the  country  from  New- 
foundland to  Florida,  extending  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  The 
first  decisive  blow  had  now  been  struck,  and  the  first  attempt  of  the 
English,  through  the  Ohio  Company,  to  occupy  these  lands,  had  resulted 
disastrously  to  them.  The  French  and  Indians  immediately  completed 
the  fortifications  begun  at  the  Fork,  which  they  ha^  so  easily  captured,, 
and  when  completed  gave  to  the  fort  the  name  of  DuQuesne.  Washing- 
ton was  at  Will's  Creek  when  the  news  of  the  capture  of  the  fort  arrived. 
He  at  once  departed  to  recapture  it.  On  his  way  he  entrenched  him- 
self at  a  place  called  the  "  Meadows,"  where  he  erected  a  fort  called 
by  him  Fort  Necessity.  From  there  he  surprised  and  captured  a  force  of 
French  and  Indians  marching  against  him,  but  was  soon  after  attacked 
in  liis  fort  by  a  much  superior  force,  and  was  obliged  to  yield  on  the 
morning  of  July  4th.     He  was  allowed  to  return  to  Virginia. 

The  English  Government  immediately  planned  four  campaigns;  one 
against  Fort  DuQuesne  ;  one  against  Nova  Scotia ;  one  against  Fort 
Niagara,  and  one  against  Crown  Point.  These  occurred  during  1755-6» 
and  were  not  successful  in  driving  the  French  from  their  possessions. 
The  expedition  against  Fort  DuQuesne  was  led  by  the  famous  General 
Braddock,  who,  refusing  to  listen  to  the  advice  of  Washington  and  those 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  41 

acquainted  with  Indian  warfare,  suffered  such  an  inglorious  defeat.  This 
occurred  on  the  morning  of  July  9th,  and  is  generally  known  as  the  battle 
of  Monongahela,  or  "  Braddock's  Defeat."  The  war  continued  with 
various  vicissitudes  through  the  years  1756-7  ;  when,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  1758,  in  accordance  with  the  plans  of  William  Pitt,  then  Secre- 
tary of  State,  afterwards  Lord  Chatham,  active  preparations  were  made  to 
carry  on  the  war.  Three  expeditious  were  planned  for  this  year :  one, 
under  General  Amherst,  against  Louisburg  ;  another,  under  Abercrombie, 
against  Fort  Ticonderoga  ;  and  a  third,  under  General  Forbes,  against 
Fort  DuQuesne.  On  the  26th  of  July,  Louisburg  surrendered  after  a 
desperate  resistance  of  more  than  forty  days,  and  the  eastern  part  of  the 
Canadian  possessions  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British.  Abercrombie 
captured  Fort  Frontenac,  and  when  the  expedition  against  Fort  DuQuesne, 
of  which  Washington  had  the  active  command,  arrived  there,  it  was 
found  in  flames  and  deserted.  The  English  at  once  took  possession, 
rebuilt  the  fort,  and  in  honor  of  their  illustrious  statesman,  changed  the 
name  to  Fort  Pitt. 

The  great  object  of  the  campaign  of  1759,  was  the  reduction  of 
Canada.  General  Wolfe  was  to  lay  siege  to  Quebec ;  Amherst  was  to 
reduce  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and  General  Prideaux  was  to 
capture  Niagara.  This  latter  place  was  taken  in  July,  but  the  gallant 
Prideaux  lost  his  life  in  the  attempt.  Amherst  captured  Ticonderoga 
and  Crown  Point  without  a  blow  ;  and  Wolfe,  after  making  the  memor- 
able ascent  to  the  Plains  of  Abraham,  on  September  13th,  defeated 
Montcalm,  and  on  the  18th,  the  city  capitulated.  In  this  engagement 
Montcolm  and  Wolfe  both  lost  their  lives.  De  Levi,  Montcalm's  successor, 
marched  to  Sillery,  three  miles  above  the  city,  with  the  purpose  of 
defeating  the  English,  and  there,  on  the  28th  of  the  following  April,  was 
fousht  one  of  the  bloodiest  battles  of  the  French  and  Indian  War.  It 
resulted  in  the  defeat  of  the  French,  and  the  fall  of  the  City  of  Montreal. 
The  Governor  signed  a  capitulation  by  which  the  whole  of  Canada  was 
surrendered  to  the  English.  This  practically  concluded  the  war,  but  it 
was  not  until  1763  that  the  treaties  of  peace  between  France  and  England 
were  signed.  This  was  done  on  the  10th  of  February  of  that  year,  and 
under  its  provisions  all  the  country  east  of  the  Mississippi  and  north  of 
the  Iberville  River,  in  Louisiana,  were  ceded  to  England.  At  the  same 
time  Spain  ceded  Florida  to  Great  Britain. 

On  the  13th  of  September,  1760,  Major  Robert  Rogers  v/as  sent 
from  Montreal  to  take  charge  of  Detroit,  the  only  remaining  French  post 
in  the  territory.  He  arrived  there  on  the  19th  of  November,  and  sum- 
moned the  place  to  surrender.  At  first  the  commander  of  the  post, 
Beletre,  refused,  but  on  the  29tli,  hearing  of  the  continued  defeat  of  the 


42  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

French  arms,  surrendered.  Rogers  remained  there  until  December  23d 
under  the  personal  protection  of  the  celebrated  chief,  Pontiac,  to  whom, 
no  doubt,  he  owed  his  safety.  Pontiac  had  come  here  to  inquire  the 
purposes  of  the  EngUsh  in  taking  possession  of  the  country.  He  was 
assured  that  they  came  simply  to  trade  with  the  natives,  and  did  not 
desire  their  country.  This  answer  conciliated  the  savages,  and  did  much 
to  insure  the  safety  of  Rogers  and  his  party  during  their  stay,  and  while 
on  their  journey  home. 

Rogers  set  out  for  Fort  Pitt  on  December  23,  and  was  just  one 
month  on  the  way.  His  route  was  from  Detroit  to  Maumee,  thence 
across  the  present  State  of  Ohio  directly  to  the  fort.  This  was  the  com- 
mon trail  of  the  Indians  in  their  journeys  from  Sandusky  to  the  fork  of 
the  Ohio.  It  went  from  Fort  Sandusky,  where  Sandusky  City  now  is, 
crossed  the  Huron  river,  then  called  Bald  Eagle  Creek,  to  "  Mohickon 
John's  Town"  on  Mohickon  Creek,  the  northern  branch  of  White 
Woman's  River,  and  thence  crossed  to  Beaver's  Town,  a  Delaware  town 
on  what  is  now  Sandy  Creek.  At  Beaver's  Town  were  probably  one 
hundred  and  fifty  warriors,  and  not  less  than  three  thousand  acres  of 
cleared  land.  From  there  the  track  went  up  Sandy  Creek  to  and  across 
Big  Beaver,  and  up  the  Ohio  to  Logstown,  thence  on  to  the  fork. 

The  Northwest  Territory  was  now  entirely  under  the  English  rule. 
New  settlements  began  to  be  rapidly  made,  and  the  promise  of  a  large 
trade  was  speedily  manifested.  Had  the  British  carried  out  their  promises 
with  the  natives  none  of  those  savage  butcheries  would  have  been  perpe- 
trated, and  the  country  would  have  been  spared  their  recital. 

The  renowned  chief,  Pontiac,  was  one  of  the  leading  spirits  in  these 
atrocities.  We  will  now  pause  in  our  narrative,  and  notice  the  leading 
events  in  his  life.  The  earliest  authentic  information  regarding  this 
noted  Indian  chief  is  learned  from  an  account  of  an  Indian  trader  named 
Alexander  Henry,  who,  in  the  Spring  of  1761,  penetrated  his  domains  as 
far  as  Missillimacnac.  Pontiac  was  then  a  great  friend  of  the  French, 
but  a  bitter  foe  of  the  English,  whom  he  considered  as  encroaching  on  his 
hunting  grounds.  Henry  was  obliged  to  disguise  himself  as  a  Canadian 
to  insure  safety,  but  was  discovered  by  Pontiac,  who  bitterly  reproached 
him  and  the  English  for  their  attempted  subjugation  of  the  West.  He 
declared  that  no  treaty  had  been  made  with  them ;  no  presents  sent 
them,  and  that  he  would  resent  any  possession  of  the  West  by  that  nation. 
He  was  at  the  time  about  fifty  years  of  age,  tall  and  dignified,  and  was 
civil  and  military  ruler  of  the  Ottawas,  Ojibwas  and  Pottawatamies. 

The  Indians,  from  Lake  Michigan  to  the  borders  of  North  Carolina, 
were  united  in  this  feeling,  and  at  the  time  of  the  treaty  of  Paris,  ratified 
February  10,  1763,  a   general  conspiracy  was  formed  to  fall  suddenly 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


48 


PONTIAC,  THE  OTTAWA  CHIEFTAIN. 


44  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

upon  the  frontier  British  posts,  and  with  one  blow  strike  every  man  dead. 
Pontiac  was  the  marked  leader  in  all  this,  and  was  the  commander 
of  the  Chippewas,  Ottawas,  Wyandots,  Miamis,  Shawanese,  Delawares- 
and  Minn-oes,  who  had,  for  the  time,  laid  aside  their  local  quarrels  to  unit© 
in  this  enterprise. 

The  blow  came,  as  near  as  can  now  be  ascertained,  on  May  7,  1768. 
Nine  British  posts  fell,  and  the  Indians  drank,  "  scooped  up  in  the  hollow 
of  joined  hands,"  the  blood  of  many  a  Briton. 

Pontiac's  immediate  field  of  action  was  the  garrison  at  Detroit. 
Here,  however,  the  plans  were  frustrated  by  an  Indian  woman  disclosing 
the  plot  the  evening  previous  to  his  arrival.  Everything  was  carried  out, 
however,  according  to  Pontiac's  plans  until  the  moment  of  action,  when 
Major  Gladwyn,  the  commander  of  the  post,  stepping  to  one  of  the  Indian 
chiefs,  suddenly  drew  aside  his  blanket  and  disclosed  the  concealed 
musket.  Pontiac,  though  a  brave  man,  turned  pale  and  trembled.  He 
saw  his  plan  was  known,  and  that  the  garrison  were  prepared.  He 
endeavored  to  exculpate  himself  from  any  such  intentions ;  but  the  guilt 
was  evident,  and  he  and  his  followers  were  dismissed  with  a  sever© 
reprimand,  and  warned  never  to  again  enter  the  walls  of  the  post. 

Pontiac  at  once  laid  siege  to  the  fort,  and  until  the  treaty  of  peace 
between  the  British  and  the  Western  Indians,  concluded  in  August,  1764» 
continued  to  harass  and  besiege  the  fortress.  He  organized  a  regular 
commissariat  department,  issued  bills  of  credit  written  out  on  bark» 
which,  to  his  credit,  it  may  be  stated,  were  punctually  redeemed.  At 
the  conclusion  of  the  treaty,  in  which  it  seems  he  took  no  part,  he  went 
further  south,  living  many  years  among  the  Illinois. 

He  had  given  up  all  hope  of  saving  his  country  and  race.  After  a 
time  he  endeavored  to  unite  the  Illinois  tribe  and  those  about  St.  Louis 
in  a  war  with  the  whites.  His  efforts  were  fruitless,  and  only  ended  in  a 
quarrel  between  himself  and  some  Kaskaskia  Indians,  one  of  whom  soon 
afterwards  killed  him.  His  death  was,  however,  avenged  by  the  northern 
Indians,  who  nearly  exterminated  the  Illinois  in  the  wars  which  followed. 
Had  it  not  been  for  the  treachery  of  a  few  of  his  followers,  his  plan 
for  the  extermination  of  the  whites,  a  masterly  one,  would  undoubtedly 
have  been  carried  out. 

It  was  in  the  Spring  of  the  year  following  Rogers'  visit  that  Alex- 
ander Henry  went  to  Missillimacnac,  and  everywhere  found  the  strongest 
feelings  against  the  English,  who  had  not  carried  out  their  promises,  and 
were  doing  nothing  to  conciliate  the  natives.  Here  he  met  the  chief, 
Pontiac,  who,  after  conveying  to  him  in  a  speecli  the  idea  that  their 
French  father  would  awake  soon  and  utterly  destroy  his  enemies,  said : 
"  Englishman,  although  you  have  conquered  the   French,  you  have  not 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  4^ 

yet  conquered  us  !  We  are  not  your  slaves!  These  lakes,  these  woodsy 
these  mountains,  were  left  us  by  our  ancestors.  They  are  our  inheritance, 
and  we  will  part  with  them  to  none.  Your  nation  supposes  that  we,  lik& 
the  white  people,  can  not  live  without  bread  and  pork  and  beef.  But  you 
ought  to  know  that  He,  the  Great  Spirit  and  Master  of  Life,  has  provided 
food  for  us  upon  these  broad  lakes  and  in  these  mountains." 

He  then  spoke  of  the  fact  that  no  treaty  had  been  made  with  them, 
no  presents  sent  them,  and  that  he  and  his  people  were  yet  for  war. 
Such  were  the  feelings  of  the  Northwestern  Indians  immediately  after 
the  English  took  possession  of  their  country.  These  feelings  were  no 
doubt  encouraged  by  the  Canadians  and  French,  who  hoped  that  yet  the 
French  arms  might  prevail.  The  treaty  of  Paris,  however,  gave  to  the 
English  the  right  to  this  vast  domain,  and  active  preparations  were  going 
on  to  occupy  it  and  enjoy  its  trade  and  emoluments. 

In  1762,  France,  by  a  secret  treaty,  ceded  Louisiana  to  Spain,  to  pre- 
vent it  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  English,  who  were  becoming  masters 
of  the  entire  West.  The  next  year  the  treaty  of  Paris,  signed  at  Fon- 
tainbleau,  gave  to  the  English  the  domain  of  the  country  in  question. 
Twenty  years  after,  by  the  treaty  of  peace  between  the  United  States 
and  England,  that  part  of  Canada  lying  south  and  west  of  the  Great 
Lakes,  comprehending  a  large  territory  which  is  the  subject  of  these 
sketches,  was  acknowledged  to  be  a  portion  of  the  United  States  ;  and 
twenty  years  still  later,  in  1803,  Louisiana  was  ceded  by  Spain  back  to- 
France,  and  by  France  sold  to  the  United  States. 

In  the  half  century,  from  the  building  of  the  Fort  of  Crevecceur  by 
LaSalle,  in  1680,  up  to  the  erection  of  Fort  Chartres,  many  French  set* 
tlements  had  been  made  in  that  quarter.  These  have  already  been 
noticed,  being  those  at  St.  Vincent  (Vincennes),  Kohokia  or  Cahokia, 
Kaskaskia  and  Prairie  du  Rocher,  on  the  American  Bottom,  a  large  tract 
of  rich  alluvial  soil  in  Illinois,  on  the  Mississippi,  opposite  the  site  of  St^ 
Louis. 

By  the  treaty  of  Paris,  the  regions  east  of  the  Mississippi,  including 
all  these  and  other  towns  of  the  Northwest,  were  given  over  to  England^ 
but  they  do  not  appear  to  have  been  taken  possession  of  until  1765,  when 
Captain  Stirling,  in  the  name  of  the  Majesty  of  England,  established  him- 
self at  Fort  Chartres  bearing  with  him  the  proclamation  of  General  Gage, 
dated  December  30,  1764,  which  promised  religious  freedom  to  all  Cath- 
olics who  worshiped  here,  and  a  right  to  leave  the  country  with  their 
effects  if  they  wished,  or  to  remain  with  the  privileges  of  Englishmen. 
It  was  shortly  after  the  occupancy  of  the  West  by  the  British  that  the 
war  with  Pontiac  opened.  It  is  already  noticed  in  the  sketch  of  that 
chieftain-     By  it  many  a;  Briton  lost  his  life,  and  many  a  frontier  settle- 


46  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

ment  in  its  infancy  ceased  to  exist.  This  was  not  ended  until  the  year 
17G4,  when,  failing  to  capture  Detroit,  Niagara  and  Fort  Pitt,  his  confed- 
■eracy  became  disheartened,  and,  receiving  no  aid  from  the  French,  Pon- 
tiac  abandoned  the  enterprise  and  departed  to  the  Illinois,  among  whom 
he  afterward  lost  his  life. 

As  soon  as  these  difficulties  were  definitely  settled,  settlers  began 
rapidly  to  survey  the  country  and  prepare  for  occupation.  During  the 
3'ear  1770,  a  number  of  persons  from  Virginia  and  other  British  provinces 
explored  and  marked  out  nearly  all  the  valuable  lands  on  the  Mononga- 
hela  and  along  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  as  far  as  the  Little  Kanawha.  This 
was  followed  by  another  exploring  expedition,  in  which  George  Washing- 
ton was  a  party.  The  latter,  accompanied  by  Dr.  Craik,  Capt.  Crawford 
and  others,  on  the  20th  of  October,  1770,  descended  the  Ohio  from  Pitts- 
bursfh  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kanawha ;  ascended  that  stream  about  fourteen 
miles,  marked  out  several  large  tracts  of  land,  shot  several  buffalo,  which 
were  then  abundant  in  the  Ohio  Valley,  and  returned  to  the  fort. 

Pittsburgh  was  at  this  time  a  trading  post,  about  which  was  clus- 
tered a  village  of  some  twenty  houses,  inhabited  by  Indian  traders.  This 
same  year,  Capt.  Pittman  visited  Kaskaskia  and  its  neighboring  villages. 
He  found  there  about  sixty-five  resident  families,  and  at  Cahokia  only 
forty-five  dwellings.  At  Fort  Chartres  was  another  small  settlement,  and 
at  Detroit  the  garrison  were  quite  prosperous  and  strong.  For  a  year 
or  two  settlers  continued  to  locate  near  some  of  these  posts,  generally 
Fort  Pitt  or  Detroit,  owing  to  the  fears  of  the  Indians,  who  still  main- 
tained some  feelings  of  hatred  to  the  English.  The  trade  from  the  posts 
was  quite  good,  and  from  those  in  Illinois  large  quantities  of  pork  and 
ilour  found  their  way  to  the  New  Orleans  market.  At  this  time  the 
policy  of  the  British  Government  was  strongly  opposed  to  the  extension 
of  the  colonies  west.  In  1763,  the  King  of  England  forbade,  by  royal 
proclamation,  his  colonial  subjects  from  making  a  settlement  beyond  the 
sources  of  the  rivers  which  fall  into  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  At  the  instance 
of  the  Board  of  Trade,  measures  were  taken  to  prevent  the  settlement 
without  the  limits  prescribed,  and  to  retain  the  commerce  within  easy 
reach  of  Great  Britain. 

The  commander-in-chief  of  the  king's  forces  wrote  in  1769  :  "  In  the 
course  of  a  few  years  necessity  will  compel  the  colonists,  should  they 
extend  their  settlements  west,  to  provide  manufactures  of  some  kind  for 
themselves,  and  when  all  connection  upheld  by  commerce  with  the  mother 
country  ceases,  an  independency  in  their  government  will  soon  follow." 

In  accordance  with  this  policy.  Gov.  Gage  issued  a  proclamation 
in  1772,  commanding  the  inhabitants  of  Vincennes  to  abandon  their  set- 
tiements  and  join  some  of  the  Eastern  Eugiifl'  colonies.     To  this  they 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  47 

strenuously  objected,  giving  good  reasons  therefor,  and  were  allowed  to 
remain.  The  strong  opposition  to  this  policy  of  Great  Britain  led  to  its 
change,  and  to  such  a  course  as  to  gain  the  attachment  of  the  French 
population.  In  December,  1773,  influential  citizens  of  Quebec  petitioned 
the  king  for  an  extension  of  the  boundary  lines  of  that  province,  which 
was  granted,  and  Parliament  passed  an  act  on  June  2,  1774,  extend- 
ing the  boundary  so  as  to  include  the  territory  lying  within  the  present 
States  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Michigan. 

In  conseciuence  of  the  liberal  policy  pursued  by  the  British  Govern- 
ment toward  the  French  settlers  in  the  West,  they  were  disposed  to  favor 
that  nation  in  the  war  which  soon  followed  with  the  colonies  ;  but  the 
early  alliance  between  France  and  America  soon  brought  them  to  the  side 
of  the  war  for  independence. 

In  1774,  Gov.  Dunmore,  of  Virginia,  began  to  encourage  emigration 
to  the  Western  lands.  He  appointed  magistrates  at  Fort  Pitt  under  the 
pretense  that  the  fort  was  under  the  government  of  that  commonwealth. 
One  of  these  justices,  John  Connelly,  who  possessed  a  tract  of  land  in  the 
Ohio  Valley,  gathered  a  force  of  men  and  garrisoned  the  fort,  calling  it 
Fort  Dunmore.  This  and  other  parties  were  formed  to  select  sites  for 
settlements,  and  often  came  in  conflict  with  the  Indians,  who  yet  claimed 
portions  of  the  valley,  and  several  battles  followed.  These  ended  in  the 
famous  battle  of  Kanawha  in  July,  where  the  Indians  were  defeated  and 
driven  across  the  Ohio. 

During  the  years  1775  and  1776,  by  the  operations  of  land  companies 
and  the  perseveranceof  individuals,  several  settlements  were  firmly  estab- 
lished between  the  Alleghanies  and  the  Ohio  River,  and  western  land 
speculators  were  busy  in  Illinois  and  on  the  Wabash.  At  a  council  held 
in  Kaskaskia  on  July  5,  1773,  an  association  of  English  traders,  calling- 
themselves  the  "  lUinois  Land  Company,"  obtained  from  ten  chiefs  of  the 
Kaskaskia,  Cahokia  and  Peoria  tribes  two  large  tracts  of  land  lying  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi  River  south  of  the  Illinois.  In  1775,  a  mer- 
chant from  the  Illinois  Country,  named  Viviat,  came  to  Post  Vincenne& 
as  the  agent  of  the  association  called  the  "  Wabash  Land  Company."  On 
the  8th  of  October  he  obtained  from  eleven  Piankeshaw  chiefs,  a  deed  for 
37,497,600  acres  of  land.  This  deed  was  signed  by  the  grantors,  attested 
by  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Vincennes,  and  afterward  recorded  in 
the  office  of  a  notary  public  at  Kaskaskia.  This  and  other  land  com- 
panies had  extensive  schemes  for  the  colonization  of  the  West ;  but  all 
were  frustrated  by  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution.  On  the  20th  of 
April,  1780,  the  two  companies  named  consohdated  under  the  name  of  the 
"  United  Illinois  and  Wabash  Land  Company."     They  afterward  made 


48  THE    NORTHWEST    TERRITORY. 

strenuous  efforts  to  have  these  grants  sanctioned  by  Congress,  but  all 
signally  failed. 

When  the  War  of  the  Revolution  commenced,  Kentucky  w^as  an  unor- 
ganized country,  though  there  were  several  settlements  within  her  borders. 

In  Hutchins'  Topography  of  Virginia,  it  is  stated  thac  at  that  time 
"  Kaskaskia  contained  80  houses,  and  nearly  1,000  white  and  black  in- 
habitants—  the  whites  being  a  little  the  more  numerous.  Cahokia  con- 
tains 50  houses  and  300  white  inhabitants,  and  80  negroes.  There  were 
-east  of  the  Mississippi  River,  about  the  year  1771  " — when  these  observa- 
tions were  made  — "  300  white  men  capable  of  bearing  arms,  and  230 
negroes." 

From  1775  until  the  expedition  of  Clark,  nothing  is  recorded  and 
nothing  known  of  these  settlements,  save  what  is  contained  in  a  report 
made  by  a  committee  to  Congress  in  June,  1778.  From  it  the  following 
extract  is  made : 

"  Near  the  mouth  of  the  River  Kaskaskia,  there  is  a  village  which 
appears  to  have  contained  nearly  eighty  families  from  the  beginning  of 
the  late  revolution.  There  are  twelve  families  in  a  small  village  at  la 
Prairie  du  Rochers,  and  near  fifty  families  at  the  Kahokia  Village.  There 
are  also  four  or  five  families  at  Fort  Chartres  and  St.  Philips,  which  is  five 
miles  further  up  the  river." 

St.  Louis  had  been  settled  in  February,  1764,  and  at  this  time  con- 
tained, including  its  neighboring  towns,  over  six  hundred  whites  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty  negroes.  It  must  be  remembered  that  all  the  country 
west  of  the  Mississippi  was  now  under  French  rule,  and  remained  so  until 
■ceded  again  to  Sjjain,  its  original  owner,  who  afterwards  sold  it  and  the 
country  including  New  Orleans  to  the  United  States.  At  Detroit  there 
were,  according  to  Capt.  Carver,  who  was  in  the  Northwest  from  1766  to 
1768,  more  than  one  hundred  houses,  and  the  river  was  settled  for  more 
than  twenty  miles,  although  poorly  cultivated — the  people  being  engaged 
in  the  Indian  trade.  This  old  town  has  a  history,  which  we  will  here 
relate. 

It  is  the  oldest  town  in  the  Northwest,  having  been  founded  by 
Antoine  de  Lamotte  Cadillac,  in  1701.  It  was  laid  out  in  the  form  of  an 
oblong  square,  of  two  acres  in  length,  and  an  acre  and  a  half  in  width. 
As  described  by  A.  D.  Frazer,  who  first  visited  it  and  became  a  permanent 
resident  of  the  place,  in  1778,  it  comprised  within  its  limits  that  space 
between  Mr.  Palmer's  store  (Conant  Block)  and  Capt.  Perkins'  house 
{near  the  Arsenal  building),  and  extended  back  as  far  as  the  public  barn, 
and  was  bordered  in  front  by  the  Detroit  River.  It  was  surrounded  by 
oak  and  cedar  pickets,  about  fifteen  feet  long,  set  in  the  ground,  and  had 
four  gates  —  east,  west,  north  and  south.     Over  the  first  tlu-ee  of  these 


THE   NORTHWEST    TERRITORY.  49 

gates  were  block  houses  provided  with  four  guns  apiece,  each  a  six- 
pounder.  Two  six-gun  batteries  were  planted  fronting  the  river  and  in  a 
parallel  direction  with  the  block  houses.  There  were  four  streets  running 
€ast  and  west,  the  main  street  being  twenty  feet  wide  and  the  rest  fifteen 
feet,  while  the  four  streets  crossing  these  at  right  angles  were  from  ten 
to  fifteen  feet  in  width. 

At  the  date  spoken  of  by  Mr.  Frazer,  there  was  no  fort  within  the 
enclosure,  but  a  citadel  on  the  ground  corresponding  to  the  present 
northwest  corner  of  Jefferson  Avenue  and  Wayne  Street.  The  citadel  was 
inclosed  by  pickets,  and  within  it  were  erected  barracks  of  wood,  two 
stories  high,  sufficient  to  contain  ten  officers,  and  also  barracks  sufficient 
to  contain  four  hundred  men,  and  a  provision  store  built  of  brick.  The 
citadel  also  contained  a  hospital  and  guard-house.  The  old  town  of 
Detroit,  in  1778,  contained  about  sixty  houses,  most  of  them  one  story, 
with  a  few  a  story  and  a  half  in  height.  They  were  all  of  logs,  some 
hewn  and  some  round.  There  was  one  building  of  splendid  appearance, 
called  the  "  King's  Palace,"  two  stories  high,  which  stood  near  the  east 
gate.  It  was  built  for  Governor  Hamilton,  the  first  governor  commissioned 
by  the  British.  There  were  two  guard-houses,  one  near  the  west  gate  and 
the  other  near  the  Government  House.  Each  of  the  guards  consisted  of 
twenty-four  men  and  a  subaltern,  who  mounted  regularly  every  morning 
between  nine  and  ten  o'clock,  Each  furnished  four  sentinels,  who  were 
relieved  every  two  hours.  There  was  also  an  officer  of  the  day,  who  pjr- 
formed  strict  dut3%  Each  of  the  gates  was  shut  regularly  at  sunset ; 
even  wicket  gates  were  shut  at  nine  o'clock,  and  all  the  keys  were 
delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  commanding  officer.  They  were  opened 
in  the  morning  at  sunrise.  No  Indian  or  squaw  was  permitted  to  enter 
town  with  any  weapon,  such  as  a  tomahawk  or  a  knife.  It  was  a  stand- 
ing order  that  the  Indians  should  deliver  their  arms  and  instruments  of 
every  kind  before  they  were  permitted  to  pass  the  sentinel,  and  they  were 
restored  to  them  on  their  return.  No  more  than  twenty-five  Indians  were 
allowed  to  enter  the  town  at  any  one  time,  and  they  were  admitted  only 
at  the  east  and  west  gates.  At  sundown  the  drums  beat,  and  all  the 
Indians  were  required  to  leave  town  instantly.  There  was  a  council  house 
near  the  water  side  for  the  purpose  of  holding  council  with  the  Indians. 
The  population  of  the  town  was  about  sixty  families,  in  all  about  two 
hundred  males  and  one  hundred  females.  This  town  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  all  except  one  dwelling,  in  1805.  After  which  the  present  "  new  " 
town  was  laid  out. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution,  the  British  held  every  post  of 
importance  in  the  West.  Kentucky  was  formed  as  a  com]3onent  part  of 
Virginia,  and  the  sturdy  pioneers  of  the  West,  alive  to  their  interests, 


50  THE   NORTHWEST    TERRITORY. 

and  recogrnizinsf  the  areat  benefits  of  obtaininsr  the  control  of  the  trade  in 
this  part  of  the  New  World,  held  steadily  to  their  purposes,  and  those 
within  the  commonwealth  of  Kentucky  proceeded  to  exercise  their 
civil  privileges,  by  electing  John  Todd  and  Richard  Gallaway, 
burgesses  to  represent  them  in  the  Assembly  of  the  parent  state. 
Early  in  September  of  that  year  (1777)  the  first  court  was  held 
in  Harrodsburg,  and  Col.  Bowman,  afterwards  major,  who  had  arrived 
in  August,  was  made  the  commander  of  a  militia  organization  which 
had  been  commenced  the  March  previous.  Thus  the  tree  of  loyalty 
was  growing.  The  chief  spirit  in  this  far-out  colony,  who  had  represented 
her  the  year  previous  east  of  the  mountains,  was  now  meditating  a  move 
unequaled  in  its  boldness.  He  had  been  watching  the  movements  of  the 
British  throughout  the  Northwest,  and  understood  their  whole  plan.  Ht 
saw  it  was  through  their  possession  of  the  posts  at  Detroit,  Vincennes, 
Kaskaskia,  and  other  places,  which  would  give  them  constant  and  easy 
access  to  the  various  Indian  tribes  in  the  Northwest,  that  the  British 
intended  to  penetrate  the  country  from  the  north  and  soutn,  ana  annihi- 
late the  frontier  fortresses.  This  moving,  energetic  man  was  Colonel, 
afterwards  General,  George  Rogers  Clark.  He  knew  the  Indians  were  not 
unanimously  in  accord  with  the  English,  and  he  was  convinced  that,  could 
the  British  be  defeated  and  expelled  from  the  Northwest,  the  natives 
might  be  easily  awed  into  neutrality  ;  and  by  spies  sent  for  the  purpose, 
he  satisfied  himself  that  the  enterprise  against  the  Illinois  settlements 
might  easily  succeed.  Having  convinced  himself  of  the  certainty  of  the 
project,  he  repaired  to  the  Capital  of  Virginia,  which  place  he  reached  on 
November  5th.  While  he  was  on  his  way,  fortunately,  on  October  17th, 
Burgoyne  had  been  defeated,  and  the  spirits  of  the  colonists  greatly 
encouraged  thereby.  Patrick  Henry  was  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  at 
once  entered  heartily  into  Clark's  plans.  The  same  plan  had  before  been 
agitated  in  the  Colonial  Assemblies,  but  there  was  no  one  until  Clark 
came  who  was  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the  condition  of  affairs  at  the 
scene  of  action  to  be  able  to  guide  them. 

Clark,  having  satisfied  the  Virginia  leaders  of  the  feasibility  of  his 
plan,  received,  on  the  2d  of  January,  two  sets  of  instructions — one  secret, 
the  other  open  —  the  latter  authorized  him  to  proceed  to  enlist  seven 
companies  to  go  to  Kentucky,  subject  to  his  orders,  and  to  serve  three 
months  from  their  arrival  in  the  West.  The  secret  order  authorized  him 
to  arm  these  troops,  to  procure  his  powder  and  lead  of  General  Hand 
at  Pittsburgh,  and  to  proceed  at  once  to  subjugate  the  country. 

With  these  instructions  Clark  repaired  to  Pittsburgh,  choosing  rather 
to  raise  his  men  west  of  the  mountains,  as  he  well  knew  all  were  needed 
in  the  colonies  in  the  conflict  there.     He  sent  Col.  W.  B.  Smith  to  Hoi- 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  51 

ston  for  the  same  purpose,  but  neither  succeeded  in  raising  the  required 
number  of  men.     The  settlers  in  these  parts  were  afraid  to  le'ave  their 
own  firesides  exposed  to  a  vigilant  foe,  and  but  few  could  be  induced  to 
join  the  proposed  expedition.     With  three  companies  and  several  private 
volunteers,  Clark  at  length  commenced  his  descent  of  the  Ohio,  which  he 
navigated  as  far  as  the  Falls,  where  he  took  possession  of  and  fortified 
Corn    Island,  a  small  island  between  the    present  Cities  of  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  and  New  Albany,  Indiana.     Remains  of  this  fortification  may 
yet  be    found.     At  this  place   he  appointed  Col.  Bowman  to  meet  him 
with  such  recruits  as  had  reached  Kentucky  by  the  southern  route,  and 
as  many  as  could  be  spared  from  the  station.     Here  he  announced  to 
the  men   their    real  destination.     Having  completed  his  arrangements, 
and  chosen  his  party,  he  left  a  small  garrison  upon  the  island,  and  on  the 
24th  of  June,  during  a  total  eclipse  of  the  sun,  which  to  them  augured 
no  good,  and  which   fixes  beyond  dispute  the  date  of  starting,  he  with 
his  chosen  band,  fell  down  the  river.     His  plan  was  to  go  by  water  as 
far  as  Fort  Massac  or  Massacre,  and  thence  march  direct  to  Kaskaskia. 
Here  he  intended  to  surprise  the  garrison,  and  after  its  capture  go  to 
Cahokia,  then  to  Vincennes,  and  lastly  to   Detroit.     Should  he  fail,  he 
intended  to  march  directly  to   the  Mississippi  River  and  cross  it  into  the 
Spanish  country.     Before  his  start  he  received  two  good  items  of  infor- 
mation :  one  that  the  alliance  had  been  formed  between  France  and  the 
United  States ;  and  the  other  that  the  Indians  throughout  the  Illinois 
country  and  the  inhabitants,  at  the  various  frontier  posts,  had  been  led  to 
believe  by  the  British  that  the  "  Long  Knives"  or  Virginians,  were  the 
most  fierce,  bloodthirsty  and  cruel  savages  that  ever  scalped  a  foe.     With 
this  impression  on  their  minds,  Clark  saw  that  proper  management  would 
cause  them  to  submit  at  once  from  fear,  if  surprised,  and  then  from  grati- 
tude would  become  friendly  if  treated  with  unexpected  leniency. 

The  march  to  Kaskaskia  was  accomplished  through  a  hot  July  sun, 
and  the  town  reached  on  the  evening  of  July  4.  He  captured  the  fort 
near  the  village,  and  soon  after  the  village  itself  by  surprise,  and  without 
the  loss  of  a  single  man  or  by  killing  any  of  the  enemy.  After  sufficiently 
working  upon  the  fears  of  the  natives,  Clark  told  them  they  were  at  per- 
fect liberty  to  worship  as  they  pleased,  and  to  take  whichever  side  of  the 
great  conflict  they  would,  also  he  would  protect  them  from  any  barbarity 
from  British  or  Indian  foe.  This  had  the  desired  effect,  and  the  inhab- 
itants, so  unexpectedly  and  so  gratefully  surprised  by  the  unlooked 
for  turn  of  affairs,  at  once  swore  allegiance  to  the  American  arms,  and 
when  Clark  desired  to  go  to  Cahokia  on  the  6tli  of  July,  they  accom- 
panied him,  and  through  their  influence  the  inhabitants  of  the  place 
surrendered,  and  gladly  placed  themselves  under  his  protection.     Thus 


Ubrary 


52  THE  NORTHWEST   TERKITORY. 

the  two  important  posts  in  Illinois  passed  from  the  hands  of  the  English 
into  the  possession  of  Virginia. 

In  the  person  of  the  priest  at  Kaskaskia,  M.  Gibault,  Clark  found  a 
powerful  ally  and  generous  friend.  Clark  saw  that,  to  retain  possession 
of  the  Northwest  and  treat  successfully  with  the  Indians  within  its  boun- 
daries, he  must  establish  a  government  for  the  colonies  he  had  taken. 
St.  Vincent,  the  next  important  post  to  Detroit, remained  yet  to  be  taken 
before  the  Mississippi  Valley  was  conquered.  M.  Gibault  told  him  that 
he  would  alone,  by  persuasion,  lead  Vincennes  to  throw  off  its  connection 
with  England.  Clark  gladly  accepted  his  offer,  and  on  the  14th  of  July, 
in  company  with  a  fellow-townsman,  M.  Gibault  started  on  his  mission  of 
peace,  and  on  the  1st  of  August  returned  with  the  cheerful  intelligence 
that  the  post  on  the  "  Oubache  "  had  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
the  Old  Dominion.  During  this  interval,  Clark  established  his  courts, 
placed  garrisons  at  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia,  successfully  re-enlisted  his 
men,  sent  word  to  have  a  fort,  which  proved  the  germ  of  Louisville, 
erected  at  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio,  and  dispatched  Mr.  Rocheblave,  who 
had  been  commander  at  Kaskaskia,  as  a  prisoner  of  war  to  Richmond. 
In  October  the  County  of  Illinois  was  established  by  the  Legislature 
of  Virginia,  John  Todd  appointed  Lieutenant  Colonel  and  Civil  Governor, 
and  in  November  General  Clark  and  his  men  received  the  thanks  of 
the  Old  Dominion  through  their  Legislature. 

In  a  speech  a  few  days  afterward,  Clark  made  known  fully  to  the 
natives  his  plans,  and  at  its  close  all  came  forward  and  swore  alle- 
giance to  the  Long  Knives.  While  he  was  doing  this  Governor  Hamilton, 
having  made  his  various  arrangements,  had  left  Detroit  and  moved  down 
the  Wabash  to  Vincennes  intending  to  operate  from  that  point  in  reducing 
the  Illinois  posts,  and  then  proceed  on  down  to  Kentucky  and  drive  the 
rebels  from  the  West.  Gen.  Clark  had,  on  the  return  of  M.  Gibault, 
dispatched  Captain  Helm,  of  Fauquier  County,  Virginia,  with  an  attend- 
ant named  Henry,  across  the  Illinois  prairies  to  command  the  fort. 
Hamilton  knew  nothing  of  the  capitulation  of  the  post,  and  was  greatly 
surprised  on  his  arrival  to  be  confronted  by  Capt.  Helm,  who,  standing  at 
the  entrance  of  the  fort  by  a  loaded  cannon  ready  to  fire  upon  his  assail- 
ants, demanded  upon  what  terms  Hamilton  demanded  possession  of  the 
fort.  Being  granted  the  rights  of  a  prisoner  of  war,  he  surrendered  to 
the  British  General,  who  could  scarcely  believe  his  eyes  when  he  saw  the 
force  in  the  garrison. 

Hamilton,  not  realizing  the  character  of  the  men  with  whom  he  was 
contending,  gave  up  his  intended  campaign  for  the  Winter,  sent  his  four 
hundred  Indian  warriors  to  prevent  troops  from  coming  down  the  Ohio, 


THE   NOETHWEST   TERRITORY.  53 

and  to  annoy  the  Americans  in  all  ways,  and  sat  quietly  down  to  pass  the 
Winter.  Information  of  all  these  proceedings  having  reached  Clark,  he 
saw  that  immediate  and  decisive  action  was  necessary,  and  that  unless 
he  captured  Hamilton,  Hamilton  would  capture  him.  Clark  received  the 
news  on  the  29th  of  January,  1779,  and  on  February  4th,  having  suffi- 
ciently garrisoned  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia,  he  sent  down  the  Mississippi 
a  "  battoe,"  as  Major  Bowman  writes  it,  in  order  to  ascend  the  Ohio  and 
Wabash,  and  operate  with  the  land  forces  gathering  for  the  fray. 

On  the  next  day,  Clark,  with  his  little  force  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  men,  set  out  for  the  post,  and  after  incredible  hard  marching 
through  much  mud,  the  ground  being  thawed  by  the  incessant  spring 
rains,  on  the  22d  reached  the  fort,  and  being  joined  by  his  "  battoe,"  at 
once  commenced  the  attack  on  the  post.  The  aim  of  the  American  back- 
woodsman was  unerring,  and  on  the  24th  the  garrison  surrendered  to  the 
intrepid  boldness  of  Clark.  The  French  were  treated  with  great  kind- 
ness, and  gladly  renewed  their  allegiance  to  Virginia.  Hamilton  was 
sent  as  a  prisoner  to  Virginia,  where  he  was  kept  in  close  confinement. 
During  his  command  of  the  British  frontier  posts,  he  had  offered  prizes 
to  the  Indians  for  all  the  scalps  of  Americans  they  would  bring  to  him, 
and  had  earned  in  consequence  thereof  the  title  "  Hair-buyer  General," 
by  which  he  was  ever  afterward  known. 

Detroit  was  now  without  doubt  within  easy  reach  of  the  enterprising 
Virginian,  could  he  but  raise  the  necessary  force.  Governor  Henry  being 
apprised  of  this,  promised  him  the  needed  reinforcement,  and  Clark  con- 
cluded to  wait  until  he  could  capture  and  sufficiently  garrison  the  posts. 
Had  Clark  failed  in  this  bold  undertaking,  and  Hamilton  succeeded  in 
uniting  the  western  Indians  for  the  next  Spring's  campaign,  the  West 
would  indeed  have  been  swept  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Allegheny 
Mountains,  and  the  great  blow  struck,  which  had  been  contemplated  from 
the  commencement,  by  the  British. 

"  But  for  this  small  army  of  dripping,  but  fearless  Virginians,  the 
union  of  all  the  tribes  from  Georgia  to  Maine  against  the  colonies  might 
have  been  effected,  and  the  whole  current  of  our  history  changed." 

At  this  time  some  fears  were  entertained  by  the  Colonial  Govern- 
ments that  the  Indians  in  the  North  and  Northwest  were  inclining  to  the 
British,  and  under  the  instructions  of  Washington,  now  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  Colonial  army,  and  so  bravely  fighting  for  American  inde- 
pendence, armed  forces  were  sent  against  the  Six  Nations,  and  upon  the 
Ohio  frontier,  Col.  Bowman,  acting  under  the  same  general's  orders, 
marched  against  Indians  within  the  present  limits  of  that  State.  These 
expeditions  were  in  the  main  successful,  and  the  Indians  were  compelled 
to  sue  for  peace. 


54  THE   NORTHWEST   TEKKITOKY. 

During  this  same  year  (1779)  the  famous  "  Land  Laws"  of  Virginia 
were  passed.  The  passage  of  these  laws  was  of  more  consequence  to  the 
pioneers  of  Kentucky  and  the  Northwest  than  the  gaining  of  a  few  Indian 
conflicts.  These  hiws  confirmed  in  main  all  grants  made,  and  guaranteed 
to  all  actual  settlers  their  rights  and  privileges.  After  providing  for  the 
settlers,  the  laws  provided  for  selling  the  balance  of  the  public  lands  at 
forty  cents  per  acre.  To  carry  the  Land  Laws  into  effect,  the  Legislature 
sent  four  Virginians  westward  to  attend  to  the  various  claims,  over  many 
of  which  great  confusion  prevailed  concerning  their  validity.  These 
gentlemen  opened  their  court  on  October  13,  1779,  at  St.  Asaphs,  and 
continued  until  April  26,  1780,  when  they  adjourned,  having  decided 
three  thousand  claims.  They  were  succeeded  by  the  surveyor,  who 
came  in  the  person  of  Mr.  George  May,  and  assumed  his  duties  on  the 
10th  day  of  the  month  whose  name  he  bore.  With  the  opening  of  the 
next  year  (1780)  the  troubles  concerning  the  navigation  of  the  Missis- 
sippi commenced.  The  Spanish  Government  exacted  such  measures  in 
relation  to  its  trade  as  to  cause  the  overtures  made  to  the  United  States 
to  be  rejected.  "The  American  Government  considered  they  had  a  right 
to  navigate  its  channel.  To  enforce  their  claims,  a  fort  was  erected  below 
the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  on  the  Kentucky  side  of  the  river.  The  settle- 
ments in  Kentucky  were  being  rapidly  filled  by  emigrants.  It  was  dur- 
ing this  year  that  the  first  seminary  of  learning  was  established  in  the 
West  in  this  young  and  enterprising  Commonwealth. 

The  settlers  here  did  not  look  upon  the  building  of  this  fort  in  a 
friendly  manner,  as  it  aroused  the  hostility  of  the  Indians.  Spain  had 
been  friendly  to  the  Colonies  during  their  struggle  for  independence, 
and  though  for  a  while  this  friendship  appeared  in  danger  from  the 
refusal  of  the  free  navigation  of  the  river,  yet  it  was  finally  settled  to  the 
satisfaction  of  both  nations. 

The  Winter  of  1779-80  was  one  of  the  most  unusually  severe  ones 
ever  experienced  in  the  West.  The  Indians  always  referred  to  it  as  the 
"Great  Cold."  Numbers  of  wild  animals  perished,  and  not  a  few 
pioneers  lost  their  lives.  The  following  Summer  a  party  of  Canadians 
and  Indians  attacked  St.  Louis,  and  attempted  to  take  possession  of  it 
in  consequence  of  the  friendly  disposition  of  Spain  to  the  revolting 
colonies.  They  met  with  such  a  determined  resistance  on  the  part  of  the 
inhabitants,  even  the  women  taking  part  in  the  battle,  that  they  were 
compelled  to  abandon  the  contest.  They  also  made  an  attack  on  the 
settlements  in  Kentucky,  but,  becoming  alarmed  in  some  unaccountable 
manner,  they  fled  the  country  in  great  haste- 
About  this  time  arose  the  question  in  the  Colonial  Congress  con- 
cerning the  western  lands  claimed  by  Virginia,  New  York,  Massachusetts 


THE  NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  55 

and  Connecticut.  The  agitation  concerning  this  subject  finally  led  New- 
York,  on  the  19th  of  February,  1780,  to  pass  a  law  giving  to  the  dele- 
gates of  that  State  in  Congress  the  power  to  cede  her  western  lands  for 
the  benefit  of  the  United  States.  This  law  was  laid  before  Consrress 
during  the  next  month,  but  no  steps  were  taken  concerning  it  until  Sep- 
tember 6th,  when  a  resolution  passed  that  body  calling  upon  the  States 
claiming  western  lands  to  release  their  claims  in  favor  of  the  whole  body. 
This  basis  formed  the  union,  and  was  the  first  after  all  of  those  lecrislative 
measures  which  resulted  in  the  creation  of  the  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana, 
Illinois,  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota.  In  December  of  the  same 
.year,  the  plan  of  conquering  Detroit  again  arose.  The  conquest  might 
have  easily  been  effected  by  Clark  had  the  necessary  aid  been  furnished 
him.  Nothing  decisive  was  done,  yet  the  heads  of  the  Government  knew 
that  the  safety  of  the  Northwest  from  British  invasion  lay  in  the  capture 
and  retention  of  that  important  jiost,  the  only  unconquered  one  in  the 
territory.' 

Before  the  close  of  the  year,  Kentucky  was  divided  into  the  Coun- 
ties of  Lincoln,  Fayette  and  Jefferson,  and  the  act  establishing  the  Town 
of  Louisville  was  passed.  This  same  year  is  also  noted  in  the  annals  of 
American  history  as  the  year  in  which  occurred  Arnold's  treason  to  the 
United  States. 

Virginia,  in  accordance  with  the  resolution  of  Congress,  on  the  2d 
day  of  January,  1781,  agreed  to  yield  her  western  lands  to  the  United 
States  upon  certain  conditions,  which  Congress  would  not  accede  to,  and 
■the  Act  of  Cession,  on  the  part  of  the  Old  Dominion,  failed,  nor  was 
anything  farther  done  until  1783.  During  all  that  time  the  Colonies 
were  busily  engaged  in  the  struggle  with  the  mother  country,  and  in 
consequence  thereof  but  little  heed  was  given  to  the  western  settlements. 
Upon  the  16th  of  April,  1781,  the  first  birth  north  of  the  Ohio  River  of 
American  parentage  occurred,  being  that  of  Mary  Heckewelder,  daughter 
of  the  widely  known  Moravian  missionary,  whose  band  of  Christian 
Indians  suffered  in  after  years  a  horrible  massacre  by  the  hands  of  the 
frontier  settlers,  who  had  been  exasperated  by  the  murder  of  several  of 
their  neighbors,  and  in  their  rage  committed,  without  regard  to  humanity, 
a  deed  which  forever  afterwards  cast  a  shade  of  shame  upon  their  lives. 
For  this  and  kindred  outrages  on  the  part  of  the  whites,  the  Indians 
committed  many  deeds  of  cruelty  which  darken  the  years  of  1771  and 
1772  in  the  history  of  the  Northwest. 

During  the  year  1782  a  number  of  battles  among  the  Indians  and 
frontiersmen  occurred,  and  between  the  Moravian  Indians  and  the  Wyan- 
dots.  In  these,  horrible  acts  of  cruelty  were  practised  on  the  captives, 
many  of  such  dark  deeds  transpiring  under  the  leadership  of  the  notorious 


56 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


frontier  outlaw,  Simon  Girty,  whose  name,  as  well  as  those  of  his  brothers, 
was  a  terror  to  women  and  children.  These  occurred  chiefly  in  the  Ohio 
valleys.  Cotemporary  with  them  were  several  engagements  in  Kentucky, 
in  which  the  famous  Daniel  Boone  engaged,  and  who,  often  by  his  skill 
and  knowledge  of  Indian  warfare,  saved  the  outposts  from  cruel  destruc- 


-4??  -: 


INDIANS    ATTACKING    FIlONTIEltSMKN. 

tion.  By  the  close  of  the  year  victory  had  perched  upon  the  American 
banner,  and  on  the  30th  of  November,  provisional  articles  of  peace  had 
been  arranged  between  the  Commissioners  of  England  and  her  uncon- 
querable colonies.  Cornwallis  had  been  defeated  on  the  19th  of  October 
preceding,  and  the  liberty  of  America  was  assured.  On  the  19th  of 
April   following,  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  peace  was 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  57 

proclaimed  to  the  army  of  the  United  States,  and  on  the  3d  of  the  next 
September,  the  definite  treaty  which  ended  our  revolutionary  struggle 
was  concluded.  By  the  terms  of  that  treaty,  the  boundaries  of  the  West 
were  as  follows :  On  the  north  the  line  was  to  extend  along  the  center  of 
the  Great  Lakes ;  from  the  western  point  of  Lake  Superior  to  Long  Lake  ; 
thence  to  the  Lake  of  the  Woods ;  thence  to  the  head  of  the  Mississippi 
River;  down  its  center  to  the  31st  parallel  of  latitude,  then  on  that  line 
east  to  the  head  of  the  Appalachicola  River ;  down  its  center  to  its  junc- 
tion with  the  Flint  ;  thence  straight  to  the  head  of  St.  Mary's  River,  and 
thence  down  along  its  center  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

Following  the  cessation  of  hostilities  with  England,  several  posts 
were  still  occupied  by  the  British  in  the  North  and  West.  Among  these 
was  Detroit,  still  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Numerous  engagements 
with  the  Lidians  throughout  Ohio  and  Indiana  occurred,  upon  whose 
lands  adventurous  whites  would  settle  ere  the  title  had  been  acquired  by 
the  proper  treaty. 

To  remedy  this  latter  evil.  Congress  appointed  commissioners  to 
treat  with  the  natives  and  purchase  their  lands,  and  prohibited  the  set- 
tlement of  the  territory  until  this  could  be  done.  Before  the  close  of  the 
year  another  attempt  was  made  to  capture  Detroit,  which  was,  however, 
not  pushed,  and  Virginia,  no  longer  feeling  the  interest  in  the  Northwest 
she  had  formerly  done,  withdrew  her  troops,  having  on  the  20th  of 
December  preceding  authorized  the  whole  of  her  possessions  to  be  deeded 
to  the  United  States.  This  was  done  on  the  1st  of  March  following,  and 
the  Northwest  Territory  passed  from  the  control  of  the  Old  Dominion. 
To  Gen.  Clark  and  his  soldiers,  however,  she  gave  a  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  acres  of  land,  to  be  situated  any  where  north  of  the 
Ohio  wherever  they  chose  to  locate  them.  They  selected  the  region 
opposite  the  falls  of  the  Ohio,  where  is  now  the  dilapidated  village  of 
Clarksville,  about  midway  between  the  Cities  of  New  Albany  and  Jeffer- 
sonville,  Indiana. 

While  the  frontier  remained  thus,  and  Gen.  Haldimand  at  Detroit 
refused  to  evacuate  alleging  that  he  had  no  orders  from  his  King  to  do 
so,  settlers  were  rapidly  gathering  about  the  inland  forts.  In  the  Spring 
of  1784,  Pittsburgh  was  regularly  laid  out,  and  from  the  journal  of  Arthur 
Lee,  who  passed  through  the  town  soon  after  on  his  way  to  the  Indian 
council  at  Fort  Mcintosh,  we  suppose  it  was  not  very  prepossessing  in 
appearance.     He  says : 

"  Pittsburgh  is  inhabited  almost  entirely  by  Scots  and  Irish,  who 
live  in  paltry  log  houses,  and  are  as  dirty  as  if  in  the  north  of  Ireland  or 
even  Scotland.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  trade  carried  on,  the  goods  being 
bought  at  the  vast  expense  of  forty-five  shillings  per  pound  from  Phila- 


58  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

delphia  and  Baltimore.  They  take  in  the  shops  flour,  wheat,  skins  and 
money.  There  are  in  the  town  four  attorneys,  two  doctors,  and  not  a 
priest  of  any  persuasion,  nor.  church  nor  chapel." 

Kentucky  at  this  time  contained  thirty  thousand  inhabitants,  and 
was  beu'inning  to  discuss  measures  for  a  separation  from  Virginia.  A 
kind  office  was  opened  at  Louisville,  and  measures  were  adopted  to  take 
defensive  precaution  against  the  Indians  who  were  yet,  in  some  instances, 
incited  to  deeds  of  violence  by  the  British.  Before  the  close  of  this  year, 
1784,  the  military  claimants  of  land  began  to  occupy  them,  although  no 
entries  wei'e  recorded  until  1787. 

The  Indian  title  to  the  Northwest  was  not  yet  extinguished.  They 
held  lai-ge  tracts  of  lands,  and  in  order  to  prevent  bloodshed  Congress 
adopted  means  for  treaties  with  the  original  owners  and  provided  for  the 
surveys  of  the  lands  gained  thereby,  as  well  as  for  those  north  of  the 
Ohio,  now  in  its  possession.  On  January  31,  1786,  a  treaty  was  made 
with  the  Wabash  Indians.  The  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix  had  been  made 
in  1784.  That  at  Fort  Mcintosh  in  1785,  and  through  these  much  land 
was  gained.  The  Wabash  Indians,  however,  afterward  refused  to  comply 
with  the  provisions  of  the  treaty  made  with  them,  and  in  order  to  compel 
their  adherence  to  its  provisions,  force  was  used.  Daring  the  year  1786, 
the  free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  came  up  in  Congress,  and  caused 
various  discussions,  which  resulted  in  no  definite  action,  only  serving  to 
excite  speculation  in  regard  to  the  western  lands.  Congress  had  promised 
bounties  of  land  to  the  soldiers  of  the  Revolution,  but  owing  to  the 
unsettled  condition  of  affairs  along  the  Mississippi  respecting  its  naviga- 
tion, and  the  trade  of  the  Northwest,  that  body  had,  in  1783,  declared 
its  inability  to  fulfill  these  promises  until  a  treaty  could  be  concluded 
between  the  two  Governments.  Before  the  close  of  the  year  1786,  how- 
ever, it  was  able,  through  the  treaties  with  the  Indians,  to  allow  some 
grants  and  the  settlement  thereon,  and  on  the  14th  of  September  Con- 
necticut ceded  to  the  General  Government  the  tract  of  land  known  as 
the  "  Connecticut  Reserve,"  and  before  the  close  of  the  following  year  a 
large  tract  of  land  north  of  the  Ohio  was  sold  to  a  company,  who  at  once 
took  measures  to  settle  it.  By  the  provisions  of  this  grant,  the  company 
were  to  pay  the  United  States  one  dollar  per  acre,  subject  to  a  deduction 
of  one-third  for  bad  lands  and  other  contingencies.  They  received 
750,000  acres,  bounded  on  the  south  by  the  Ohio,  on  the  east  by  the 
seventli  range  of  townships,  on  the  west  by  the  sixteenth  range,  and  on 
the  north  by  a  line  so  drawn  as  to  make  the  grant  complete  without 
the  reservations.  In  addition  to  this.  Congress  afterward  granted  100,000 
acres  to  actual  settlers,  and  214,285  acres  as  army  bounties  under  the 
resolutions  of  1789  and  1790. 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


69 


While  Dr.  Cutler,  one  of  the  agents  of  the  company,  was  pressing 
its  claims  before  Congress,  that  body  was  bringing  into  form  an  ordinance 
for  the  political  and  social  organization  of  this  Territory.  When  the 
cession  was  made  by  Virginia,  in  1784,  a  plan  was  offered,  but  rejected. 
A  motion  had  been  made  to  strike  from  the  proposed  plan  the  prohibition 
of  slavery,  which  prevailed.  The  plan  was  then  discussed  and  altered, 
and  finally  passed  unanimously,  with  the  exception  of  South  Carolina. 
By  this  proposition,  the  Territory  was  to  have  been  divided  into  states 


A    PRAIRIE    STOKJI. 


by  parallels  and  meridian  lines.  This,  it  was  thought,  would  make  ten 
states,  which  were  to  have  been  named  as  follows  —  beginning  at  the 
northwest  corner  and  going  southwardly :  Sylvania,  Michigania,  Cher- 
sonesus,  Assenisipia,  Metropotamia,  Illenoia,  Saratoga,  Washington,  Poly- 
potamia  and  Pelisipia. 

There  was  a  more  serious  objection  to  this  plan  than  its  category  of 
names, —  the  boundaries.  The  root  of  the  difficulty  was  in  the  resolu- 
tion of  Congress  passed  in  October,  1780,  which  fixed  the  boundaries 
of  the  ceded  lands  to  be  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles 


60  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

square.  These  resolutions  being  presented  to  the  Legislatures  of  Vir- 
ginia  and  Massachusetts,  they  desired  a  change,  and  in  July,  1786,  the 
subject  was  taken  up  in  Congress,  and  changed  to  favor  a  division  into 
not  more  than  five  states,  and  not  less  than  three.  This  was  approved  by 
the  State  Legislature  of  Virginia.  The  subject  of  the  Government  was 
again  taken  up  by  Congress  in  1786,  and  discussed  throughout  that  year 
and  until  July,  1787,  when  the  famous  "Compact  of  1787"  was  passed, 
and  the  foundation  of  the  government  of  the  Northwest  laid.  This  com- 
pact is  fully  discu-sed  and  explained  in  the  history  of  Illinois  in  this  book, 
and  to  it  the  reader  is  referred. 

The  passage  of  this  act  and  the  grant  to  the  New  England  Company 
was  soon  followed  by  an  application  to  the  Government  by  John  Cleves 
Symmes,  of  New  Jersey,  for  a  grant  of  the  land  between  the  Miamis. 
This  gentleman  had  visited  these  lands  soon  after  the  treaty  of  1786,  and, 
being  greatly  pleased  with  them,  offered  similar  terms  to  those  given  to  the 
New  England  Company.  The  petition  was  referred  to  the  Treasury 
Board  with  power  to  act,  and  a  contract  was  concluded  the  following 
year.  During  the  Autumn  the  directors  of  the  New  England  Company 
were  preparing  to  occupy  their  grant  the  following  Spring,  and  upon  the 
23d  of  November  made  arrangements  for  a  party  of  forty-seven  men, 
under  the  superintendency  of  Gen.  Rufus  Putnam,  to  set  forward.  Six 
boat-builders  were  to  leave  at  once,  and  on  the  first  of  January  the  sur- 
veyors and  their  assistants,  twenty-six  in  number,  were  to  meet  at  Hart- 
ford and  proceed  on  their  journey  westward  ;  the  remainder  to  follow  as 
soon  as  possible.  Congress,  in  the  meantime,  upon  the  od  of  October, 
had  ordered  seven  hundred  troops  for  defense  of  the  western  settlers,  and 
to  prevent  unauthorized  intrusions  ;  and  two  days  later  appointed  Arthur 
St.  Clair  Governor  of  the  Territory  of  the  Northwest. 

AMERICAN  SETTLEMENTS. 

The  civil  organization  of  the  Northwest  Territory  was  now  com- 
plete, and  notwithstanding  the  uncertainty  of  Indian  affairs,  settlers  from 
the  East  began  to  come  into  the  country  rapidly.  The  New  England 
Company  sent  their  men  during  the  Winter  of  1787-8  pressing  on  over 
the  Alleghenies  by  the  old  Indian  path  which  had  been  opened  into 
Braddock's  road,  and  which  has  since  been  made  a  national  turnpike 
from  Cumberland  westward.  Through  the  weary  winter  days  they  toiled 
on,  and  by  April  were  all  gathered  on  the  Yohiogany,  where  boats  had 
been  built,  and  at  once  started  for  the  Muskingum.  Here  they  arrived 
on  the  7th  of  that  month,  and  unless  the  Moravian  missionaries  be  regarded 
as  the  pioneers  of  Ohio,  this  little  band  can  justly  claim  that  honor. 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


61 


Gen.  St.  Clair,  the  appointed  Governor  of  the  Northwest,  not  having 
yet  arrived,  a  set  of  laws  were  passed,  written  out,  and  published  by 
being  nailed  to  a  tree  in  the  embryo  town,  and  Jonathan  Meigs  appointed 
to  administer  them. 

Washington  in  writing  of  this,  the  first  American  settlement  in  the 
Northwest,  said :  "  No  colony  in  America  was  ever  settled  under 
such  favorable  auspices  as  that  which  has  just  commenced  at  Muskingum. 
Information,  property  and  strength  will  be  its  characteristics.  I  know 
many  of  its  settlers  personally,  and  there  never  were  men  better  calcu- 
lated to  promote  the  welfare  of  such  a  community.'" 


r^^ 


A    PIONEER    DAVELT.INO. 


On  the  2d  of  July  a  meeting  of  the  directors  and  agents  was  held 
on  the  banks  of  the  Muskingum,  "  for  the  purpose  of  naming  the  new- 
born city  and  its  squares."  As  yet  the  settlement  was  known  as  the 
"Muskingum,"  but  that  was  now  changed  to  the  name  Marietta,  in  honor 
of  Marie  Antoinette.  The  square  upon  which  the  block -houses  stood 
was  called  '■'•  Campus  Martins  ;''  square  number  19,  '■'Capitolium  ;''  square 
number  61,  ^'■Cecilia;'''  and  the  great  road  through  the  covert  way,  "  Sacra 
Via."  Two  days  after,  an  oration  was  delivered  by  James  M.  Varnum, 
who  with  S.  H.  Parsons  and  John  Armstrong  had  been  appointed  to  the 
judicial  bench  of  the  territory  on  the  16th  of  October,  1787.  On  July  9, 
Gov.  St.  Clair  arrived,  and  the  colony  began  to  assume  form.  The  act 
of  1787  provided  two  district  grades  of  government  for  the  Northwest, 


62  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

under  the  first  of  which  the  whole  power  was  invested  in  the  hands  of  a 
governor  and  three  district  judges.  This  was  immediately  formed  upon 
the  Governor's  arrival,  and  the  first  laws  of  the  colony  passed  on  the  25th 
of  July.  These  provided  for  the  organization  of  the  militia,  and  on  the 
next  day  appeared  the  Governor's  proclamation,  erecting  all  that  country 
that  had  been  ceded  by  the  Indians  east  of  the  Scioto  River  into  the 
County  of  Washington.  From  that  time  forward,  notwithstanding  the 
doubts  yet  existing  as  to  the  Indians,  all  Marietta  prospered,  and  on  the 
2d  of  September  the  first  court  of  the  territory  was  held  with  imposing 
ceremonies. 

The  emigration  westward  at  this  time  was  very  great.  The  com- 
mander at  Fort  Harmer,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum,  reported  four 
thousand  five  hundred  persons  as  having  passed  that  post  between  Feb- 
ruary and  June,  1788  —  many  of  whom  would  have  purchased  of  the 
"Associates,"  as  the  New  England  Company  was  called,  had  they  been 
ready  to  receive  them. 

On  the  26th  of  November,  1787,  Symmes  issued  a  pamphlet  stating 
the  terms  of  his  contract  and  the  plan  of  sale  he  intended  to  adopt.  In 
January,  1788,  Matthias  Denman,  of  New  Jersey,  took  an  active  interest 
in  Symmes'  purchase,  and  located  among  other  tracts  the  sections  upon 
which  Cincinnati  has  been  built.  Retaining  one-third  of  this  locality,  he 
sold  the  other  two-thirds  to  Robert  Patterson  and  John  Filson,  and  the 
three,  about  August,  commenced  to  lay  out  a  town  on  the  spot,  which 
was  designated  as  being  opposite  Licking  River,  to  the  mouth  of  which 
they  proposed  to  have  a  road  cut  from  Lexington.  The  naming  of  the 
town  is  thus  narrated  in  the  "Western  Annals  "  : — "  Mr.  Filson,  who  had 
been  a  schoolmaster,  was  appointed  to  name  the  town,  and,  in  respect  to 
its  situation,  and  as  if  with  a  prophetic  perception  of  the  mixed  race  that 
were  to  inhabit  it  in  after  days,  he  named  it  Losantiville,  which,  being 
interpreted,  means  :  ville,  the  town  ;  anti^  against  oi'  opposite  to  ;  os,  the 
mouth  ;  L.  of  Licking." 

Meanwhile,  in  July,  Symmes  got  thirty  persons  and  eight  four-horse 
teams  under  way  for  the  West.  These  reached  Limestone  (now  Mays- 
ville)  in  September,  where  were  several  persons  from  Redstone.  Here 
Mr.  Symmes  tried  to  found  a  settlement,  but  the  great  freshet  of  1789 
caused  the  "  Point,"  as  it  was  and  is  yet  called,  to  be  fifteen  feet  under 
water,  and  the  settlement  to  be  abandoned.  The  little  band  of  settlers 
removed  to  the  mouth  of  the  Miami.  Before  Symmes  and  his  colony  left 
the  "  Point,"  two  settlements  had  been  made  on  his  purchase.  The  first 
was  by  Mr.  Stiltes,  the  original  projector  of  the  whole  plan,  who,  with  a 
colony  of  Redstone  people,  had  located  at  the  mouth  of  the  Miami, 
whither   Symmes  went  with  his  Maysville  colony.     Here  a  clearing  had 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


63 


been  made  by  the  Indians  owing  to  the  great  fertility  of  the  soiL  Mr. 
Stiltes  with  his  colony  came  to  this  place  on  the  18th  of  November,  1788, 
with  twenty-six  persons,  and,  building  a  block-house,  prepared  to  remain 
through  the  Winter.  They  named  the  settlement  Columbia.  Here  they 
were  kindly  treated  by  the  Indians,  but  suffered  greatly  from  the  flood 
of  1789. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1789,  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States 
went  into  operation,  and  on  April  30,  George  Washington  was  inaug- 
urated President  of  the  American  people,  and  during  the  next  Summer, 
an  Indian  war  was  commenced  by  the  tribes  north  of  the  Ohio.  The 
President  at  first  used  pacific  means  ;  but  these  failing,  he  sent  General 
Harmer  against  the  hostile  tribes.     He  destroyed  several  villages,  but 


'^k'&^tuK'^^' 


BREAKING    PKAIRIE. 


was  defeated  in  two  battles,  near  the  present  City  of  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana.  From  this  time  till  the  close  of  1795,  the  principal  events  were 
the  wars  with  the  various  Indian  tribes.  In  1796,  General  St.  Clair 
was  appointed  in  command,  and  marched  against  the  Indians ;  but  while 
he  was  encamped  on  a  stream,  the  St.  Mary,  a  branch  of  the  Maumee, 
he  was  attacked  and  defeated  with  the  loss  of  six  hundred  men. 

General  Wayne  was  now  sent  against  the  savages.  In  August,  1794, 
he  met  them  near  the  rapids  of  the  Maumee,  and  gained  a  complete 
victory.  This  success,  followed  by  vigorous  measures,  compelled  the 
Indians  to  sue  for  peace,  and  on  the  30th  of  July,  the  following  year,  the 
treaty  of  Greenville  was  signed  by  the  principal  chiefs,  by  which  a  large 
tract  of  country  was  ceded  to  the  United  States. 

Before  proceeding  in  our  narrative,  we  will  pause  to  notice  Fort 
Washington,  erected  in  the  early  part  of  this  war  on  the  site  of  Cincinnati. 
Nearly   all   of   the   great   cities  of   the  Northwest,  and  indeed  of    the 


64  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

whole  country,  have  had  their  nuclei  in  those  rude  pioneer  structures, 
known  as  forts  or  stockades.  Thus  Forts  Dearborn,  Washington,  Pon- 
chartrain,  mark  the  original  sites  of  the  now  proud  Cities  of  Chicago, 
Cincinnati  and  Detroit.  So  of  most  of  the  flourishing  cities  east  and  west 
of  the  Mississippi.  Fort  Washington,  erected  by  Doughty  in  1790,  was  a 
rude  but  highly  interesting  structure.  It  was  composed  of  a  number  of 
strongly-built  hewed  log  cabins.  Those  designed  for  soldiers'  barracks 
were  a  story  and  a  half  high,  while  those  composing  the  officers  quarters 
were  more  imposing  and  more  conveniently  arranged  and  furnished. 
The  whole  were  so  placed  as  to  form  a  hollow  square,  enclosing  about  an 
acre  of  ground,  with  a  block  house  at  each  of  the  four  angles. 

The  logs  for  the  construction  of  this  fort  were  cut  from  the  ground 
upon  which  it  was  erected.  It  stood  between  Third  and  Fourth  Streets 
of  the  present  city  (Cincinnati)  extending  east  of  Eastern  Row,  now 
Broadway,  which  was  then  a  narrow  alley,  and  the  eastern  boundary  of 
of  the  town  as  it  was  originally  laid  out.  On  the  bank  of  the  river, 
immediately  in  front  of  the  fort,  was  an  appendage  of  the  fort,  called  the 
Artificer's  Yard.  It  contained  about  two  acres  of  ground,  enclosed  by 
small  contiguous  buildings,  occupied  by  workshops  and  quarters  of 
laborers.  Within  this  enclosure  there  was  a  large  two-story  frame  house, 
familiarly  called  the  "  Yellow  House,"  built  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  Quartermaster  General.  For  many  years  this  was  the  best  finished 
and  most  commodious  edifice  in  the  Queen  City.  Fort  Washington  was 
for  some  time  the  headquarters  of  both  the  civil  and  military  governments 
of  the  Northwestern  Territory. 

Following  the  consummation  of  the  treaty  various  gigantic  land  spec- 
ulations were  entered  into  by  different  persons,  who  hoped  to  obtain 
from  the  Indians  in  Michigan  and  northern  Indiana,  large  tracts  of  lands. 
These  were  generally  discovered  in  time  to  prevent  the  outrageous 
schemes  from  being  carried  out,  and  from  involving  the  settlers  in  war. 
On  October  27,  1795,  the  treaty  between  the  United  States  and  Spain 
was  signed,  whereby  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  was  secured. 

No  sooner  had  the  treaty  of  1795  been  ratified  than  settlements  began 
to  pour  rapidly  into  the  West.  The  great  event  of  the  year  1796  was  the 
occupation  of  that  part  of  the  Northwest  including  Michigan,  which  was 
this  year,  under  the  provisions  of  the  treaty,  evacuated  by  the  British 
forces.  The  United  States,  owing  to  certain  conditions,  did  not  feel 
justified  in  addressing  the  authorities  in  Canada  in  relation  to  Detroit 
and  other  frontier  posts.  When  at  last  the  British  authorities  were 
called  to  give  them  up,  they  at  once  complied,  and  General  Wayne,  who 
had  done  so  much  to  preserve  the  frontier  settlements,  and  who,  before 
the    year's    close,  sickened    and  died  near  Erie,  transferred  his  head- 


THE  NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  65 

quarters  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  hikes,  where  a  county  named  after 
him  was  formed,  which  included  the  northwest  of  Ohio,  all  of  Michigan, 
and  the  northeast  of  Indiana.  During  this  same  year  settlements  were 
formed  at  the  present  City  of  Chillicothe,  along  the  Miami  from  Middle- 
town  to  Piqua,  while  in  the  more  distant  West,  settlers  and  speculators 
began  to  appear  in  great  numbers.  In  September,  the  City  of  Cleveland 
was  laid  out,  and  during  the  Summer  and  Autumn,  Samuel  Jackson  and 
Jonathan  Sharpless  erected  the  first  manufactory  of  paper — the  "  Red- 
stone Paper  Mill" — in  the  West.  St.  Louis  contained  some  seventy 
houses,  and  Detroit  over  three  hundred,  and  along  the  river,  contiguous 
to  it,  were  more  than  three  thousand  inhabitants,  mostly  French  Canadians, 
Indians  and  half-breeds,  scarcely  any  Americans  venturing  yet  into  that 
part  of  the  Northwest. 

The  election  of  representatives  for  the  territory  had  taken  place, 
and  on  the  4th  of  February,  1799,  they  convened  at  Losantiville  —  now 
known  as  Cincinnati,  having  been  named  so  by  Gov.  St.  Clair,  and 
considered  the  capital  of  the  Territory — to  nominate  persons  from  whom 
the  members  of  the  Legislature  were  to  be  chosen  in  accordance  with 
a  previous  ordinance.  This  nomination  being  made,  the  Assembly 
adjourned  until  the  16th  of  the  following  September.  From  those  named 
the  President  selected  as  members  of  the  council,  Henry  Vandenburg, 
of  Vincennes,  Robert  Oliver,  of  Marietta,  James  Findlay  and  Jacob 
Burnett,  of  Cincinnati,  and  David  Vance,  of  Vanceville.  On  the  16th 
of  September  the  Territorial  Legislature  met,  and  on  the  24th  the  two 
houses  were  duly  organized,  Henry  Vandenburg  being  elected  President 
of  the  Council. 

The  message  of  Gov.  St.  Clair  was  addressed  to  the  Legislature 
September  20th,  and  on  October  13th  that  body  elected  as  a  delegate  to 
Congress  Gen.  Wm.  Henry  Harrison,  who  received  eleven  of  the  votes 
cast,  being  a  majority  of  one  over  his  opponent,  Arthur  St.  Clair,  son  of 
Gen.  St.  Clair. 

The  whole  number  of  acts  passed  at  this  session,  and  approved  by 
the  Governor,  were  thirty-seven  —  eleven  others  were  passed,  but  received 
his  veto.  The  most  important  of  those  passed  related  to  the  militia,  to 
the  administration,  and  to  taxation.  On  the  19th  of  December  this  pro- 
tracted session  of  the  first  Legislature  in  the  West  was  closed,  and  on  the 
30th  of  December  the  President  nominated  Charles  Willing  Brvd  to  the 
office  of  Secretary  of  the  Territory  vice  Wm.  Henry  Harrison,  elected  to 
Congress.     The  Senate  confirmed  his  nomination  the  next  day. 


66  THE   NOKTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


DIVISION   OF   THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

The  increased  emigration  to  the  Northwest,  the  extent  of  the  domain, 
and  the  inconvenient  modes  of  travel,  made  it  very  difficult  to  conduct 
the  ordinary  operations  of  government,  and  rendered  the  efficient  action 
of  courts  almost  impossible.  To  remedy  this,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to 
divide  the  territory  for  civil  purposes.  Congress,  in  1800,  appointed  a 
committee  to  examine  the  question  and  report  some  means  for  its  solution. 
This  committee,  on  the  3d  of  March,  reported  that : 

"  In  the  three  western  countries  there  has  been  but  one  court  having 
cognizance  of  crimes,  in  five  years,  and  the  immunity  which  offenders 
experience  attracts,  as  to  an  asylum,  the  most  vile  and  abandoned  crim- 
inals, and  at  the  same  time  deters  useful  citizens  from  making  settlements 
in  such  society.  The  extreme  necessity  of  judiciary  attention  and  assist- 
ance is  experienced  in  civil  as  well  as  in  criminal  cases.  *  *  *  *  To 
minister  a  remedy  to  these  and  other  evils,  it  occurs  to  this  committee 
that  it  is  expedient  that  a  division  of  said  territory  into  two  distinct  and 
separate  governments  should  be  made  ;  and  that  such  division  be  made 
by  a  line  beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami  River,  running 
directly  north  until  it  intersects  the  boundary  between  the  United  States 
and  Canada." 

The  report  was  accepted  by  Congress,  and,  in  accordance  with  its 
suggestions,  that  body  passed  an  Act  extinguishing  the  Northwest  Terri- 
tory, which  Act  was  approved  May  7.     Among  its  provisions  were  these  : 

"  That  from  and  after  July  4  next,  all  that  part  of  the  Territory  of 
the  United  States  northwest  of  the  Ohio  River,  which  lies  to  the  westward 
of  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  on  the  Ohio,  opposite  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Kentucky  River,  and  running  thence  to  Fort  Recovery,  and  thence  north 
until  it  shall  intersect  the  territorial  line  between  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  shall,  for  the  purpose  of  temporary  government,  constitute  a 
separate  territory,  and  be  called  the  Indiana  Territory." 

After  providing  for  the  exercise  of  the  civil  and  criminal  powers  of 
the  territories,  and  other  provisions,  the  Act  further  provides : 

"  That  until  it  shall  otherwise  be  ordered  by  the  Legislatures  of  the 
said  Territories,  respectively,  Chillicothe  on  the  Scioto  River  shall  be  the 
seat  of  government  of  the  Territory  of  the  United  States  northwest  of  the 
Ohio  River ;  and  that  St.  Vincennes  on  the  Wabash  River  shall  be  the 
seat  of  government  for  the  Indiana  Territory." 

Gen.  Wm.  Heni'y  Harrison  was  appointed  Governor  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  entered  upon  his  duties  about  a  year  later.  Connecticut 
also  about  this  time  released  her  claims  to  the  reserve,  and  in  March  a  law 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  67 

was  passed  accepting  this  cession.  Settlements  had  been  made  upon 
thirty-five  of  the  townships  in  the  reserve,  mills  had  been  built,  and  seven 
hundred  miles  of  road  cut  in  various  directions.  On  the  3d  of  November 
the  General  Assembly  met  at  Chillicothe.  Near  the  close  of  the  year, 
the  first  missionary  of  the  Connecticut  Reserve  came,  who  found  no 
township  containing  more  than  eleven  families.  It  was  upon  the  first  of 
October  that  the  secret  treaty  had  been  made  between  Napoleon  and  the 
King  of  Spain,  whereby  the  latter  agreed  to  cede  to  France  the  province 
of  Louisiana.  •• 

In  January,  1802,  the  Assembly  of  the  Northwestern  Territory  char- 
tered the  college  at  Athens.  From  the  earliest  dawn  of  the  western 
colonies,  education  was  promptly  provided  for,  and  as  early  as  1787, 
newspapers  were  issued  from  Pittsburgh  and  Kentucky,  and  largely  read 
throughout  the  frontier  settlements.  Before  the  close  of  this  year,  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  granted  to  the  citizens  of  the  Northwestern 
territory  the  formation  of  a  State  government.  One  of  the  provisions  of 
the  "compact  of  1787"  provided  that  whenever  the  number  of  inhabit- 
ants  within  prescribed  limits  exceeded  45,000,  they  should  be  entitled  to 
a  separate  government.  The  prescribed  limits  of  Ohio  contained,  from  a 
census  taken  to  ascertain  the  legality  of  the  act,  more  than  that  number, 
and  on  the  30th  of  April,  1802,  Congress  passed  the  act  defining  its  limits, 
and  on  the  29th  of  November  the  Constitution  of  the  new  State  of  Ohio, 
so  named  from  the  beautiful  river  forming  its  southern  boundary,  came 
into  existence.  The  exact  limits  of  Lake  Michigan  were  not  then  known, 
but  the  territory  now  included  within  the  State  of  Michigan  was  wholly 
within  the  territory  of  Indiana. 

Gen.  Harrison,  while  residing  at  Vincennes,  made  several  treaties 
with  the  Indians,  thereby  gaining  large  tracts  of  lands.  The  next  year  is 
memorable  in  the  history  of  the  West  for  the  purchase  of  Louisiana  from 
France  by  the  United  States  for  $15,000,000.  Thus  by  a  peaceful  mode, 
the  domain  of  the  United  States  was  extended  over  a  large  tract  of 
country  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  was  for  a  time  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  Northwest  government,  and,  as  has  been  mentioned  in  the  early 
part  of  this  narrative,  was  called  the  "New  Northwest."  The  limits 
of  this  history  will  not  allow  a  description  of  its  territory.  The  same  year 
large  grants  of  land  were  obtained  from  the  Indians,  and  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  new  State  of  Ohio  signed  a  bill  respecting  the 
College  Township  in  the  district  of  Cincinnati. 

Before  the  close  of  the  year,  Gen.  Harrison  obtained  additional 
grants  of  lands  from  the  various  Indian  nations  in  Indiana  and  the  present 
limits  of  Illinois,  and  on  the  18th  of  August,  1804,  completed  a  treaty  at 
St.  Louis,  whereby  over  51,000,000  acres  of  lands  were  obtained  from  the 


68  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITOBY. 

aborigines.  Measures  were  also  taken  to  learn  the  condition  of  affairs  in 
and  about  Detroit. 

C.  Jouett,  the  Indian  agent  in  Michigan,  still  a  part  of  Indiana  Terri- 
tory, reported  as  follows  upon  the  condition  of  matters  at  that  ipost : 

"  The  Town  of  Detroit. — The  charter,  which  is  for  fifteen  miles 
square,  was  granted  in  the  time  of  Louis  XIV.  of  France,  and  is  now, 
from  the  best  information  I  have  been  able  to  get,  at  Quebec.  Of  those 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres,  only  four  are  occupied  by  the  town 
and  Fort  Lenault.  The  remainder  is  a  common,  except  twenty-four 
acres,  which  were  added  twenty  years  ago  to  a  farm  belonging  to  Wm. 
Macomb.  *  *  *  A  stockade  incloses  the  town,  fort  and  citadel.  The 
pickets,  as  well  as  the  public  houses,  are  in  a  state  of  gradual  decay.  The 
streets  are  narrow,  straight  and  regular,  and  intersect  each  other  at  right 
angles.     The  houses  are,  for  the  most  part,  low  and  inelegant." 

During  this  year,  Congress  granted  a  township  of  land  for  the  sup- 
port of  a  college,  and  began  to  offer  inducements  for  settlers  in  these 
wilds,  and  the  country  now  comprising  the  State  of  Michigan  began  to 
fill  rapidly  with  settlers  along  its  southern  borders.  This  same  year,  also, 
a  law  was  passed  organizing  the  Southwest  Territory,  dividing  it  into  two 
portions,  the  Territory  of  New  Orleans,  which  city  was  made  the  seat  of 
government,  and  the  District  of  Louisiana,  which  was  annexed  to  the 
domain  of  Gen.  Harrison. 

On  the  11th  of  January,  1805,  the  Territory  of  Michigan  was  formed, 
Wm.  Hull  was  appointed  governor,  with  headquarters  at  Detroit,  the 
change  to  take  effect  on  June  30.  On  the  11th  of  that  month,  a  fire 
occurred  at  Detroit,  which  destroj'^ed  almost  every  building  in  the  place. 
When  the  officers  of  the  new  territory  reached  the  post,  they  found  it  in 
ruins,  and  the  inhabitants  scattered  throughout  the  country.  Rebuild- 
ing, however,  soon  commenced,  and  ere  long  the  town  contained  more 
houses  than  before  the  fire,  and  many  of  them  much  better  built. 

While  this  was  being  done,  Indiana  had  passed  to  the  second  grade 
of  government,  and  through  her  General  Assembly  had  obtained  large 
tracts  of  land  from  the  Indian  tribes.  To  all  this  the  celebrated  Indian, 
Tecumthe  or  Tecumseh,  vigorously  protested,  and  it  was  the  main  cause 
of  his  attempts  to  unite  the  various  Indian  tribes  in  a  conflict  with  the 
settlers.  To  obtain  a  full  account  of  these  attempts,  the  workings  of  the 
British,  and  the  signal  failure,  culminating  in  the  death  of  Tecumseh  at 
the  battle  of  the  Tliames,  and  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812  in  the  Northwest, 
we  will  step  aside  in  our  story,  and  relate  the  principal  events  of  his  life, 
and  his  connection  with  this  conflict. 


THE   NOKTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


6y 


TECUMSEH,  THE  SHAWANOE  CHIEFTAIN. 


70  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORT. 


TECUMSEH,  AND  THE  WAR  OF  1812. 

This  famous  Indian  chief  was  born  about  the  year  1768,  not  far  from 
the  site  of  the  present  City  of  Piqua,  Ohio.  His  father,  Puckeshinwa^ 
was  a  member  of  the  Kisopok  tribe  of  the  Swanoese  nation,  and  his. 
mother,  Methontaske,  was  a  member  of  the  Turtle  tribe  of  the  same 
people.  They  removed  from  Florida  about  the  middle  of  the  last  century 
to  the  birthplace  of  Tecumseh.  In  1774,  his  father,  who  had  risen  to  be 
chief,  was  slain  at  the  battle  of  Point  Pleasant,  and  not  long  after  Tecum- 
seh, by  his  bravery,  became  the  leader  of  his  tribe.  In  1795  he  was- 
declared  chief,  and  then  lived  at  Deer  Creek,  near  the  site  of  the 
present  City  of  Urbana.  He  remained  here  about  one  year,  when  he 
returned  to  Piqua,  and  in  1798,  he  went  to  White  River,  Indiana.  In 
1805,  he  and  his  brother,  Laulewasikan  (Open  Door),  who  had  announced 
himself  as  a  prophet,  went  to  a  tract  of  land  on  the  Wabash  River,  given 
them  by  the  Pottawatomies  and  Kickapoos,  From  this  date  the  chief 
comes  into  prominence.  He  was  now  about  thirty-seven  years  of  age, 
was  five  feet  and  ten  inches  in  height,  was  stoutly  built,  and  possessed  of 
enormous  powers  of  endurance.  His  countenance  was  naturally  pleas- 
ing, and  he  was,  in  general,  devoid  of  those  savage  attributes  possessed 
by  most  Indians.  It  is  stated  he  could  read  and  write,  and  had  a  confi- 
dential secretary  and  adviser,  named  Billy  Caldwell,  a  half-breed,  who 
afterward  became  chief  of  the  Pottawatomies.  He  occupied  the  first 
house  built  on  the  site  of  Chicago.  At  this  time,  Tecumseh  entered 
upon  the  great  work  of  his  life.  He  had  long  objected  to  the  grants  of 
land  made  by  the  Indians  to  the  whites,  and  determined  to  unite  all  the 
Indian  tribes  into  a  league,  in  order  that  no  treaties  or  grants  of  land 
could  be  made  save  by  the  consent  of  this  confederation. 

He  traveled  constantly,  going  from  north  to  south  ;  from  the  south 
to  the  north,  everywhere  urging  the  Indians  to  this  step.  He  was  a 
matchless  orator,  and  his  burning  words  had  their  effect. 

Gen.  Harrison,  then  Governor  of  Indiana,  by  watching  the  move- 
ments of  the  Indians,  became  convinced  £hat  a  grand  conspiracy  was 
forming,  and  made  preparations  to  defend  the  settlements.  Tecumseh's 
plan  was  similar  to  Pontiac's,  elsewhere  described,  and  to  the  cunning 
artifice  of  that  chieftain  was  added  his  own  sagacity. 

During  the  yeav  1809,  Tecumseh  and  the  prophet  were  actively  pre- 
paring for  the  work.  In  that  year.  Gen.  Harrison  entered  into  a  treaty 
with  the  Delawares,  Kickapoos,  Pottawatomies,  Miamis,  Eel  River  Indians 
and  Weas,  in  which  these  tribes  ceded  to  the  whites  certain  lands  upon 
the  Wabash,  to  all  of  which  Tecumseh  entered  a  bitter  protest,  averring 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  71 

as  one  principal  reason  that  he  did  not  want  the  Indians  to  give  up  any 
lands  north  and  west  of  the  Ohio  River. 

Tecumseh,  in  August,  1810,  visited  the  General  at  Vincennes  and 
held  a  council  relating  to  the  grievances  of  the  Indians.  Becoming  unduly 
a,ngry  at  this  conference  he  was  dismissed  from  the  village,  and  soon  after 
departed  to  incite  the  southern  Indian  tribes  to  the  conflict. 

Gen.  Harrison  determined  to  move  upon  the  chief's  headquarters  at 
Tippecanoe,  and  for  this  purpose  went  about  sixty-five  miles  up  the 
Wabash,  where  he  built  Port  Harrison.  From  this  place  he  went  to  the 
prophet's  town,  where  he  informed  the  Indians  he  had  no  hostile  inten- 
tions, provided  they  were  true  to  the  existing  treaties.  He  encamped 
near  the  village  early  in  October,  and  on  the  morning  of  November  7,  he 
was  attacked  by  a  large  force  of  the  Indians,  and  the  famous  battle  of 
Tippecanoe  occurred.  The  Indians  were  routed  and  their  town  broken 
Tip.  Tecumseh  returning  not  long  after,  was  greatly  exasperated  at  his 
brother,  the  prophet,  even  threatening  to  kill  him  for  rashly  precipitating 
the  war,  and  foiling  his  (Tecumseh's)  plans. 

Tecumseh  sent  word  to  Gen.  Harrison  that  he  was  now  returned 
from  the  South,  and  was  ready  to  visit  the  President  as  had  at  one  time 
previously  been  proposed.  Gen.  Harrison  informed  him  he  could  not  go 
as  a  chief,  which  method  Tecumseh  desired,  and  the  visit  was  never 
made. 

In  June  of  the  following  year,  he  visited  the  Indian  agent  at 
Fort  Wayne.  Here  he  disavowed  any  intention  to  make  a  war  against 
the  United  States,  and  reproached  Gen.  Harrison  for  marching  against  his 
people.  The  agent  replied  to  this  ;  Tecumseh  listened  with  a  cold  indif- 
ference, and  after  making  a  few  general  remarks,  with  a  haughty  air  drew 
his  blanket  about  him,  left  the  council  house,  and  dejDarted  for  Fort  Mal- 
•den,  in  Upper  Canada,  where  he  joined  the  British  standard. 

He  remained  under  this  Government,  doing  eflFective  work  for  the 
Crown  while  engaged  in  the  war  of  1812  which  now  opened.  He  was, 
however,  always  humane  in  his  treatment  of  the  prisoners,  never  allow- 
ing his  warriors  to  ruthlessly  mutilate  the  bodies  of  those  slain,  or  wan- 
tonly murder  the  captive. 

In  the  Summer  of  1813,  Perry's  victory  on  Lake  Erie  occurred,  and 
:sliortly  after  active  preparations  were  made  to  capture  Maiden.  On  the 
.27th  of  September,  the  American  army,  under  Gen.  Harrison,  set  sail  for 
the  shores  of  Canada,  and  in  a  few  hours  stood  around  the  ruins  of  Mal- 
'den,  from  which  the  British  army,  under  Proctor,  had  retreated  to  Sand- 
wich, intending  to  make  its  way  to  the  heart  of  Canada  by  the  Valley  of 
the  Thames.  On  the  29th  Gen.  Harrison  was  at  Sandwich,  and  Gen. 
McArthur  took  possession  of  Detroit  and  the  territory  of  Michigan. 


72 


THE   NORTHWKST   TERRITORY. 


On  the  2d  of  October,  the  Americans  began  their  pursuit  of  Proctor^ 
whom  they  overtook  on  the  5th,  and  the  battle  of  the  Thames  followed. 
Early  in  the  engagement,  Tecumseh  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  column 
of  Indians  was  slain,  and  they,  no  longer  hearing  the  voice  of  their  chief- 
tain, fled.  The  victory  was  decisive,  and  practically  closed  the  war  in 
the  Northwest. 


^u^i'itu.i 


INDIANS   ATTACKING   A    STOCKADE. 


Just  who  killed  the  great  chief  has  been  a  matter  of  much  dispute  ; 
but  the  weight  of  opinion  awards  the  act  to  Col.  Richard  M.  Johnson^ 
who  fired  at  him  with  a  pistol,  the  shot  proving  fatal. 

In  1805  occurred  Burr's  Insurrection.  He  took  possession  of  a 
beautiful  island  in  the  Ohio,  after  the  killing  of  Hamilton,  and  is  charged 
by  many  with  attempting  to  set  up  an  independent  government.  His 
plans  were  frustrated  by  the  general  government,  his  property  confiscated 
and  he  was  compelled  to  flee  the  country  for  safety. 


THE   NORTHWEST    TERRITORY.  73 

In  January,  1807,  Governor  Hull,  of  Michigan  Territory,  made  a 
treaty  with  the  Indians,  whereby  all  that  peninsula  was  ceded  to  the 
United  States.  Before  the  close  of  the  year,  a  stockade  was  built  about 
Detroit.  It  was  also  during  this  year  that  Indiana  and  Illinois  endeavored 
to  obtain  the  repeal  of  that  section  of  the  compact  of  1787,  whereby 
slavery  was  excluded  from  the  Northwest  Territory.  These  attempts, 
however,  all  signally  failed. 

In  1809  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  divide  the  Indiana  Territory. 
This  was  done,  and  the  Territory  of  Illinois  was  formed  from  the  western 
part,  the  seat  of  government  being  fixed  at  Kaskaskia.  The  next  year, 
the  intentions  of  Tecumseh  manifested  themselves  in  open  hostilities,  and 
then  began  the  events  already  narrated. 

While  this  war  was  in  progress,  emigration  to  the  West  went  on  with 
surprising  rapidity.  In  1811,  under  Mr.  Roosevelt  of  New  York,  the 
first  steamboat  trip  was  made  on  the  Ohio,  much  to  the  astonishment  of 
the  natives,  many  of  whom  fled  in  terror  at  the  appearance  of  the 
"  monster."  It  arrived  at  Louisville  on  the  10th  day  of  October.  At  the 
close  of  the  first  week  of  January,  1812,  it  arrived  at  Natchez,  after  being 
nearly  overwhelmed  in  the  great  earthquake  which  occurred  while  on  its 
downward  trip. 

The  battle  of  the  Thames  was  fought  on  October  6,  1813.  It 
effectually  closed  hostilities  in  the  Northwest,  although  peace  was  not 
fully  restored  until  July  22,  1814,  when  a  treaty  was  formed  at  Green- 
ville, under  the  direction  of  General  Harrison,  between  the  United  States 
and  the  Indian  tribes,  in  which  it  was  stipulated  that  the  Indians  should 
cease  hostilities  against  the  Americans  if  the  war  were  continued.  Such, 
happily,  was  not  the  case,  and  on  the  24th  of  December  the  treaty 
of  Ghent  was  signed  by  the  representatives  of  England  and  the  United 
States.  This  treaty  was  followed  the  next  year  by  treaties  with  various 
Indian  tribes  throughout  the  West  and  Northwest,  and  quiet  was  again 
restored  in  this  part  of  the  new  world. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  1816,  Pittsburgh  was  incorporated  as  a  city. 
It  then  had  a  population  of  8,000  people,  and  was  already  noted  for  its 
manufacturing  interests.  On  April  19,  Indiana  Territory  was  allowed 
to  form  a  state  government.  At  that  time  there  were  thirteen  counties 
organized,  containing  about  sixty-three  thousand  inhabitants.  The  first 
election  of  state  officers  was  held  in  August,  when  Jonathan  Jennings 
was  chosen  Governor.  The  officers  were  sworn  in  on  November  7,  a.nd 
on  December  11,  the  State  was  formally  admitted  into  the  Union.  For 
some  time  the  seat  of  government  was  at  Corydon,  but  a  more  central 
location  being  desirable,  the  present  capital,  Indianapolis  (City  of  Indiana), 
was  laid  out  January  1,  1825. 


74  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

On  the  28tli  of  December  the  Bank  of  Illinois,  at  Shawneetown,  was 
chartered,  with  a  capital  of  $300,000.  At  this  period  all  banks  were 
under  the  control  of  the  States,  and  were  allowed  to  establish  branches 
at  different  convenient  points. 

Until  this  time  Chillicothe  and  Cincinnati  had  in  turn  enjoyed  the 
privileges  of  being  the  capital  of  Ohio.  But  the  rapid  settlement  of  the 
northern  and  eastern  portions  of  the  State  demanded,  as  in  Indiana,  a 
more  central  location,  and  before  the  close  of  the  year,  the  site  of  Col- 
umbus was  selected  and  surveyed  as  the  future  capital  of  the  State. 
Banking  had  begun  in  Ohio  as  early  as  1808,  when  the  first  bank  was 
chartered  at  Marietta,  but  here  as  elsewhere  it  did  not  bring  to  the  state 
the  hoped-for  assistance.  It  and  other  banks  were  subsequently  unable 
to  redeem  their  currency,  and  were  obliged  to  suspend. 

In  1818,  Illinois  was  made  a  state,  and  all  the  territory  north  of  her 
northern  limits  was  erected  into  a  separate  territory  and  joined  to  Mich- 
igan for  judicial  purposes.  By  the  following  year,  navigation  of  the  lakes 
was  increasing  with  great  rapidity  and  affording  an  immense  source  of 
revenue  to  the  dwellers  in  the  Northwest,  but  it  was  not  until  1826  that 
the  trade  was  extended  to  Lake  Michigan,  or  that  steamships  began  to 
navigate  the  bosom  of  that  inland  sea. 

Until  the  year  1832,  the  commencement  of  the  Black  Hawk  War, 
but  few  hostilities  were  experienced  with  the  Indians.  Roads  were 
opened,  canals  were  dug,  cities  were  built,  common  schools  were  estab- 
lished, universities  were  founded,  many  of  which,  especially  the  Michigan 
University,  have  achieved  a  world  wide-reputation.  The  people  were 
becoming  wealthy.  The  domains  of  the  United  States  had  been  extended, 
and  had  the  sons  of  the  forest  been  treated  with  honesty  and  justice,  the 
record  of  many  years  would  have  been  that  of  peace  and  continuous  pros- 
perity. 

BLACK    HAWK  AND    THE   BLACK    HAWK    WAR. 

This  conflict,  though  confined  to  Illinois,  is  an  important  epoch  in 
the  Northwestern  history,  being  the  last  war  with  the  Indians  in  this  part 
of  the  United  States. 

Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah,  or  Black  Hawk,  was  born  in  the  principal 
Sac  village,  about  three  miles  from  the  junction  of  Rock  River  with  the 
Mississippi,  in  the  year  1767.  His  father's  name  was  Py-e-sa  or  Pahaes ; 
his  grandfather's,  Na-na-ma-kee,  or  the  Thunderer.  Black  Hawk  early 
distinguished  himself  as  a  warrior,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  was  permitted 
to  paint  and  was  ranked  among  the  braves.  About  the  year  1783,  he 
went  on  an  expedition  against  the  enemies  of  his  nation,  the  Osages,  one 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


76 


BLACK  HAWK,  THE  SAC  CHIEFTAIN. 


76  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

of  whom  he  killed  and  scalped,  and  for  this  deed  of  Indian  bravery  he  was 
permitted  to  join  in  the  scalp  dance.  Three  or  four  years  after  he,  at  the 
head  of  two  hundred  braves,  went  on  another  expedition  against  the 
Osages,  to  avenge  the  murder  of  some  women  and  children  belonging  to 
his  own  tribe.  Meeting  an  equal  number  of  Osage  warriors,  a  fierce 
battle  ensued,  in  which  the  latter  tribe  lost  one-half  their  number.  The 
Sacs  lost  only  about  nineteen  warriors.  He  next  attacked  the  Cherokees 
for  a  similar  cause.  In  a  severe  battle  with  them,  near  the  present  City 
of  St.  Louis,  his  father  was  slain,  and  Black  Hawk,  taking  possession  of 
the  "  Medicine  Bag,"'  at  once  announced  himself  chief  of  the  Sac  nation. 
He  had  now  conquered  tlie  Cherokees,  and  about  the  year  1800,  at  the 
head  of  five  hundred  Sacs  and  Foxes,  and  a  hundred  lowas,  he  waged 
war  ao-ainst  the  Osage  nation  and  subdued  it.  For  two  years  he  battled  ■ 
successfully  with  other  Indian  tribes,  all  of  whom  he  conquered. 

Black  Hawk  does  not  at  any  time  seem  to  have  been  friendly  tO' 
the  Americans.  When  on  a  visit  to  St.  Louis  to  see  his  "  Spanish 
Father,"  he  declined  to  see  any  of  the  Americans,  alleging,  as  a  reason^ 
he  did  not  want  two  fathers. 

The  treaty  at  St.  Louis  was  consummated  in  1804.  The  next  year  the 
United  States  Government  erected  a  fort  near  the  head  of  the  Des  Moines- 
Rapids,  called  Fort  Edwards.  This  seemed  to  enrage  Black  Hawk,  who 
at  once  determined  to  capture  Fort  Madison,  standing  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Mississippi  above  the  mouth  of  the  Des  Moines  River.  The  fort  wa& 
garrisoned  by  about  fifty  men.  Here  he  was  defeated.  The  difficulties 
with  the  British  Government  arose  about  this  time,  and  the  War  of  1812 
followed.  That  government,  extending  aid  to  the  Western  Indians,  by 
giving  them  arms  and  anununition,  induced  them  to  remain  hostile  to  the 
Americans.  In  August,  1812,  Black  Hawk,  at  the  head  of  about  five 
hundred  braves,  started  to  join  the  British  forces  at  Detroit,  passing  on 
his  way  the  site  of  Chicago,  where  the  famous  Fort  Dearborn  Massacre 
hr.:^.  a  few  days  before  occurred.  Of  his  connection  with  the  British 
i:jrc^rernment  but  Httle  is  known.  In  1813  he  with  his  little  band  descended 
the  Mississippi,  and  attacking  some  United  States  troops  at  Fort  Howard 
was  defeated. 

In  the  early  part  of  1815,  the  Indian  tribes  west  of  the  Mississippi 
were  notified  that  peace  had  been  declared  between  the  United  States 
and  Eno-land,  and  nearlv  all  hostilities  had  ceased.  Black  Hawk  did  not 
sign  any  treaty,  however,  until  May  of  the  following  year.  He  then  recog- 
nized the  validity  of  the  treaty  at  St.  Louis  in  1804.  From  the  time  of 
signing  this  treaty  in  1816,  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in  1832,  he 
and  his  band  passed  their  time  in  the  common  pursuits  of  Indian  life. 

Ten  years  before  the  commencement  of  this  war,  the  Sac  and  Fox 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  7T 

Indians  were  urged  to  join  the  lowas  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Father  of 
Waters.  All  were  agreed,  save  the  band  known  as  the  British  Band,  of 
which  Black  Hawk  was  leader.  He  strenuously  objected  to  the  removal, 
and  was  induced  to  comply  only  after  being  threatened  with  the  power  of 
the  Government.  This  and  various  actions  on  the  part  of  the  white  set- 
tlers provoked  Black  Hawk  and  his  band  to  attempt  the  capture  of  his 
native  village  now  occupied  by  the  whites.  The  war  followed.  He  and 
his  actions  were  undoubtedly  misunderstood,  and  had  his  wishes  been 
acquiesced  in  at  the  beginning  of  the  struggle,  much  bloodshed  would 
have  been  prevented.  , 

Black  Hawk  was  chief  now  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  nations,  and  a  noted 
warrior.  He  and  his  tribe  inhabited  a  village  on  Rock  River,  nearly  three 
miles  above  its  confluence  with  the  Mississippi,  where  the  tribe  had  lived 
many  generations.  When  that  portion  of  Illinois  was  reserved  to  them^ 
they  remained  in  peaceable  possession  of  their  reservation,  spending  their 
time  in  the  enjoyment  of  Indian  life.  The  fine  situation  of  their  village 
and  the  quality  of  their  lands  incited  the  more  lawless  white  settlers,  who 
from  time  to  time  began  to  encroach  upon  the  red  men's  domain.  From 
one  pretext  to  another,  and  from  one  step  to  another,  the  crafty  white 
men  gained  a  foothold,  until  through  whisky  and  artifice  they  obtained 
deeds  from  many  of  the  Indians  for  their  possessions.  The  Indians  were 
finally  induced  to  cross  over  the  Father  of  Waters  and  locate  among  the 
lowas.  Black  Hawk  was  strenuously  opposed  to  all  this,  but  as  the 
authorities  of  Illinois  and  the  United  States  thought  this  the  best  move,  he 
was  forced  to  comply.  Moreover  other  tribes  joined  the  whites  and  urged 
the  removal.  Black  Hawk  would  not  agree  to  the  terms  of  the  treaty 
made  with  his  nation  for  their  lands,  and  as  soon  as  the  militaiy,  called  to 
enforce  his  removal,  had  retired,  he  returned  to  the  Illinois  side  of  the 
river.  A  large  force  was  at  once  raised  and  marched  against  him.  On 
the  evening  of  May  14,  1832,  the  first  engagement  occurred  between  a 
band  from  this  army  and  Black  Hawk's  band,  in  which  the  former  were 
defeated. 

This  attack  and  its  result  aroused  the  whites.  A  large  force  of  men 
was  raised,  and  Gen.  Scott  hastened  from  the  seaboard,  by  way  of  the 
lakes,  with  United  States  troops  and  artillery  to  aid  in  the  subjugation  of 
the  Indians.  On  the  24th  of  June,  Black  Hawk,  with  200  warriors,  was 
repulsed  by  Major  Demont  between  Rock  River  and  Galena.  The  Ameri- 
can army  continued  to  move  up  Rock  River  toward  the  main  body  of 
the  Indians,  and  on  the  21st  of  July  came  upon  Black  Hawk  and  his  band^ 
and  defeated  them  near  the  Blue  Mounds. 

Before  this  action,  Gen.  Henry,  in  command,  sent  word  to  the  main 
army  by  whom  he  was  immediately  rejoined,  and  the  whole  crossed  the- 


78  THE   NORTHWEST   TEIIRTTORY. 

Wisconsin  in  pursuit  of  Black  Hawk  and  his  band  who  were  fleeing  to  the 
Mississippi.  They  were  overtaken  on  the  2d  of  August,  and  in  the  battle 
which  followed  the  power  of  the  Indian  chief  was  completel}^  broken.  He 
fled,  but  was  seized  by  the  Winnebagoes  and  delivered  to  the  whites. 

On  the  21st  of  September,  1832,  Gen.  Scott  and  Gov.  Reynolds  con- 
■oluded  a  treaty  with  the  Winnebagoes,  Sacs  and  Foxes  by  which  they 
■ceded  to  the  United  States  a  vast  tract  of  country,  and  agreed  to  remain 
peaceable  with  the  whites.  For  the  faithful  performance  of  the  provi- 
sions of  this  treaty  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  it  was  stipulated  that 
Black  Hawk,  his  two  sons,  the  prophet  Wabokieshiek,  and  six  other  chiefs 
of  the  hostile  bands  should  be  retained  as  hostages  during  the  pleasure 
of  the  President.    They  were  confined  at  Fort  Barracks  and  put  in  irons. 

The  next  Spring,  by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  they  were  taken 
to  Washington.  From  there  they  were  removed  to  Fortress  Monroe, 
•"there  to  remain  until  the  conduct  of  their  nation  was  such  as  to  justify 
their  being  set  at  liberty."  They  were  retained  here  until  the  4th  of 
June,  when  the  authorities  directed  them  to  be  taken  to  the  principal 
cities  so  that  they  might  see  the  folly  of  contending  against  the  white 
people.  Everywhere  they  were  observed  by  thousands,  the  name  of  the 
old  chief  being  extensively  known.  By  the  middle  of  August  they 
reached  Fort  Armstrong  on  Rock  Island,  where  Black  Hawk  was  soon 
after  released  to  go  to  his  countrymen.  As  he  passed  the  site  of  his  birth- 
place, now  the  home  of  the  white  man,  he  was  deeply  moved.  His  village 
where  he  was  born,  where  he  had  so  happily  lived,  and  where  he  had 
hoped  to  die,  was  now  another's  dwelling  place,  and  he  was  a  wanderer. 

On  the  next  day  after  his  release,  he  went  at  once  to  his  tribe  and 
his  lodge.  His  wife  was  yet  living,  and  with  her  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  days.  To  his  credit  it  may  be  said  that  Black  Hawk  always  re- 
mained true  to  his  wife,  and  served  her  with  a  devotion  uncommon  among 
the  Indians,  living  with  her  upward  of  forty  years. 

Black  Hawk  now  passed  his  time  hunting  and  fishing.  A  deep  mel- 
ancholy had  settled  over  him  from  which  he  could  not  be  freed.  At  all 
times  when  he  visited  the  whites  he  was  received  with  marked  atten- 
tion. He  was  an  honored  guest  at  the  old  settlers'  reunion  in  Lee  County, 
Illinois,  at  some  of  their  meetings,  and  received  many  tokens  of  esteem. 
In  September,  1838,  while  on  his  way  to  Rock  Island  to  receive  his 
annuity  from  the  Government,  he  contracted  a  severe  cold  which  resulted 
in  a  fatal  attack  of  bilious  fever  which  terminated  his  life  on  October  3. 
His  faithful  wife,  who  was  devotedly  attached  to  him,  mourned  deeply 
during  his  sickness.  After  his  death  he  was  dressed  in  the  uniform  pre- 
sented to  him  by  the  President  while  in  Washington.  He  was  buried  in 
a  grave   six  feet  in  depth,  situated  upon  a  beautiful  eminence.     "  The 


THE    NORTHWEST    TERRITORY.  79 

body  was  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  grave,  in  a  sitting  posture,  upon  a 
seat  constructed  for  the  purpose.  On  his  left  side,  the  cane,  given  hint 
by  Henry  Clay,  was  placed  upright,  with  his  right  hand  resting  upon  it. 
Many  of  the  old  warrior's  trophies  were  placed  in  the  grave,  and  some 
Indian  garments,  together  with  his  favorite  weapons." 

No  sooner  was  the  Clack  Hawk  war  concluded  than  settlers  began 
rapidly  to  pour  into  the  northern  parts  of  Illinois,  and  into  Wisconsin, 
now  free  from  Indian  depredations.  Chicago,  from  a  trading  post,  had 
grown  to  a  commercial  center,  and  was  rapidly  coming  into  prominence. 
In  1835,  the  formation  of  a  State  Government  in  Michigan  was  discussed, 
but  did  not  take  active  form  until  two  years  later,  when  the  State  became 
a  part  of  the  Federal  Union. 

The  main  attraction  to  that  portion  of  the  Northwest  lying  west  of 
Lake  Michigan,  now  included  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin,  was  its  alluvial 
wealth.  Copper  ore  was  found  about  Lake  Superior.  For  some  time  this 
region  was  attached  to  Michigan  for  judiciary  purposes,  but  in  183(>  was 
made  a  territory,  then  including  Minnesota  and  Iowa.  The  latter  State 
was  detached  two  years  later.  In  1848,  Wisconsin  was  admitted  as  a 
State,  Madison  being  made  the  capital.  We  have  now  traced  the  various- 
divisions  of  the  Northwest  Territory  (save  a  little  in  Minnesota)  from 
the  time  it  was  a  unit  comprising  this  vast  territory,  until  circumstances, 
compelled  its  present  division. 

OTHER   INDIAN   TROUBLES. 

Before  leaving  this  part  of  the  narrative,  we  will  narrate  briefly  the 
Indian  troubles  in  Minnesota  and  elsewhere  by  the  Sioux  Indians. 

In  August,  1862,  the  Sioux  Indians  living  on  the  western  borders  of 
Minnesota  fell  upon  the  unsuspecting  settlers,  and  in  a  few  hours  mas- 
sacred ten  or  twelve  hundred  persons.  A  distressful  panic  was  the 
immediate  result,  fully  thirty  thousand  persons  fleeing  from  their  homes 
to  districts  supposed  to  be  better  protected.  The  military  authorities 
at  once  took  active  measures  to  punish  the  savages,  and  a  large  number 
were  killed  and  captured.  About  a  year  after,  Little  Crow,  the  chief, 
was  killed  by  a  Mr.  Lampson  near  Scattered  Lake.  Of  those  captured, 
thirty  were  hung  at  Mankato,  and  the  remainder,  through  fears  of  mob 
violence,  were  removed  to  Camp  McClellan,  on  the  outskirts  of  the  City 
of  Davenport.  It  was  here  that  Big  Eagle  came  into  prominence  and 
secured  his  release  by  the  following  order :. 


so 


THE   NOllTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


BIG  EAGLE. 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  81 

*'  Special  Order,  No.  430.  "  War  Department, 

"  Adjutant  General's  Office,  Washington,  Dec.  3, 1864. 

"  Big  Eagle,  an  Indian  now  in  confinement  at  Davenport,  Iowa, 
will,  upon  the  receipt  of  this  order,  be  immediately  released  from  confine- 
ment and  set  at  liberty. 

"  By  order  of  the  President  of  the  United  States. 
*'  Official :  "  E.  D.  Townsend,  Ass't  Adft  aen. 

"  Capt.  James  Vanderventer,  Cont^  Sub.  Vols. 

"  Through  Com'g  Gen'l,  Washington,  D.  C." 

Another  Indian  who  figures  more  prominently  than  Big  Eagle,  and 
who  was  more  cowardly  in  his  nature,  with  his  band  of  Modoc  Indians, 
is  noted  in  the  annals  of  the  New  Northwest :  we  refer  to  Captain  Jack. 
This  distinguished  Indian,  noted  for  his  cowardly  murder  of  Gen.  Canby, 
was  a  chief  of  a  Modoc  tribe  of  Indians  inhabiting  the  border  lands 
between  California  and  Oregon.  This  region  of  country  comprises  what 
is  known  as  the  "  Lava  Beds,"  a  tract  of  land  described  as  utterly  impene- 
trable, save  by  those  savages  who  had  made  it  their  home. 

The  Modocs  are  known  as  an  exceedingly  fierce  and  treacherous 
race.  They  had,  according  to  their  own  traditions,  resided  here  for  many 
generations,  and  at  one  time  were  exceedingly  numerous  and  powerful. 
A  famine  carried  off  nearly  half  their  numbers,  and  disease,  indolence 
and  the  vices  of  the  white  man  have  reduced  them  to  a  poor,  weak  and 
insignificant  tribe. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  California  and  Oregon,  complaints  began 
to  be  heard  of  massacres  of  emigrant  trains  passing  through  the  Modoc 
country.  In  1847,  an  emigrant  train,  comprising  eighteen  souls,  was  en- 
tirely destroyed  at  a  place  since  known  as  "  Bloody  Point."  These  occur- 
rences caused  the  United  States  Government  to  appoint  a  peace  commission, 
who,  after  repeated  attempts,  in  1864,  made  a  treaty  with  the  Modocs, 
Snakes  and  Klamaths,  in  which  it  was  agreed  on  their  part  to  remove  to 
a  reservation  set  apart  for  them  in  the  southern  part  of  Oregon. 

With  the  exception  of  Captain  Jack  and  a  band  of  his  followers,  who 
remained  at  Clear  Lake,  about  six  miles  from  Klamath,  all  the  Indians 
complied.  The  Modocs  who  went  to  the  reservation  were  under  chief 
Schonchin.  Captain  Jack  remained  at  the  lake  without  disturbance 
until  1869,  when  he  was  also  induced  to  remove  to  the  reservation.  The 
Modocs  and  the  Klamaths  soon  became  involved  in  a  quarrel,  and  Captain 
Jack  and  his  band  returned  to  the  Lava  Beds. 

Several  attempts  were  made  by  the  Indian  Commissioners  to  induce 
them  to  return  to  the  reservation,  and  finally  becoming  involved  in  a 


82  THE    NORTHWEST    TERRITORY. 

difficulty  with  the  commissioner  and  his  military  escort,  a  fight  ensued, 
in  which  the  chief  and  his  Land  were  routed.  They  were  greatly  enraged, 
and  on  their  retreat,  before  the  day  closed,  killed  eleven  inoffensive  whites. 

The  nation  was  aroused  and  immediate  action  demanded.  A  com- 
mission was  at  once  appointed  by  the  Government  to  see  what  could  be 
done.  It  comprised  the  following  persons  :  Gen.  E.  R.  S.  Canby,  Rev. 
Dr.  E.  Thomas,  a  leading  Methodist  divine  of  California ;  Mr.  A.  B. 
Meacham,  Judge  Rosborough,  of  California,  and  a  Mr.  Dyer,  of  Oregon. 
After  several  interviews,  in  which  the  savages  were  always  aggressive, 
often  appearing  wath  scalps  in  their  belts.  Bogus  Charley  came  to  the 
commission  on  the  evening  of  April  10,  1873,  and  informed  them  that 
Capt.  Jack  and  his  band  would  have  a  "  talk  "  to-morrow  at  a  place  near 
Clear  Lake,  about  three  miles  distant.  Here  the  Commissioners,  accom- 
panied by  Charley,  Riddle,  the  interpreter,  and  Boston  Charley  repaired. 
After  the  usual  greeting  the  council  proceedings  commenced.  On  behalf 
of  the  Indians  there  were  present :  Capt.  Jack,  Black  Jim,  Schnac  Nasty 
Jim,  Ellen's  Man,  and  Hooker  Jim.  They  had  no  guns,  but  carried  pis- 
tols. After  short  speeches  by  Mr.  Meacham,  Gen.  Canby  and  Dr.  Thomas, 
Chief  Schonchin  arose  to  speak.  He  had  scarcely  proceeded  when, 
as  if  by  a  preconcerted  arrangement,  Capt.  Jack  drew  his  pistol  and  shot 
Gen.  Canby  dead.  In  less  than  a  minute  a  dozen  shots  were  fired  by  the 
savages,  and  the  massacre  completed.  Mr.  Meacham  was  shot  by  Schon- 
chin, and  Dr.  Thomas  by  Boston  Charley.  Mr.  Dyer  barely  escaped,  being 
fired  at  twice.  Riddle,  the  interpreter,  and  his  squaw  escaped.  The 
troops  rushed  to  the  spot  where  they  found  Gen.  Canby  and  Dr.  Thomas 
dead,  and  Mr.  Meacham  badly  wounded.  The  savages  had  escaped  to 
their  impenetrable  fastnesses  and  could  not  be  pursued. 

The  whole  country  was  aroused  by  this  brutal  massacre ;  but  it  was 
not  until  the  following  May  that  the  murderers  were  brought  to  justice. 
At  that  time  Boston  Charley  gave  himself  up,  and  offered  to  guide  the 
troops  to  Capt.  Jack's  stronghold.  This  led  to  the  capture  of  his  entire 
gang,  a  number  of  whom  were  murdered  by  Oregon  volunteers  while  on 
their  way  to  trial.  The  remaining  Indians  were  held  as  prisoners  until 
July  when  their  trial  occurred,  which  led  to  the  conviction  of  Capt. 
Jack,  Schonchin,  Boston  Charley,  Hooker  Jim,  Broncho,  alias  One-Eyed 
Jim,  and  Slotuck,  who  were  sentenced  to  be  hanged.  These  senteuces 
were  approved  by  the  President,  save  in  the  case  of  Slotuck  and  Broncho 
whose  sentences  were  commuted  to  imprisonment  for  life.  The  others 
were  executed  at  Fort  Klamath,  October  3,  1873. 

These  closed  the  Indian  troubles  for  a  time  in  the  Northwest,  and  for 
several  years  the  borders  of  civilization  remained  in  peace.  They  were 
again  involved  in  a   conflict  with  the  savages  about  the  country  of  the 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


83 


;^fflii»'^ 


CAPTAIN  JACK,  THE  MODOC  CHIEFTAIN. 


1^4  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

Black  Hills,  in  which  war  the  gallant  Gen.  Custer  lost  his  life.  Just 
now  the  borders  of  Oregon  and  California  are  again  in  fear  of  hostilities  ; 
but  as  the  Government  has  learned  how  to  deal  with  the  Indians,  they 
will  be  of  short  duration.  The  red  man  is  fast  passing  away  before  the 
march  of  the  white  man,  and  a  few  more  generations  will  read  of  the 
Indians  as  one  of  the  nations  of  the  past. 

The  Northwest  abounds  in  memorable  places.  We  have  generally 
noticed  them  in  the  narrative,  but  our  space  forbids  their  description  in 
detail,  save  of  the  most  important  places.  Detroit,  Cincinnati,  Vincennes, 
Kaskaskia  and  their  kindred  towns  have  all  been  described.  But  ere  we 
leave  the  narrative  we  will  present  our  readers  with  an  account  of  the 
Kinzie  house,  the  old  landmark  of  Chicago,  and  the  discovery  of  the 
source  of  the  Mississippi  River,  each  of  which  may  well  find  a  place  in 
the  annals  of  the  Northwest. 

Mr.  John  Kinzie,  of  the  Kinzie  house,  represented  in  the  illustra- 
tion, established  a  trading  house  at  Fort  Dearborn  in  1804.  The  stockade 
had  been  erected  the  year  previous,  and  named  Fort  Dearborn  in  honor 
of  the  Secretary  of  War.  It  had  a  block  house  at  each  of  the  two  angles, 
on  the  southern  side  a  sallyport,  a  covered  way  on  the  north  side,  that  led 
down  to  the  river,  for  the  double  purpose  of  providing  means  of  escape, 
and  of  procuring  water  in  the  event  of  a  siege. 

Fort  Dearborn  stood  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Chicago  River,  about 
half  a  mile  from  its  mouth.  When  Major  Whistler  built  it,  his  soldiers 
hauled  all  the  timber,  for  he  had  no  oxen,  and  so  economically  did  he 
work  that  the  fort  cost  the  Government  only  fifty  dollars.  For  a  while 
the  garrison  could  get  no  grain,  and  Whistler  and  his  men  subsisted  on 
acorns.     Now  Chicago  is  the  greatest  grain  center  in  the  world. 

Mr.  Kinzie  bought  the  hut  of  the  first  settler,  Jean  Baptiste  Point  au 
Sable,  on  the  site  of  which  he  erected  his  mansion.  Within  an  inclosure 
in  front  he  planted  some  Lombardy  poplars,  seen  in  the  engraving,  and  in 
the  rear  he  soon  had  a  fine  garden  and  growing  orchard. 

In  1812  the  Kinzie  house  and  its  surroundings  became  the  theater 
of  stirring  events.  The  garrison  of  Fort  Dearborn  consisted  of  fifty-four 
men,  under  the  charge  of  Capt.  Nathan  Heald,  assisted  by  Lieutenant 
I-enai  T.  Helm  (son-in-law  to  Mrs.  Kinzie),  and  Ensign  Ronan.  The 
surgeon  was  Dr.  Voorhees.  The  only  residents  at  the  post  at  that  time 
were  the  wives  of  Capt.  Heald  and  Lieutenant  Helm  and  a  few  of  the 
soldiers,  Mr.  Kinzie  and  his  family,  and  a  few  Canadian  voyagers  with  their 
wives  and  children.  The  soldiers  and  Mr.  Kinzie  were  on  the  most 
friendly  terms  with  the  Pottawatomies  and  the  Winnebagoes,  the  j)rin- 
cipal  tribes  around  them,  but  they  could  not  win  them  from  their  attach- 
ment to  the  British. 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


85 


After  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe  it  was  observed  that  some  of  the  lead- 
ing chiefs  became  sullen,  for  some  of  their  people  had  perished  in  that 
•conflict  with  American  troops. 

One  evening  in  April,  1812,  Mr.  Kinzie  sat  playing  his  violin  and  his 
children  were  dancing  to  the  music,  when  Mrs.  Kinzie  came  rushing  into 
the  house  pale  with  terror,  and  exclaiming,  "  The  Indians  !  the  Indians  !  " 
"  What  ?  Where  ?  "  eagerly  inquired  Mr.  Kinzie.  "  Up  at  Lee's,  kiUing 
and  scalping,"  answered  the  frightened  mother,  who,  when  the  alarm  was 
given,  was  attending  Mrs.  Burns,  a  newly-made  mother,  living  not  far  off. 


KINZIE    HOUSE. 


Mr.  Kinzie  and  his  family  crossed  the  river  in  boats,  and  took  refuge  in 
the  fort,  to  which  place  Mrs.  Burns  and  her  infant,  not  a  day  old,  were 
conveyed  in  safety  to  the  shelter  of  the  guns  of  Fort  Dearborn,  and  the 
rest  of  the  white  inhabitants  fled.  The  Indians  were  a  scalping  party  of 
Winnebagoes,  who  hovered  around  the  fort  some  days,  when  they  dis- 
appeared, and  for  several  weeks  the  inhabitants  were  not  disturbed  by 
alarms. 

Chicago  was  then  so  deep  in  the  wilderness,  that  the  news  of  the 
declaration  of  war  against  Great  Britain,  made  on  the  19th  of  June,  1812, 
did  not  reach  the  commander  of  the  garrison  at  Fort  Dearborn  till  the  7th 
•of  August.  Now  the  fast  mail  train  will  carry  a  man  from  New  York  to 
Chicago  in  twenty-seven  hours,  and  such  a  declaration  might  be  sent, 
€very  word,  by  the  telegraph  in  less  than  the  same  number  of  minutes. 


THE  irOETHWEST   TERRITORY. 


87 


PRESENT    CONDITION    OF    THE    NORTHWEST, 

Preceding  chapters  have  brought  us  to  the  close  of  the  Black  Hawk 
war,  and  we  now  turn  to  the  contemplation  of  the  growth  and  prosperity 
of  the  Northwest  under  the  smile  of  peace  and  the  blessings  of  our  civili- 
zation.    The  pioneers  of  this  region  date  events  back  to  the  deep  snow 


A    REPRESKNTATIVK    PIONEER. 


^,» 


//a^ 


of  1831,  no  one  arriving  here  since  that  date  taking  first  honors.  The 
inciting  cause  of  the  immigration  which  overflowed  the  prairies  early  in 
-the  '30s  was  the  reports  of  the  marvelous  beauty  and  fertility  of  the 
legion  distributed  through  the  East  by  those  who  had  participated  in  the 
Black  Hawk  campaign  with  Gen.  Scott.  Chicago  and  Milwaukee  then, 
liad  a  few  hundred  inhabitants,  and  Gurdon  S.  Hubbard's  trail  from  the 
former  citv  to  Kaskaskia  led  almost  through  a  wilderness.  Vegetables 
and  clothing  were  largely  distributed  through  the  regions  adjoining  the 


88 


THE  NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


lakes  by  steamers  from  the  Ohio  towns.  There  are  men  now  living  in 
Illinois  who  came  to  the  state  when  barely  an  acre  was  in  cultivation^ 
and  a  man  now  prominent  in  the  business  circles  of  Chicago  looked  over 
the  swampy,  cheerless  site  of  that  metropolis  in  1818  and  went  south- 
ward into  civilization.     Emigrants  from  Pennsylvania  in  1830  left  behind 


Ki^.:^^^.^ 


LINCOLN    MONUMENT,    SPRINGFIELD,    ILLINOIS. 


1 


them  but  one  small  railway  in  the  coal  regions,  thirty  miles  in  length, 
and  made  their  way  to  the  Northwest  mostly  with  ox  teams,  finding  in 
Northern  Illinois  petty  settlements  scores  of  miles  apart,  although  the 
southern  portion  of  the  state  was  fairly  dotted  with  farms.  The 
water  courses  of  the  lakes  and  rivers  furnished  transportation  to  the 
second  great  army  of  immigrants,  and  about  1850  railroads  were 
pushed  to  that  extent  that  the  crisis  of  1837   was  precipitated  upon  ua. 


THE    NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


89 


from  tlie  effects  of  which  the  Western  country  had  not  fully  recovered 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  Hostilities  found  the  colonists  of  the  prairies 
fully  alive  to  the  demands  of  the  occasion,  and  the  honor  of  recruiting 


3 
o 

o 

o 

s: 

o 


the  vast  armies  of  the  Union  fell  largely  to  Gov.  Yates,  of  Illinois,  and 
Gov.  Morton,  of  Indiana.  To  recount  the  share  of  the  glories  of  the 
campaign  -svon  If  cuv  Western  troops  is  a  needless  task,  except  to 
mention  the  fact  that  Illinois  ^ave  to  liie  nation  the  President  who  saved 


90 


THE  NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


it,  and  sent  out  at  the  head  of  one  of  its  regiments  tne  general  who  led 
^ts  armies  to  the  final  victory  at  Appomattox.      The  struggle,  on  the 


FA£M    VIEW    IN    WINTER. 

whole,  had  a  marked  effect  for  the  better  on  the  new  Northwest,  gi  fing 
it  an  impetus  which  twenty  years  of  peace  would  not  have  produced. 
In  a  large  degree  this  prosperity  was  an  inflated  one,  and  with  the  rest 
of  the  Union  Ave  have    since    been    compelled  to  atone  therefor  by  four 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  93 

years  of  depression  of  values,  of  scarcity  of  employment,  and  loss  of 
fortune.  To  a  less  degree,  however,  than  the  manufacturing  or  mining 
regions  has  the  West  suffered  during  the  prolonged  panic  now  so  near  its 
end.  Agriculture,  still  the  leading  feature  in  our  industries,  has  been 
quite  prosperous  through  all  these  dark  years,  and  the  farmers  have 
cleared  away  many  incumbrances  resting  over  them  from  the  period  of 
fictitious  values.  The  population  has  steadily  increased,  the  arts  and 
sciences  are  gaining  a  stronger  foothold,  the  trade  area  of  the  region  is 
becoming  daily  more  extended,  and  we  have  been  largely  exemjDt  from 
the  financial  calamities  which  have  nearly  wrecked  communities  on  the 
seaboard  dependent  wholly  on  foreign  commerce  or  domestic  manufacture. 

At  the  present  period  there  are  no  great  schemes  broached  for  the 
Northwest,  no  propositions  for  government  subsidies  or  national  works 
of  improvement,  but  the  capital  of  the  world  is  attracted  hither  for  the 
purchase  of  our  products  or  the  expansion  of  our  capacity  for  serving  the 
nation  at  large.  A  new  era  is  dawning  as  to  transportation,  and  we  bid 
fair  to  deal  almost  exclusively  with  the  increasing  and  expanding  lines 
•of  steel  rail  running  through  every  few  miles  of  territory  on  the  prairies. 
The  lake  marine  will  no  doubt  continue  to  be  useful  in  the  warmer 
season,  and  to  serve  as  a  regulator  of  freight  rates ;  but  experienced 
navigators  forecast  the  decay  of  the  system  in  moving  to  the  seaboard 
the  enormous  crops  of  the  West.  Within  the  past  five  years  it  has 
become  quite  common  to  see  direct  shipments  to  Europe  and  the  West 
Indies  going  through  from  the  second-class  towns  along  the  Mississippi 
•and  Missouri, 

As  to  popular  education,  the  standard  has  of  late  risen  very  greatly, 
and  our  schools  would  be  creditable  to  any  section  of  the  Union. 

More  and  more  as  the  events  of  the  war  pass  into  obscurity  will  the 
fate  of  the  Northwest  be  linked  with  that  of  the  Southwest,  and  the 
next  Congressional  apportionment  will  give  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi 
absolute  control  of  the  legislation  of  the  nation,  and  do  much  toward 
securing  the  removal  of  the  Federal  capitol  to  some  more  central  location. 

Our  public  men  continue  to  wield  the  full  share  of  influence  pertain- 
ing to  their  rank  in  the  national  autonomy,  and  seem  not  to  forget  that 
for  the  past  sixteen  years  they  and  their  constituents  have  dictated  the 
principles  which  should  govern  the  country. 

In  a  work  like  this,  destined  to  lie  on  the  shelves  of  the  library  for 
generations,  and  not  doomed  to  daily  destruction  like  a  newspaper,  one 
can  not  indulge  in  the  same  glowing  predictions,  the  sanguine  statements 
of  actualities  that  fill  the  columns  of  ephemeral  publications.  Time  may 
bring  grief  to  the  pet  projects  of  a  writer,  and  explode  castles  erected  on 
a  pedestal  of  facts.     Yet  there  are  unmistakable  indications  before  us  of 


94 


THE  NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


LAKE  BLITF. 
The  frontage  of  Lake  Bluff  Grounds  on  Lake  Michigan,  with  one  hundred  and  seventy  feet  of  gradual  ascenU 


HIGH  BRIDGE,  LAKE  BLUFF,  LAKE  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  95 

the  same  radical  change  in  our  great  Northwest  which  characterizes  its 
history  for  the  past  thirty  years.  Our  domain  has  a  sort  of  natural 
geographical  border,  save  where  it  melts  away  to  the  southward  in  the 
cattle  raising  districts  of  the  southwest. 

Our  prime  interest  will  for  some  years  doubtless  be  the  growth  of 
the  food  of  the  world,  in  which  branch  it  has  already  outstripped  all 
competitors,  and  our  great  rival  in  this  duty  will  naturally  be  the  fertile- 
plains  of  Kansas,  Nebraska  and  Colorado,  to  say  nothing  of  the  new 
empire  so  rapidly  growing  up  in  Texas.  Over  these  regions  there  is  a 
continued  progress  in  agriculture  and  in  railway  building,  and  we  must 
look  to  our  laurels.  Intelligent  observers  of  events  are  fully  aware  of 
the  strides  made  in  the  way  of  shipments  of  fresh  meats  to  Europe,, 
many  of  these  ocean  cargoes  being  actually  slaughtered  in  the  West  and 
transported  on  ice  to  the  wharves  of  the  seaboard  cities.  That  this  new 
enterprise  will  continue  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt.  There  are  in 
Chicago  several  factories  for  the  canning  of  prepared  meats  for  European 
consumption,  and  the  orders  for  this  class  of  goods  are  already  immense^ 
English  capital  is  becoming  daily  more  and  more  dissatisfied  with  railway 
loans  and  investments,  and  is  gradually  seeking  mammoth  outlays  in 
lands  and  live  stock.  The  stock  yards  in  Chicago,  Indianapolis  and  East 
St.  Louis  are  yearly  increasing  their  facilities,  and  their  plant  steadily 
grows  more  valuable.  Importations  of  blooded  animals  from  the  pro- 
gressive countries  of  Europe  are  destined  to  greatly  improve  the  quality 
of  our  beef  and  mutton.  Nowhere  is  there  to  be  seen  a  more  enticing 
display  in  this  line  than  at  our  state  and  county  fairs,  and  the  interest 
in  the  matter  is  on  the  increase. 

To  attempt  to  give  statistics  of  our  grain  production  for  1877  would 
be  useless,  so  far  have  we  surpassed  ourselves  in  the  quantity  and 
quality  of  our  product.  We  are  too  liable  to  forget  that  we  are  giving 
the  world  its  first  article  of  necessity  —  its  food  supply.  An  opportunity 
to  learn  this  fact  so  it  never  can  be  forgotten  was  afforded  at  Chicago  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  great  panic  of  1873,  when  Canadian  purchasers, 
fearing  the  prostration  of  business  mightbring  about  an  anarchical  condition 
of  affairs,  went  to  that  city  with  coin  in  bulk  and  foreign  drafts  to  secure 
their  supplies  in  their  own  currency  at  first  hands.  It  may  be  justly 
claimed  by  the  agricultural  community  that  their  combined  efforts  gave 
the  nation  its  first  impetus  toward  a  restoration  of  its  crippled  industries, 
and  their  labor  brought  the  gold  premium  to  a  lower  depth  than  the 
government  was  able  to  reach  hy  its  most  intense  efforts  of  legislation 
and  compulsion.  The  hundreds  of  millions  about  to  be  disbursed  for 
farm  products  have  already,  by  the  anticipation  common  to  all  commercial. 


96 


THE  NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


nations,  set  the  wheels  in  motion,  and  will  relieve  us  from  the  perils  so 
long  shadowing  our  efforts  to  return  to  a  healthy  tone. 

^  Manufacturing  has  attained  in  the  chief  cities  a  foothold  which  bids 
fair  to  render  the  Northwest  independent  of  the  outside  world.     Nearly 


> 

< 

a, 


X 
35 


■Ji 

o 

25 


^ 


< 

O 


our  whole  region  has  a  distribution  of  coal  measures  which  will  in  time 
support  the  manufactures  necessary  to  our  comfort  and  prosperity.  As 
to  transportation,  the  chief  factor  in  the  production  of  all  articles  except 
food,  no  section  is  so  magnificently  endowed,  and  our  facilities  are  yearly 
increasing  beyond  those  of  any  other  region. 


THE    NORTHWEST    TERRTTOET.  97 

The  period  from  a  central  point  of  the  war  to  the  outbreak  of  the 
panic  was  marked  by  a  tremendous  growth  in  our  railway  lines,  but  the 
depression  of  the  times  caused  almost  a  total  suspension  of  operations. 
Now  that  prosperity  is  returning  to  our  stricken  country  we  witness  its- 
anticipation  by  the  railroad  interest  in  a  series  of  projects,  extensions, 
and  leases  which  bid  fair  to  largely  increase  our  transportation  facilities.. 
The  process  of  foreclosure  and  sale  of  incumbered  lines  is  another  matter 
to  be  considered.  In  the  case  of  the  Illinois  Central  road,  which  formerly 
transferred  to  other  lines  at  Cairo  the  vast  burden  of  freight  destined  for 
the  Gulf  region,  we  now  see  the  incorporation  of  the  tracks  connecting 
through  to  New  Orleans,  every  mile  co-operating  in  turning  toward  the 
northwestern  metropolis  the  weight  of  the  inter-state  commerce  of  a 
thousand  miles  or  more  of  fertile  plantations.  Three  competing  routes 
to  Texas  have  established  in  Chicago  their  general  freight  and  passenger 
agencies.  Four  or  five  lines  compete  for  all  Pacific  freights  to  a  point  as 
as  far  as  the  interior  of  Nebraska.  Half  a  dozen  or  more  splendid  bridge 
structures  have  been  thrown  across  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  Rivers  by 
the  railways.  The  Chicago  and  Northwestern  line  has  become  an  aggre- 
gation of  over  two  thousand  miles  of  rail,  and  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee 
and  St.  Paul  is  its  close  rival  in  extent  and  importance.  The  three  lines 
running  to  Cairo  via  Vincennes  form  a  through  route  for  all  traffic  with- 
the  states  to  the  southward.  The  chief  projects  now  under  discussion 
are  the  Chicago  and  Atlantic,  which  is  to  unite  with  lines  now  built  to 
Charleston,  and  the  Chicago  and  Canada  Southern,  which  line  will  con- 
nect with  all  the  various  branches  of  that  Canadian  enterprise.  Our 
latest  new  road  is  the  Chicago  and  Lake  Huron,  formed  of  three  lines, 
and  entering  the  city  from  Valparaiso  on  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne 
and  Chicago  track.  The  trunk  lines  being  mainly  in  operation,  the 
progress  made  in  the  way  of  shortening  tracks,  making  air-line  branches, 
and  running  extensions  does  not  show  to  the  advantage  it  deserves,  as 
this  process  is  constantly  adding  new  facilities  to  the  established  order 
of  things.  The  panic  reduced  the  price  of  steel  to  a  point  where  the 
railways  could  hardly  afford  to  use  iron  rails,  and  all  our  northwestern 
lines  report  large  relays  of  Bessemer  track.  The  immense  crops  now 
being  moved  have  given  a  great  rise  to  the  value  of  railway  stocks,  and 
their  transportation  must  result  in  heavy  pecuniary  advantages. 

Few  are  aware  of  the  importance  of  the  wholesale  and  jobbing  trade 
of  Chicago.  One  leading  firm  has  since  the  panic  sold  $24,000,000  of 
dry  goods  in  one  year,  and  they  now  expect  most  confidently  to  add 
seventy  per  cent,  to  the  figures  of  their  last  year's  business.  In  boots 
and  shoes  and  in  clothing,  twenty  or  more  great  firms  from  the  east  have 
placed  here  their  distributing  agents  or  th^eir  factories  ;  and  in  groceries 


^8 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


Chicago  supplies  the  entire  Northwest  at  rates  presenting  advantages 
over  New  York. 

Chicago  has  stepped  in  between  New  York  and  the  rural  banks  as  a 
financial  center,  and  scarcely  a  banking  institution  in  the  grain  or  cattle 
regions  but  keeps  its  reserve  funds  in  the  vaults  of  our  commercial  insti- 
tutions. Accumulating  here  throughout  the  spring  and  summer  months, 
they  are  summoned  home  at  pleasure  to  move  the  products  of  the 
prairies.  This  process  greatly  strengthens  the  northwest  in  its  financial 
operations,  leaving  home  capital  to  supplement  local  operations  on 
behalf  of  home  interests. 

It  is  impossible  to  forecast  the  destiny  of  this  grand  and  growing 
section  of  the  Union.  Figures  and  predictions  made  at  this  date  might 
^eem   ten  years  hence  so  ludicrously  small  as  to  excite   only  derision. 


1 


ILLINOIS. 

Length,  380  miles,  mean  width  about  156  miles.  Area,  55,410  square 
miles,  or  35,462,400  acres.  Illinois,  as  regards  its  surface,  constitutes  a 
table-land  at  a  varying  elevation  ranging  between  350  and  800  feet  above 
the  sea  level ;  composed  of  extensive  and  highly  fertile  prairies  and  plains. 
Much  of  the  south  (^'vision  of  the  State,  especially  the  river-bottoms,  are 
thickly  wooded.  The  prairies,  too,  have  oasis-like  clumps  of  trees 
scattered  here  and  there  at  intervals.  The  chief  rivers  irrigating  the 
State  are  the  Mississippi — dividing  it  from  Iowa  and  Missouri — the  Ohio 
(forming  its  south  barrier),  the  Illinois,  Wabash,  Kaskaskia,  and  San- 
gamon, with  their  numerous  affluents.  The  total  extent  of  navigable 
streams  is  calculated  at  4,000  miles.  Small  lakes  are  scattered  over  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  State.  Illinois  is  extremely  prolific  in  minerals,  chiefly 
coal,  iron,  copper,  and  zinc  ores,  sulphur  and  limestone.  The  coal-field 
alone  is  estimated  to  absorb  a  full  third  of  the  entire  coal-deposit  of  North 
America.  Climate  tolerably  equable  and  healthy ;  the  mean  temperature 
standing  at  about  51°  Fahrenheit  As  an  agricultural  region,  Illinois  takes 
a  competitive  rank  with  neighboring  States,  the  cereals,  fruits,  and  root- 
crops  yielding  plentiful  returns  ;  in  fact,  as  a  grain-growing  State,  Illinois 
may  be  deemed,  in  proportion  to  her  size,  to  possess  a  greater  area  of 
lands  suitable  for  its  production  than  any  other  State  in  the  Union.  Stock- 
raising  is  also  largely  carried  on,  while  her  manufacturing  interests  in 
regard  of  woolen  fabrics,  etc.,  are  on  a  very  extensive  and  yearly  expand- 
ing scale.  The  lines  of  railroad  in  the  State  are  among  the  most  exten- 
sive of  the  Union.  Inland  water-carriage  is  facilitated  by  a  canal 
connecting  the  Illinois  River  with  Lake  Michigan,  and  thence  with  the 
St.  Lawrence  and  Atlantic.  Illinois  is  divided  into  102  counties ;  the 
chief  towns  being  Chicago,  Springfield  (capital),  Alton,  Quincy,  Peoria, 
Galena,  Bloomington,  Rock  Island,  Vandalia,  etc.  By  the  new  Consti- 
tution, established  in  1870,  the  State  Legislature  consists  of  51  Senators, 
elected  for  four  y^ars,  and  153  Representatives,  for  two  years ;  which 
numbers  were  to  be  decennially  increased  thereafter  to  the  number  of 
six  per  every  additional  half-million  of  inhabitants.  Religious  and 
educational  institutions  are  largely  diffused  throughout,  and  are  in  a  very 
flourishing  condition.  Illinois  has  a  State  Lunatic  and  a  Deaf  and  Dumb 
Asylum  at  Jacksonville  ;  a  State  Penitentiary  at  Joliet ;  and  a  Home  for 

(99) 


100 


THE    NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


Soldiers'  Orphans  at  Normal.  On  November  30,  1870,  the  public  debt  of 
the  State  was  returned  at  $4,870,937,  with  a  balance  of  $1,808,833 
unprovided  for.  At  the  same  period  the  value  of  assessed  and  equalized 
property  presented  the  following  totals :  assessed,  $840,031,703  ;  equal- 
ized $480,664,058.  The  name  of  Illinois,  through  nearly  the  whole  of 
the  eighteenth  century,  embraced  most  of  the  known  regions  north  and 
west  of  Ohio.  French  colonists  established  themselves  in  1673,  at 
Cahokia  and  Kaskaskia,  and  the  territory  of  which  these  settlements 
formed  the  nucleus  was,  in  1763,  ceded  to  Great  Britain  in  conjunction 
with  Canada,  and  ultimately  resigned  to  the  United  States  in  1787. 
Illinois  entered  the  Union  as  a  State,  December  3,  1818;  and  now  sends 
19  Representatives  to  Congress.     Population,  2,539,891,  in  1870. 


4   WESTERN   DWELLING. 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITOEY.  lOl 


INDIANA 


Tlic  profile  of  Indiana  forms  a  nearly  exact  parallelogram,  occupy- 
ing one  of  the  most  fertile  portions  of  the  great  Mississippi  Valley.  The 
greater  extent  of  the  surface  embraced  within  its  limits  consists  of  gentle 
undulations  rising  into  hilly  tracts  toward  the  Ohio  bottom.  The  chief 
rivers  of  the  State  are  the  Ohio  and  Wabash,  with  their  numerous 
affluents.  The  soil  is  highly  productive  of  the  cereals  and  grasses — most 
particularly  so  in  the  valleys  of  the  Ohio,  Wabash,  Whitewater,  and 
White  Rivers.  The  northeast  and  central  portions  are  well  timbered 
with  virgin  forests,  and  the  west  section  is  notably  rich  in  coal,  constitut- 
ing an  offshoot  of  the  great  Illinois  carboniferous  field.  Iron,  copper, 
marble,  slate,  gypsum,  and  various  clays  are  also  abundant.  From  an 
agricultural  point  of  view,  the  staple  products  are  maize  and  wheat,  with 
the  other  cereals  in  lesser  yields  :  and  besides  these,  flax,  hemp,  sorghum, 
hops,  etc.,  are  extensively  raised.  Indiana  is  divided  into  92  counties, 
and  counts  among  her  principal  cities  and  towns,  those  of  Indianapolis 
(the  capital),  Fort  Wayne,  Evansville,  Terre  Haute,  Madison,  Jefferson- 
ville,  Columbus,  Vincennes,  South  Bend,  etc.  The  public  institutions  of 
the  State  are  many  and  various,  and  on  a  scale  of  magnitude  and 
efficiency  commensurate  with  her  important  political  and  industrial  status. 
Upward  of  two  thousand  miles  of  railroads  permeate  the  State  in  all 
directions,  and  greatly  conduce  to  the  development  of  lier  expanding 
manufacturing  interests.  Statistics  for  the  fiscal  year  terminating 
October  31,  1870,  exhibited  a  total  of  receipts,  $3,896,541  as  against  dis- 
bursements, $3,532,406,  leaving  a  balance,  $364,135  in  favor  of  the  State 
Treasury.  The  entire  public  debt,  January  5,  1871,  $3,971,000.  This 
State  was  first  settled  by  Canadian  voyageurs  in  1702,  who  erected  a  fort 
at  Vincennes ;  in  1763  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  English,  and  was 
by  the  latter  ceded  to  the  United  States  in  1783.  From  1788  till  1791, 
an  Indian  ware  fare  prevailed.  In  1800,  all  tlie  region  west  and  north  of 
Ohio  (then  formed  into  a  distinct  territory)  became  merged  in  Indiana. 
In  1809,  the  present  limits  of  the  State  were  defined,  Michigan  and 
Illinois  having  previously  been  withdrawn.  In  1811,  Indiana  was  the 
theater  of  the  Indian  War  of  Tecumseh,  ending  with  the  decisive  battle 
of  Tippecanoe.  In  1816  (December  11),  Indiana  became  enrolled  among 
the  States  of  the  American  Union.  In  1834,  the  State  passed  through  a 
monetary  crisis  owing  to  its  having  become  mixed  up  witli  railroad, 
f;anal,  and  other  speculations  on  a  gigantic  scale,  which  ended,  for  the 
tune,  oei'ng,  in  a  general  collapse  of  public  credit,  and  consequent  bank- 
ruptcy.    Since    that  time,  however,  the  greater  number  of  the  public 


102 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


works  which  had  brought  about  that  imbroglio  —  especially  the  great 
Wabash  and  Erie  Canal  —  have  been  completed,  to  the  great  benefit  of 
the  State,  whose  subsequent  progress  has  year  by  year  been  marked  by 
rapid  strides  in  the  paths  of  wealtli,  commerce,  and  general  social  and 
political  prosperity.  The  constitution  now  in  force  was  adopted  in  1851. 
Population,  1,680,637. 


IOWA. 


In  shape,  Iowa  presents  an  almost  perfect  parallelogram ;  has  a 
length,  north  to  south,  of  about  300  miles,  by  a  pretty  even  width  of  208 
miles,  and  embraces  an  area  of  55,045  square  miles,  or  35,228,800  acres. 
The  surface  of  the  State  is  generally  undulating,  rising  toward  the 
middle  into  an  elevated  plateau  which  forms  the  "  divide "  of  the 
Missouri  and  Mississippi  basins.  Rolling  prairies,  especially  in  the  south 
section,  constitute  a  regnant  feature,  and  the  river  bottoms,  belted  with 
woodlands,  present  a  soil  of  the  richest  alluvion.  Iowa  is  well  watered  ; 
the  principal  rivers  being  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri,  which  form 
respectively  its  east  and  west  limits,  and  the  Cedar,  Iowa,  and  Des 
Moines,  affluents  of  the  first  named.  Mineralogically,  Iowa  is  important 
as  occupying  a  section  of  the  great  Northwest  coal  field,  to  the  extent  of 
an  area  estimated  at  25,000  square  miles.  Lead,  copper,  zinc,  and  iron, 
are  also  mined  in  considerable  quantities.  The  soil  is  well  adapted  to 
the  production  of  wheat,  maize,  and  the  other  cereals  :  fruits,  vegetables, 
and  esculent  roots ;  maize,  wheat,  and  oats  forming  the  chief  staples. 
Wine,  tobacco,  hops,  and  wax,  are  other  noticeable  items  of  the  agricul- 
tural yield.  Cattle-raising,  too,  is  a  branch  of  rural  industry  largely 
engaged  in.  The  climate  is  healthy,  although  liable  to  extremes  of  heat 
and  cold.  The  annual  gross  product  of  the  various  manufactures  carried 
on  in  this  State  approximate,  in  round  numbers,  a  sum  of  $20,000,000. 
Iowa  has  an  immense  railroad  system,  besides  over  500  miles  of  water- 
communication  by  means  of  its  navigable  rivers.  The  State  is  politically 
ilivided  into  99  counties,  with  the  following  centers  of  population  :  Des 
Moines  (capital),  Iowa  City  (former  capital),  Dubuque,  Davenport,  Bur- 
lington, Council  Bluffs,  Keokuk,  Muscatine,  and  Cedar  Rapids.  The 
State  institutions  of  Iowa— religious,  scholastic,  and  philanthropic  —  are 
on  a  par,  as  regards  number  and  perfection  of  organization  and  operation, 
with  those  of  her  Northwest  sister  States,  and  education  is  especially 
well  cared  for,  and  largely  diffused.  Iowa  formed  a  portion  of  the 
American  territorial  acquisitions  from  France,  by  the  so-called  Louisiana 
purchase  in  1803,  and  was  politically  identified  with  Louisiana  till  1812, 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  103 

when  it  merged  into  the  Missouri  Territory;  in  1834  it  came  under  the 
Michigan  organization,  and,  in  1836,  under  that  of  Wisconsin.  Finally, 
after  being  constituted  an  independent  Territory,  it  became  a  State  of 
the  Union,  December  28,  1846.  Population  in  1860,  674,913 ;  in  1870, 
1,191,792,  and  in  1875,  1,353,118. 


MICHIGAN. 

United  area,  56,243  square  miles,  or  35,995,520  acres.  Extent  of  the 
Upper  and  smaller  Peninsula' — length,  316  miles;  breadth,  fluctuating 
between  36  and  120  miles.  The  south  division  is  416  miles  long,  by  from 
50  to  300  miles  wide.  Aggregate  lake-shore  line,  1,400  miles.  The 
Upper,  or  North,  Peninsula  consists  chiefly  of  an  elevated  plateau, 
expanding  into  the  Porcupine  mountain-system,  attaining  a  maximum 
height  of  some  2,000  feet.  Its  shores  along  Lake  Superior  are  eminently 
bold  and  picturesque,  and  its  area  is  rich  in  minerals,  its  product  of 
copper  constituting  an  important  source  of  industry.  Both  divisions  are 
heavily  wooded,  and  the  South  one,  in  addition,  boasts  of  a  deep,  rich, 
loamy  soil,  throwing  up  excellent  crops  of  cereals  and  other  agricultural 
produce.  The  climate  is  generally  mild  and  humid,  though  the  Winter 
colds  are  severe.  The  chief  staples  of  farm  husbandry  include  the  cereals, 
grasses,  maple  sugar,  sorghum,  tobacco,  fruits,  and  dairy-stuffs.  In  1870, 
the  acres  of  land  in  farms  were :  improved,  5,096,939 ;  unimproved 
woodland,  4,080,146  ;  other  unimproved  land,  842,057.  The  cash  value 
of  land  was  $398,240,578 ;  of  farming  implements  and  machinery, 
$13,711,979.  In  1869,  there  were  shipped  from  the  Lake  Superior  ports, 
874,582  tons  of  iron  ore,  and  45,762  of  smelted  pig,  along  with  14,188 
tons  of  copper  (ore  and  ingot).  Coal  is  another  article  largely  mined. 
Inland  communication  is  provided  for  by  an  admirably  organized  railroad 
system,  and  by  the  St.  Mary's  Ship  Canal,  connecting  Lakes  Huron  and 
Superior.  Michigan  is  politically  divided  into  78  counties ;  its  chief 
urban  centers  are  Detroit,  Lansing  (capital),  Ann  Arbor,  Marquette, 
Bay  City,  Niles,  Ypsilanti,  Grand  Haven,  etc.  The  Governor  of  the 
State  is  elected  biennially.  On  November  30, 1870,  the  aggregate  bonded 
debt  of  Michigan  amounted  to  $2,385,028,  and  the  assessed  valuation  of 
land  to  $266,929,278,  representing  an  estimated  cash  value  of  $800,000,000. 
Education  is  largely  diffused  and  most  excellently  conducted  and  pro- 
vided for.  The  State  University  at  Ann  Arbor,  the  colleges  of  Detroit 
and  Kalamazoo,  the  Albion  Female  College,  the  State  Normal  School  at 
Ypsilanti,  and  the  State  Agricultural  College  at  Lansing,  are  chief  among 
the  academic  institutions.     Michigan  (a  term  of  Chippeway  origin,  and 


104  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

signifying  "  Great  Lake),  was  discovered  and  first  settled  by  Frencli 
Canadians,  Avho,  in  1670,  founded  Detroit,  the  pioneer  of  a  series  of  trad- 
ing-posts on  the  Indian  frontier.  During  the  "  Conspiracy  of  Pontiac," 
following  the  French  loss  of  Canada,  Michigan  became  the  scene  of  a 
sanguinary  struggle  between  the  whites  and  aborigines.  In  1796,  it 
became  annexed  to  the  United  States,  which  incorporated  this  region 
with  the  Northwest  Territory,  and  then  with  Indiana  Territory,  till  1808, 
when  it  became  territorially  independent.  Michigan  was  the  theater  of 
warlike  operations  during  the  war  of  1812  with  Great  Britain,  and  in 
1819  was  authorized,  to  be  represented  by  one  delegate  in  Congress ;  in 
1837  she  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  State,  and  in  1869  ratified  the 
15th  Amendment  to  the  Federal  Constitution.     Population,  1,184,059. 


WISCONSIN. 

It  has  a  mean  length  of  26Q  miles,  and  a  maximum  breadth  of  215. 
Land  area,  53,924  square  miles,  or  34,511,360  acres.  Wisconsin  lies  at  a 
considerable  altitude  above  sea-level,  and  consists  for  the  most  part  of  an 
upland  plateau,  the  surface  of  which  is  undulating  and  very  general!}^ 
diversified.  Numerous  local  eminences  called  mounds  are  interspersed 
over  the  State,  and  the  Lake  Michigan  coast-line  is  in  many  parts  char- 
acterized by  lofty  escarped  cliffs,  even  as  on  the  west  side  the  banks  of 
the  Mississippi  form  a  series  of  high  and  picturesque  bluffs.  A  group  of 
islands  known  as  The  Apostles  lie  off  the  extreme  north  point  of  the 
State  in  Lake  Superior,  and  the  great  estuary  of  Green  Bay,  running  far 
inland,  gives  formation  to  a  long,  narrow  peninsula  between  its  waters 
and  those  of  Lake  Michigan.  The  river-system  of  Wisconsin  has  three 
outlets  —  those  of  Lake  Superior,  Green  Bay,  and  the  Mississi2:)pi,  which 
latter  stream  forms  the  entire  southwest  frontier,  widening  at  one  point 
into  the  large  watery  expanse  called  Lake  Pepin.  Lake  Superior  receives 
the  St.  Louis,  Burnt  Wood,  and  Montreal  Rivers ;  Green  Bay,  the 
Menomonee,  Peshtigo,  Oconto,  and  Fox;  while  into  the  Mississippi 
empty  the  St.  Croix,  Chippewa,  Black,  Wisconsin,  and  Rock  Rivers. 
The  chief  interior  lakes  are  those  of  Winnebago,  Horicon,  and  Court 
Oreilles,  and  smaller  sheets  of  water  stud  a  great  part  of  the  surface. 
The  climate  is  healthful,  with  cold  Winters  and  brief  but  very  warm 
Summers.  Mean  annual  rainfall  31  inches.  The  geological  system 
represented  bj^  the  State,  embraces  those  rocks  included  between  the 
primary  and  the  Devonian  series,  the  former  containing  extensive 
deposits  of  copper  and  iron  ore.  Besides  these  minerals,  lead  and  zinc 
are  found  in  great  quantities,  together  with  kaolin,  plumbago,  gypsum, 


THE    NORTHWEST    TERRITORY.  105 

and  various  clays.     Mining,   consequently,  forms  a  prominent  industry, 
and  one  of  yearly  increasing  dimensions.     The  soil  of  Wisconsin  is  of 
varying  quality,  but  fertile  on  the  whole,  and  in  the  north  parts  of  the 
State   heavily  timbered.     The  agricultural  yield  comprises  tiie  cereals, 
together  with  flax,  hemp,  tobacco,  pulse,  sorgum,  and  all  kinds  of  vege- 
tables, and  of  the  hardier  fruits.     In  1870,  the  State  had  a  total  number 
of  102,904  farms,  occupying  11,715,321  acres,   of   which  5,899,343  con- 
sisted  of  improved  land,  and  3,437,442  were  timbered.     Cash  value  of 
farms,  $300,414,064  ;  of  farm    implements  and  machinery,  $14,239,364. 
Total  estimated  value  of  all  farm  products,  including  betterments  an,d 
additions  to  stock,  $78,027,032  ;  of  orchard  and  dairy  stuffs,  $1,045,933  ; 
of  lumber,  Jfl, 327,618  ;  of  home  manufactures,  $338,423  ;  of  all  live-stock, 
$45,310,882.     Numl)er  of  manufacturing  establishments,  7,136,  employ- 
ing 39,055  hands,   and  turning  out  productions  valued  at  $85,624,966. 
The  political  divisions  of  the  State  form  61  counties,  and  the  chief  places 
of  wealth,  trade,  and  population,  are  Madison  (the  capital),  Milwaukee, 
Fond   du    Lac,   Oshkosh,    Prairie  du  Chien,    Janesville,    Portage    Citv, 
Racine,  Kenosha,  and  La  Crosse.     In  1870,  the  total  assessed  valuation 
reached  $333,209,838,  as  against  a  true  valuation  of  both  real  and  personal 
estate  aggregating  $602,207,329.     Treasury  receipts  during  1870,  $886,- 
696  ;  disbursements,   $906,329.     Value   of  church  property,  $4,749,983. 
Education  is  amply  provided  for.    Independently  of  the  State  University 
at  Madison,  and  those  of  Galesville   and  of  Lawrence  at  Ajjpleton,  and 
the  colleges  of  Beloit,  Racine,  and   Milton,  there  are  Normal  Schools  at 
Platteville  and  Whitewater.     The   State  is  divided  into  4,802  common 
school  districts,  maintained  at  a  cost,  in  1870,  of  $2,094,160.    The  chari- 
table institutions  of  Wisconsin   include  a  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum,  an 
Institute  for  the  Education  of  the  Blind,  and  a  Soldiers'  Orphans'  School. 
In  January,   1870,  the    railroad  system  ramified  throughout   the   State 
totalized  2,779  miles  of  track,  including  several  lines  far  advanced  toward 
completion.     Immigration  is  successfully  encouraged  by  the  State  author- 
ities, the  larger  number  of  j^early  new-comers  being  of  Scandinavian  and 
German  origin.     The  territory  now  occupied  within  the  limits  of  the 
State  of  Wisconsin  was  explored  by  French  missionaries  and  traders  in 
1639,  and  it   remained    under  French   jurisdiction    until    1703,  when  it 
became  annexed  to  the  British  North  American  possessions.     In  1796,  it 
reverted  to  the  United  States,  the  government  of  which  latter  admitted 
it  within  the  limits  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  and  in  1809,  attached  it 
to  that  of  Illinois,  and  to  Michigan  in  1818.    Wisconsin  became  independ- 
ently territorially  organized   in   1836,  and  became  a  State  of  the  Union, 
March  3,  1847.     Population  in  1870,  l,0f;4,985,  of  which   2,113  were  of 
the  colored    race,   and  11,521  Indians,  1,206  of  the    latter   beinff  out  of 
tribal  relations. 


106  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


MINNESOTA. 

Its    length,  north  to   south,  embraces   an    extent  of  380  miles;  its 
breadth  one  of  250  miles  at  a  maximum.     Area,  84,000  square  miles,  or 
54,760,000  acres.     The  surface   of   Minnesota,  generally  speaking,  con- 
sists of  a  succession  of  gently  undulating  plains  and  prairies,  drained  by 
an  admirable  water-system,  and   with  here  and  there  heavily- timbered 
bottoms  and  belts  of  virgin  forest.     The  soil,  corresponding  with  such  a 
superfices,   is  exceptionally  rich,  consisting  for  the  most  part  of  a  dark, 
calcareous  sandy  drift  intermixed  with  loam.     A  distinguishing  physical 
feature  of  this   State  is  its  riverine  ramifications,   expanding  in  nearly 
every  part  of  it  into  almost  innumerable  lakes — the  whole  presenting  an 
aooreoate  of  water-power  havino-  hardly  a  rival  in  the  Union.     Besides 
the  Mississippi  —  which  here  has  its  rise,  and  drains  a  basin  of  800  miles 
of  country  —  the  principal  streams  are  the  Minnesota  (-334  miles  long), 
the  Red  River  of  the  North,  the  St.  Croix,  St.  Louis,  and  many  others  of 
lesser   importance  ;  the   chief  lakes  are   those   called   Red,  Cass,  Leech, 
Mille  Lacs,  Vermillion,  and  Winibigosh.    Quite  a  concatenation  of  sheets 
of  water  fringe  the  frontier  line  where  Minnesota  joins  British  America, 
culminatimr  in  the  Lake   of  the  Woods.     It  has  been  estimated,  that  of 
an  area  of  1,200,000  acres  of  surface  between  the   St.  Croix  and  Mis- 
sissippi Rivers,  not  less  than  73,000  acres  are  of  lacustrine  formation.     In 
point  of  minerals,  the  resources  of  Minnesota    have   as  yet    been    very 
imperfectly  developed  ;  iron,  copper,  coal,  lead  —  all  these  are  known  to 
exist  in  considerable  deposits  ;  together  with  salt,  hmestone,  and  potter's 
clay.     The  agricultural  outlook  of  the  State  is  in  a  high  degree  satis- 
factory ;  wheat  constitutes  the  leading  cereal  in  cultivation,  with  Indian 
corn  and  oats  in  next  order.     Fruits  and  vegetables  are  grown  in  great 
plenty  and  of  excellent  quality.     The  lumber  resources  of  Minnesota  are 
important ;  the  pine  forests  in  the  north  region  alone  occupying  an  area 
of  some  21,000  square  miles,  which  in  1870  produced  a  return  of  scaled 
logs  amounting  to   313,116,416  feet.     The  natural  industrial  advantages 
possessed  by  Minnesota  are  largely  improved  upon  by  a  railroad  system. 
The  political  divisions  of  this  State  number  78  counties ;  of  which  the 
chief  cities  and  towns  are  :  St.  Paul  (the  capital),  Stillwater,  Red  Wing, 
St.  Anthony,  Fort  Snelling,   Minneapolis,  and  Mankato.     Minnesota  has 
already  assumed  an  attitude  of  high  importance  as  a  manufacturing  State  ; 
this  is  mainly  due  to  the  wonderful  command  of  water-power  she   pos- 
sesses, as  before  spoken  of.     Besides  her   timber-trade,  the    milling  of 
flour,  the  distillation  of  whisky,  and  the  tanning  of  leather,  are  prominent 
interests,  which,  in   1869,  gave  returns  to   the   amount  of  ij^l 4,831, 043. 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  107 

Education  is  notably  provided  for  on  a  broad  and  catholic  scale,  the 
entire  amount  expended  scholastically  during  the  year  1870  being  $857,- 
816  ;  while  on  November  30  of  the  preceding  year  the  permanent  school 
fund  stood  at  $2, 476, 222.  Besides  a  University  and  Agricultural  College, 
Normal  and  Reform  Schools  flourish,  and  with  these  may  be  mentioned 
such  various  philanthropic  and  religious  institutions  as  befit  the  needs  of 
an  intelligent  and  prosperous  community.  The  finances  of  the  State  for 
the  fiscal  year  terminating  December  1,  1870,  exhibited  a  balance  on  the 
right  side  to  the  amount  of  $136,164,  being  a  gain  of  $44,000  over  the 
previous  year's  figures.  The  earliest  exploration  of  Minnesota  by  the 
whites  was  made  in  1680  by  a  French  Franciscan,  Father  Hennepin,  who 
gave  the  name  of  St.  Antony  to  the  Great  Falls  on  the  Upper  Missisippi. 
In  1763,  the  Treaty  of  Versailles  ceded  this  region  to  England. 
Twenty  yeai-s  later,  Minnesota  formed  part  of  the  Northwest  Territor}^ 
transferred  to  the  United  States,  and  became  herself  territorialized  inde- 
pendently in  1849.  Indian  cessions  in  1851  enlarged  her  boundaries,  and. 
May  11,  1857,  Minnesota  became  a  unit  of  the  great  American  federation 
of  States.     Population,  439,706. 


NEBRASKA. 

Maximum  length,  412  miles ;  extreme  breadth,  208  miles.  Area, 
75,905  square  miles',  or  48,636,800  acres.  The  surface  of  this  State  is 
almost  entirely  undulating  prairie,  and  forms  part  of  the  west  slope  of 
the  great  central  basin  of  the  North  American  Continent.  In  its  west 
division,  near  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  is  a  sandy  belt  of 
country,  irregularly  defined.  In  this  part,  too,  are  the  "  dunes,"  resem- 
bling a  wavy  sea  of  sandy  billows,  as  well  as  the  Mauvaises  Terres,  a  tract 
of  singular  formation,  produced  by  eccentric  disintegrations  and  denuda- 
tions of  the  land.  The  chief  rivers  are  the  Missouri,  constituting  its  en- 
tire east  line  of  demarcation  ;  the  Nebraska  or  Platte,  the  Niobrara,  the 
Republican  Fork  of  the  Kansas,  the  Elkhorn,  and  the  Loup  Fork  of  the 
Platte.  The  soil  is  very  various,  but  consisting  chiefly  of  rich,  bottomy 
loam,  admirably  adapted  to  the  raising  of  heavy  crops  of  cereals.  All 
the  vegetables  and  fruits  of  the  temperate  zone  are  produced  in  great 
size  and  plenty.  For  grazing  purposes  Nebraska  is  a  State  exceptionally 
well  fitted,  a  region  of  not  less  than  23,000,000  acres  being  adaptable  to 
this  branch  of  husbandry.  It  is  believed  that  the,  as  yet,  comparatively 
infertile  tracts  of  land  found  in  various  parts  of  the  State  are  susceptible 
of  productivity  by  means  of  a  properly  conducted  system  of  irrigation. 
Few  minerals  of  moment  have   so  far  been  found  within  the  limits  of 


108 


THE   NOliTHWEST   TEKKITOliY. 


Nebraska,  if  we  may  except  important  saline  deposits  at  the  head  of  Salt 
Creek  in  ics  southeast  section.  The  State  is  divided  into  57  counties, 
independent  of  the  Pawnee  and  Winnebago  Indians,  and  of  unorganized 
territory  in  the  northwest  part.  The  principal  towns  are  Omaha,  Lincoln 
(State  capital),  Nebraska  City,  Columbus,  Grand  Island,  etc.  In  1870, 
the  total  assessed  value  of  property  amounted  to  153,000,000,  being  an 
increase  of  $11,000,000  over  the  previous  year's  returns.  The  total 
amount  received  from  the  school-fund  during  the  year  1869-70  was 
$77,999.  Education  is  making  great  onward  strides,  the  State  University 
and  an  Agricultural  College  being  far  advanced  toward  completion.  In 
the  matter  of  railroad  communication,  Nebraska  bids  fair  to  soon  place 
herself  on  a  par  with  her  neighbors  to  the  east.  Besides  being  inter- 
sected by  the  Union  Pacific  line,  with  its  off-shoot,  the  Fremont  and  Blair, 
other  tracks  are  in  course  of  rapid  construction.  Organized  by  Con- 
gressional Act  into  a  Territory,  May  30,  1851,  Nebraska  entered  the 
Union  as  a  full  State,  March  1,  1867.     Population,  122,993. 


TTTT 


XTIV<;    IMIMRIK    WOI.VBS    IN"    AX    KAUIA'    DAY. 


Early  History  op^  Illinois. 


The  name  of  this  beautiful  Prairie  State  is  derived  from  Illim,  a 
Delaware  word  signifying  Superior  Men.  It  has  a  French  termination, 
and  is  a  symbol  of  how  the  two  races — the  French  and  the  Indians — 
were  intermixed  during  the  early  history  of  the  country. 

The  appellation  was  no  doubt  well  applied  to  the  primitive  inhabit- 
ants of  the  soil  whose  prowess  in  savage  warfare  long  withstood  the 
combined  attacks  of  the  fierce  Iroquois  on  the  one  side,  and  the  no  less 
savage  and  relentless  Sacs  and  Foxes  on  the  other.  The  Illinois  were 
once  a  powerful  confederacy,  occupying  the  most  beautiful  and  fertile 
region  in  the  great  Valley  of  the  Mississippi,  which  their  enemies  coveted 
and  struggled  long  and  hard  to  wrest  from  them.  By  the  fortunes  of 
war  they  were  diminished  in  numbers,  and  finally  destroyed.  "  Starved 
Rock,"  on  the  Illinois  River,  according  to  tradition,  commemorates  their 
last  tragedy,  where,  it  is  said,  the  entire  tribe  starved  rather  than  sur- 
render. 

EARLY    DISCOVERIES. 

The  first  European  discoveries  in  Illinois  date  back  over  two  hun- 
dred years.  They  are  a  part  of  that  movement  which,  from  the  begin- 
ning to  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  brought  the  French 
Canadian  missionaries  and  fur  traders  into  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  which,  at  a  later  period,  established  the  civil  and  ecclesiastical 
authority  of  France  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
and  from  the  foot-hills  of  the  Alleghanies  to  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

The  great  river  of  the  West  had  been  discovered  by  DeSoto,  the 
Spanish  conqueror  of  Florida,  three  quarters  of  a  century  before  the 
French  founded  Quebec  in  1608,  but  the  Spanish  left  the  country  a  wil- 
derness, without  further  exploration  or  settlement  within  its  borders,  in 
which  condition  it  remained  until  the  Mississippi  was  discovered  by  the 
agents  of  the  French  Canadian  government,  Jolietand  Marquette,  in  1673. 
These  renowned  explorers  were  not  the  first  white  visitors  to  Illinois. 
In  1671 — two  years  in  advance  of  them — came  Nicholas  Perrot  to  Chicago. 
He  had  been  sent  by  Talon  as  an  agent  of  the  Canadian  government  to 

log 


no 


HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF    ILLINOIS. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OP  ILLINOIS.  Ill 

call  a  great  peace  convention  of  Western  Indians  at  Green  Bay,  prepara- 
tory to  the  movement  for  the  discovery  of  the  Mississippi.  It  was 
deemed  a  good  stroke  of  policy  to  secure,  as  far  as  possible,  the  friend- 
ship and  co-operation  of  the  Indians,  far  and  near,  before  venturing  upon 
an  enterprise  which  their  hostility  might  render  disastrous,  and  which 
their  friendship  and  assistance  would  do  so  much  to  make  successful ; 
and  to  this  end  Perrot  was  sent  to  call  together  in  council  the  tribes 
throughout  the  Northwest,  and  to  promise  them  the  commerce  and  pro- 
tection of  the  French  government.  He  accordingly  arrived  at  Green 
Bay  in  1671,  and  procuring  an  escort  of  Pottawattamies,  proceeded  in  a 
bark  canoe  upon  a  visit  to  the  Miamis,  at  Chicago.  Perrot  was  there- 
fore the  first  European  to  set  foot  upon  the  soil  of  Illinois. 

Still  there  were  others  before  Marquette.  In  1672,  the  Jesuit  mis- 
sionaries, Fathers  Claude  Allouez  and  Claude  Dablon,  bore  the  standard 
of  the  Cross  from  their  mission  at  Green  Bay  through  western  Wisconsin 
and  northern  Illinois,  visiting  the  Foxes  on  Fox  River,  and  the  Masquo- 
tines  and  Kickapoos  at  the  mouth  of  the  Milwaukee.  These  missionaries 
penetrated  on  the  route  afterwards  followed  by  Marquette  as  far  as  the 
Kickapoo  village  at  the  head  of  Lake  Winnebago,  where  Marquette,  in 
his  journey,  secured  guides  across  the  portage  to  the  Wisconsin. 

The  oft-repeated  story  of  Marquette  and  Joliet  is  well  known. 
They  were  the  agents  employed  by  the  Canadian  government  to  discover 
the  Mississippi.  Marquette  was  a  native  of  France,  born  in  1637,  a 
Jesuit  priest  by  education,  and  a  man  of  simple  faith  and  of  great  zeal  and 
devotion  in  extending  the  Roman  Catholic  religion  among  the  Indians. 
Arriving  in  Canada  in  1666,  he  was  sent  as  a  missionary  to  the  far 
Northwest,  and,  in  1668,  founded  a  mission  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie.  The 
following  year  he  moved  to  La  Pointe,  in  Lake  Superior,  where  he 
instructed  a  branch  of  the  Hurons  till  1670,  when  he  removed  south,  and 
founded  the  mission  at  St.  Tgnace,  on  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw.  Here 
he  remained,  devoting  a  portion  of  his  time  to  the  study  of  the  Illinois 
language  under  a  native  teacher  who  had  accompanied  him  to  the  mission 
from  La  Pointe,  till  he  was  joined  by  Joliet  in  the  Spring  of  1673.  By 
the  way  of  Green  Bay  and  the  Fox  and  Wisconsin  Rivers,  they  entered 
the  Mississippi,  which  they  explored  to  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas,  and 
returned  by  the  way  of  the  Illinois  and  Chicago  Rivers  to  Lake  Michigan. 

On  his  way  up  the  Illinois,  Marquette  visited  the  great  village  of 
the  Kaskaskias,  near  what  is  now  Utica,  in  the  county  of  LaSalle.  The 
following  year  he  returned  and  established  among  them  the  mission  of 
the  Immaculate  Virgin  Mary,  which  was  the  first  Jesuit  mission  founded 
in  Illinois  and  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  The  intervening  winter  he 
had  spent  in  a  hut  which  his  companions  erected  on  the  Chicago  River,  a 
few  leagues  from  its  mouth.     The  founding  of  this  mission  was  the  last 


112  HISTORY    OF   THE   STATE  OF  ILLINOIS. 

act  of  Marquette's  life.     He  died  in  Michigan,  on  his  way  back  to  Green 
Bay,  May  18,  1675. 

FIRST  FRENCH  OCCUPATION. 

The  fii'st  French  occupation  of  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Illi- 
nois was  effected  by  LaSalle  in  1680,  seven  years  after  the  time  of  Mar- 
q^uette  and  Joliet.  LaSalle,  having  constructed  a  vessel,  the  "  Griffin," 
above  the  falls  of  Niagara,  which  he  sailed  to  Green  Bay,  and  having 
passed  thence  in  canoes  to  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph  River,  by  which 
and  the  Kankakee  he  reached  the  Illinois,  in  January,  1680,  erected  Fort 
Crevecceur,  at  the  lower  end  of  Peoria  Lake,  where  the  city  of  Peoria  is 
now  situated.  The  place  where  this  ancient  fort  stood  may  still  be  seen 
just  below  the  outlet  of  Peoria  Lake.  It  was  destined,  however,  to  a 
temporary  existence.  From  this  point,  LaSalle  determined  to  descend 
the  Mississippi  to  its  mouth,  but  did  not  accomplish  this  purpose  till  two 
years  later — in  1682.  Returning  to  Fort  Frontenac  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  materials  with  whicli  to  rig  his  vessel,  he  left  the  fort  in  charge  of 
Touti,  his  lieutenant,  who  during  his  absence  was  driven  off  by  the  Iro- 
quois Indians.  These  savages  had  made  a  raid  upon  the  settlement  of 
the  Illinois,  and  had  left  nothing  in  their  track  but  ruin  and  desolation. 
Mr.  Davidson,  in  his  History  of  IlUnois,  gives  the  following  graphic 
account  of  the  picture  that  met  the  eyes  of  LaSalle  and  his  companions 
on  their  return  : 

"  At  the  great  town  of  the  Illinois  they  were  appalled  at  the  scene 
which  opened  to  their  view.  No  hunter  appeared  to  break  its  death-like 
silence  with  a  salutatory  whoop  ot  welcome.  The  plain  on  which  the 
town  had  stood  was  now  strewn  with  charred  fragments  of  lodges,  which 
had  so  recently  swarmed  with  savage  life  and  hilarity.  To  render  more 
hideous  the  picture  of  desolation,  large  numbers  of  skulls  had  been 
placed  on  the  upper  extremities  of  lodge-poles  which  had  escaped  the 
devourino-  flames.  In  the  midst  of  these  horrors  was  the  rude  fort  of 
the  spoilers,  rendered  frightful  by  the  same  ghastly  relics.  A  near 
approach  showed  that  the  graves  had  been  robbed  of  their  bodies,  and 
swarms  of  buzzards  were  discovered  glutting;'  their  loathsome  stomachs 
on  tlie  reeking  corruption.  To  complete  the  work  of  destruction,  the 
irrowingf  corn  of  the  village  had  been  cut  down  and  burned,  while  the 
pits  containing  the  products  of  previous  years,  had  been  rifled  and  their 
contents  scattered  with  wanton  waste.  It  was  evident  the  suspected 
blow  of  the  Iroquois  had  fallen  with  relentless  fury." 

Tonti  had  escaped  LaSalle  knew  not  whither.  Passing  down  the 
lake  in  searcli  of  him  and  his  men,  LaSalle  discovered  that  the  fort  had 
been    destroyed,  but   the   vessel  wliicli  he  had  partly  constructed   was   still 


HISTORY    OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS.  IVo 

on  the  stocks,  and  but  slightly  injured.  After  further  fruitless  search, 
failing  to  find  Tonti,  he  fastened  to  a  tree  a  painting  representing  himself 
and  party  sitting  in  a  canoe  and  bearing  a  pipe  of  peace,  and  to  the  paint- 
ing attached  a  letter  addressed  to  Tonti. 

Tonti  had  escaped,  and,  after  untold  privations,  taken  shelter  among 
tlie  Pottawattaraies  near  Green  Bay.  These  were  friendly  to  the  French. 
One  of  their  old  chiefs  used  to  say,  "  There  were  but  three  great  cap- 
tains in  the  world,  himself,  Tonti  and  LaSalle." 

GENIUS  OF  LaSALLE. 

We  must  now  return  to  LaSalle,  whose  exploits  stand  out  in  such 
bold  relief.  He  was  born  in  Rouen,  France,  in  1643.  His  father  was 
wealthy,  but  he  renounced  his  patrimony  on  entering  a  college  of  the 
Jesuits,  from  which  he  separated  and  came  to  Canada  a  poor  man  in  1666. 
The  priests  of  St.  Sulpice,  among  whom  he  had  a  brother,  were  then  the 
proprietors  of  Montreal,  the  nucleus  of  which  was  a  seminary  or  con- 
vent founded  by  that  order.  The  Superior  granted  to  LaSalle  a  large 
tract  of  land  at  LaChine,  where  he  established  himself  in  the  fur  trade. 
He  was  a  man  of  daring  genius,  and  outstripped  all  his  competitors  in 
exploits  of  travel  and  commerce  with  the  Indians.  In  1669,  he  visited 
the  headquarters  of  the  great  Iroquois  Confederacy,  at  Onondaga,  in  the 
heart  of  New  York,  and,  obtaining  guides,  explored  the  Ohio  River  to 
the  falls  at  Louisville. 

In  order  to  understand  the  genius  of  LaSalle,  it  must  be  remembered 
that  for  many  years  prior  to  his  time  the  missionaries  and  traders  were 
obliged  to  make  their  way  to  the  Northwest  by  the  Ottawa  River  (of 
Canada)  on  account  of  the  fierce  hostility  of  the  Iroquois  along  the  lower 
lakes  and  Niagara  River,  which  entirely  closed  this  latter  route  to  the 
Upper  Lakes.  They  carried  on  their  commerce  chiefly  by  canoes,  pad- 
dling them  through  the  Ottawa  to  Lake  Nipissing,  carrying  them  across 
the  portage  to  French  River,  and  descending  that  to  Lake  Huron.  This 
being  the  route  by  which  they  reached  the  Northwest,  accounts  for  the 
fact  that  all  the  earliest  Jesuit  missions  were  established  in  the  neia-hbor- 
hood  of  the  Upper  Lakes.  LaSalle  conceived  the  grand  idea  of  opening 
the  route  by  Niagara  River  and  the  Lower  Lakes  to  Canadian  commerce 
by  sail  vessels,  connecting  it  with  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
thus  opening  a  magnificent  water  communication  from  the  Gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  This  truly  grand  and  comprehensive 
purpose  seems  to  have  animated  him  in  all  his  wonderful  achievements 
and  the  matchless  difficulties  and  hardships  he  surmounted.  As  the  first 
step  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  object  he  established  himself  on  Lake 
Ontario,   and  built  and   garrisoned   Fort  Frontenac,  the  site  of  the  present 


114  HISTORY  OF  THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

city  of  Kingston,  Canada.  Here  he  obtained  a  grant  of  land  from  the 
French  crown  and  a  body  of  troops  by  which  he  beat  back  the  invading 
Iroquois  and  cleared  the  passage  to  Niagara  Falls.  Having  by  this  mas- 
terly stroke  made  it  safe  to  attempt  a  hitherto  untried  expedition,  his 
next  step,  as  we  have  seen,  was  to  advance  to  the  Falls  with  all  his 
outfit  for  building  a  ship  with  which  to  sail  the  lakes.  He  was  success- 
ful in  this  undertaking,  though  his  ultimate  purpose  was  defeated  by  a 
strange  combination  of  untoward  circumstances.  The  Jesuits  evidently 
hated  LaSalle  and  plotted  against  him,  because  he  had  abandoned  them 
and  co-operated  with  a  rival  order.  The  fur  traders  were  also  jealous  of 
his  superior  success  in  opening  new  channels  of  commerce.  At  LaChine 
he  had  taken  the  trade  of  Lake  Ontario,  which  but  for  his  presence  there 
would  have  gone  to  Quebec.  While  they  were  plodding  with  their  barK 
canoes  through  the  Ottawa  he  was  constructing  sailing  vessels  to  com- 
mand the  trade  of  the  lakes  and  the  Mississippi.  These  great  plans 
excited  the  jealousy  and  envy  of  the  small  traders,  introduced  treason  and 
revolt  into  the  ranks  of  his  own  companions,  and  finally  led  to  the  foul 
assassination  by  which  his  great  achievements  were  prematurely  ended. 

In  1682,  LaSalle,  having  completed  his  vessel  at  Peoria,  descended 
the  Mississippi  to  its  confluence  with  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Erecting  a 
standard  on  which  he  inscribed  the  arms  of  France,  he  took  formal  pos- 
session of  the  whole  valley  of  the  mighty  river,  in  the  name  of  Louis 
XIV.,  then  reigning,  in  honor  of  whom  he  named  the  country  Louisiana. 

LaSalle  then  went  to  France,  was  appointed  Governor,  and  returned 
with  a  fleet  and  immigrants,  for  the  purpose  of  planting  a  colony  in  Illi- 
nois. They  arrived  in  due  time  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  but  failing  to 
find  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  up  which  LaSalle  intended  to  sail,  his 
supply  ship,  with  the  immigrants,  was  driven  ashore  and  wrecked  on 
Matagorda  Bay.  With  the  fragments  of  the  vessel  he  constructed  a 
stockade  and  rude  huts  on  the  shore  for  the  protection  of  the  immigrants, 
calling  the  post  Fort  St.  Louis.  He  then  made  a  trip  into  New  Mexico, 
in  search  of  silver  mines,  but,  meeting  with  disappointment,  returned  to 
find  his  little  colony  reduced  to  forty  souls.  He  then  resolved  to  travel 
on  foot  to  Illinois,  and,  starting  with  his  companions,  had  reached  the 
valley  of  the  Colorado,  near  the  mouth  of  Trinity  river,  when  he  was 
shot  by  one  of  his  men.     This  occurred  on  the  19th  of  March,  1687. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Foster  remarks  of  him  :  "  Thus  fell,  not  far  from  the  banks 
of  the  Trinity,  Robert  Cavalier  de  la  Salle,  one  of  the  grandest  charac- 
ters that  ever  figured  in  American  history — a  man  capable  of  originating 
the  vastest  schemes,  and  endowed  with  a  will  and  a  judgment  capable  of 
carrying  them  to  successful  results.  Had  ample  facilities  been  placed  by 
the  King  of  France  at  his  disposal,  the  result  of  the  colonization  of  this 
continent  might  have  been  far  different  from  what  we  now  behold." 


HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE    OF    ILLINOIS.  115 


EARLY  SETTLEMENTS. 

A  teraporarv  settlement  was  made  at  Fort  St.  Louis,  or  the  old  Kas- 
kaskia  village,  o'l  the  Illinois  River,  in  what  is  now  La'Salle  County,  in 
1682.  In  1690,  this  wa.s  removed,  with  the  mission  connected  with  it,  to 
Kaskaskia,  on  the  river  of  that  name,  emptying  into  the  lower  Mississippi 
in  St.  Clair  County.  Cahokia  was  settled  about  the  same  time,  or  at 
least,  both  of  these  settlements  began  in  the  year  1690,  though  it  is  now 
pretty  well  settled  that  Cahokia  is  the  older  place,  and  ranks  as  the  oldest 
permanent  settlement  in  Illinois,  as  Avell  as  in  the  Mississippi  Valley. 
Tlie  reason  for  the  removal  of  the  Did  Kaskaskia  settlement  and  mission, 
was  probably  because  the  dangerous  and  diificult  route  by  Lake  Michigan 
and  the  Chicago  portage  had  been  almost  abandoned,  and  travelers  and 
traders  passed  down  and  up  the  Mississippi  by  the  Fox  and  Wisconsin 
River  route.  They  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Mississippi  in  order 
to  be  in  the  line  of  travel  from  Canada  to  Louisiana,  that  is,  the  lower 
part  of  it,  for  it  was  all  Louisiana  then  south  of  the  lakes. 

During  the  period  of  French  rule  in  Louisiana,  the  population  prob- 
ably never  exceeded  ten  thousand,  including  whites  and  blacks.  Within 
that  portion  of  it  now  included  in  Indiana,  trading  posts  were  established 
at  the  principal  Miami  villages  which  stood  on  the  head  waters  of  the 
Maumee,  the  Wea  villages  situated  at  Ouiatenon,  on  the  Wabash,  and 
the  Piankeshaw  villages  at  Post  Vincennes  ;  all  of  which  were  probably 
visited  by  French  traders  and  missionaries  before  the  close  of  the  seven- 
teenth century. 

In  the  vast  territory  claimed  by  the  French,  many  settlements  of 
considerable  importance  had  sprung  up.  Biloxi,  on  Mobile  Bay,  had 
been  founded  by  DTberville,  in  1699  ;  Antoine  de  Lamotte  Cadillac  had 
founded  Detroit  in  1701 ;  and  New  Orleans  had  been  founded  by  Bien- 
ville, under  the  auspices  of  the  Mississippi  Company,  in  1718.  In  Illi- 
nois also,  considerable  settlements  had  been  made,  so  that  in  1730  they 
embraced  one  hundred  and  forty  French  families,  about  six  hundred  "  con- 
verted  Indians,"  and  many  traders  and  voyageurs.  In  that  portion  of  the 
country,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi,  there  were  five  distinct  set- 
tlements, with  their  respective  villages,  viz.:  Cahokia,  near  the  mouth 
of  Cahokia  Creek  and  about  five  miles  below  the  present  city  of  St. 
Louis ;  St.  Philip,  about  forty-five  miles  below  Cahokia,  and  four  miles 
above  Fort  Chartres ;  Fort  Chartres,  twelve  miles  above  Kaskaskia  ; 
Kaskaskia,  situated  on  the  Kaskaskia  River,  five  miles  above  its  conflu- 
ence with  the  Mississippi ;  and  Prairie  du  Rocher,  near  Fort  Chartres. 
To  these  must  be  added  St.  Genevieve  and  St.  Louis,  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Mississippi.     These,  with  the  exception  of  St.  Louis,  are  among 


116 


HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE  OF   ILJ.LNOIS. 


H 


<1 


HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF  ILLINOIS.  117 

the  oldest  French  towns  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  Kaskaskia,  in  its  best 
days,  was  a  town  of  some  two  or  three  thousand  inhabitants.  After  it 
passed  from  the  crown  of  France  its  population  for  many  years  did  not 
exceed  fifteen  hundred.  Under  British  rule,  in  1773,  the  population  had 
decreased  to  four  hundred  and  fifty.  As  early  as  1721,  the  Jesuits  had 
established  a  college  and  a  monastery  in  Kaskaskia. 

Fort  Chartres  was  first  built  under  the  direction  of  the  Mississippi 
Company,  in  1718,  by  M.  de  Boisbraint,  a  military  officer,  under  command 
of  Bienville.  It  stood  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  about  eighteen 
miles  below  Kaskaskia,  and  was  for  some  time  the  headquarters  of  the 
military  commandants  of  the  district  of  Illinois. 

In  the  Centennial  Oration  of  Dr.  Fowler,  delivered  at  Philadelphia, 
by  appointment  of  Gov.  Beveridge,  we  find  some  interesting  facts  with 
regard  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  which  we  appropriate  in  this  history : 

In  1682  Illinois  became  a  possession  of  the  French  crown,  a  depend- 
ency of  Canada,  and  a  part  of  Louisiana.  In  1765  the  English  flag  was 
run  up  on  old  Fort  Chartres,  and  Illinois  was  counted  among  the  treas- 
ures of  Great  Britain. 

In  1779  it  was  taken  from  the  English  by  Col.  George  Rogers  Clark. 
This  man  was  resolute  in  nature,  wise  in  council,  prudent  in  policy,  bold 
in  action,  and  heroic  in  danger.  Few  men  who  have  figured  in  the  his- 
tory of  America  are  more  deserving  than  this  colonel.  Nothing  short  of 
first-class  ability  could  have  rescued  Vincens  and  all  Illinois  from  the 
English.  And  it  is  not  possible  to  over-estimate  the  influence  of  this 
achievement  upon  the  republic.  In  1779  Illinois  became  a  part  of  Vir- 
ginia. It  was  soon  known  as  Illinois  County.  In  1784  Virginia  ceded 
all  this  territory  to  the  general  government,  to  be  cut  into  States,  to  be 
republican  in  form,  with  "  the  same  right  of  sovereignty,  freedom,  and 
independence  as  the  other  States." 

In  1787  it  was  the  object  of  the  wisest  and  ablest  legislation  found 
in  any  merely  human  records.     No  man  can  study  the  secret  history  of 

THE  "COMPACT  OF  1787," 

and  not  feel  that  Providence  was  guiding  with  sleepless  eye  these  unborn 
States.  The  ordinance  that  on  July  13,  1787,  finally  became  the  incor- 
porating act,  has  a  most  marvelous  history.  Jefferson  had  vainly  tried 
to  secure  a  system  of  g'overnment  for  the  northwestern  territory.  He 
was  an  emancipationist  of  that  day,  and  favored  the  exclusion  of  slavery 
from  the  territory  Virginia  had  ceded  to  the  general  government;  but 
the  South  voted  him  down  as  often  as  it  came  up.  In  1787,  as  late  as 
July  10,  an  organizing  act  without  the  anti-slavery  clause  was  pending. 
This  concession  to  the  South  was  expected  to  carry  it.     Congress  was  in 


118  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

• 

session  in  New  York  Cit3^  On  July  5,  Rev.  Dr.  Manasseh  Cutler,  of 
Massachusetts,  came  into  New  York  to  lobby  on  the  northwestern  terri- 
tory.    Everything  seemed  to  fall  into  his  hands.     Events  were  ripe. 

The  state  of  the  public  credit,  the  growing  of  Southern  prejudice, 
the  basis  of  his  mission,  his  personal  character,  all  combined  to  complete 
one  of  those  sudden  and  marvelous  revolutions  of  public  sentiment  that 
once  in  five  or  ten  centuries  are  seen  to  sweep  over  a  country  like  the 
breath  of  the  Almighty.  Cutler  was  a  graduate  of  Yale — received  his 
A.M.  from  Harvard,  and  his  D.D.  from  Yale.  He  had  studied  and  taken 
degrees  in  the  three  learned  professions,  medicine,  law,  and  divinity.  He 
had  thus  America's  best  indorsement.  He  had  published  a  scientific 
examination  of  the  plants  of  New  England.  His  name  stood  second  only 
to  that  of  Franklin  as  a  scientist  in  America.  He  was  a  courtly  gentle- 
man of  the  old  st3de,  a  man  of  commanding  presence,  and  of  inviting 
face.  The  Southern  members  said  they  had  never  seen  such  a  gentleman 
in  the  North.  He  came  representing  a  company  that  desired  to  purchase 
a  tract  of  land  now  included  in  Ohio,  for  the  purpose  of  planting  a  colony. 
It  was  a  speculation.  Government  money  was  worth  eighteen  cents  on 
the  dollar.  This  Massachusetts  company  had  collected  enough  to  pur- 
chase 1,500,000^ acres  of  land.  Other  speculators  in  New  York  made 
Dr.  Cutler  their  agent  (lobbj'ist).  On  the  12th  he  represented  a  demand 
for  5,500,000  acres.  This  would  reduce  the  national  debt.  Jefferson 
and  Virginia  were  regarded  as  authority  concerning  the  land  Virginia 
had  just  ceded.  Jefferson's  policy  wanted  to  provide  for  the  public  credit, 
and  this  was  a  good  opportunity  to  do  something. 

Massachusetts  then  owned  the  territory  of  Maine,  which  she  was 
crowding  on  the  market.  She  was  opposed  to  opening  the  northwestern 
region.  This  fired  the  zeal  of  Virginia.  The  South  caught  the  inspira- 
tion, and  all  exalted  Dr.  Cutler.  The  English  minister  invited  him  to 
dine  with  some  of  the  Southern  gentlemen.    He  was  the  center  of  interest. 

The  entire  South  rallied  round  him.  Massachusetts  could  not  vote 
against  him,  because  many  of  the  constituents  of  her  members  were 
interested  personally  in  the  western  speculation.  Thus  Cutler,  making 
friends  with  the  South,  and,  doubtless,  using  all  the  arts  of  the  lobby, 
was  enabled  to  command  the  situation.  True  to  deeper  convictions,  he 
dictated  one  of  the  most  compact  and  finished  documents  of  wise  states- 
manship that  has  ever  adorned  any  human  law  book.  He  borrowed  from 
Jefferson  the  term  "Articles  of  Compact,"  which,  preceding  the  federal 
constitution,  rose  into  the  most  sacred  character.  He  then  followed  very 
closely  the  constitution  of  Massachusetts,  adopted  three  years  before. 
Its  most  marked  points  were  : 

1.  The  exclusion  of  slavery  from  the  territory  forever. 

2.  Provision  for  public  schools,  giving  one  township  for  a  seminary, 


t) 


HISTORY    OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS.  119 

and  every  section  numbered  16  in  each  township  ;  that  is,  one-thirty-sixth 
of  all  the  land,  for  public  schools. 

3.  A  provision  prohibiting  the  adoption  of  any  consti'tution  or  the 
enactment  of  any  law  that  should  nullify  pre-existing  contracts. 

Be  it  forever  remembered  that  this  compact  declared  that  "  Religion, 
morality,  and  knowledge  being  necessary  to  good  government  and  the 
happiness  of  mankind,  schools  and  the  means  of  education  shall  always 
be  encouraged." 

Dr.  Cutler  planted  himself  on  this  platform  and  would  not  yield. 
Griving  his  unqualified  declaration  that  it  was  that  or  nothing — that  unless 
they  could  make  the  land  desirable  they  did  not  want  it — he  took  his 
horse  and  buggy,  and  started  for  the  constitutional  convention  in  Phila- 
delphia. On  July  13,  1787,  the  bill  was  put  upon  its  passage,  and  was 
unanimously  adopted,  every  Southern  member  voting  for  it,  and  only  one 
man,  Mr.  Yates,  of  New  York,  voting  against  it.  But  as  the  States  voted 
as  States,  Yates  lost  his  vote,  and  tJie  compact  was  put  beyond  repeal. 

Thus  the  great  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan  and  Wis- 
consin— a  vast  empire,  the  heart  of  the  great  valley — were  consecrated 
to  freedom,  intelligence,  and  honesty.  Thus  the  great  heart  of  the  nation 
was  prepared  for  a  year  and  a  day  and  an  hour.  In  the  light  of  these  eighty- 
nine  years  I  afl&rm  that  this  act  was  the  salvation  of  the  republic  and  the 
destruction  of  slavery.  Soon  the  South  saw  their  great  blunder,  and 
tried  to  repeal  the  compact.  In  1803  Congress  referred  it  to  a  committee 
of  which  John  Randolph  was  chairman.  He  reported  that  this  ordinance 
was  a  compact,  and  opposed  repeal.  Thus  it  stood  a  rock,  in  the  way 
of  the  on-rushing  sea  of  slavery. 

With  all  this  timely  aid  it  was,  after  all,  a  most  desperate  and  pro- 
tracted struggle  to  keep  the  soil  of  Illinois  sacred  to  freedom.  It  was 
the  natural  battle-field  for  the  irrepressible  conflict.  In  the  southern  end 
of  the  State  slavery  preceded  the  compact.  It  existed  among  the  old 
French  settlers,  and  was  hard  to  eradicate.  The  southern  part  of  the 
State  was  settled  from  the  slave  States,  and  this  population  brought  their 
laws,  customs,  and  institutions  with  them.  A  stream  of  population  from 
the  North  poured  into  the  northern  part  of  the  State.  These  sections 
misunderstood  and  hated  each  other  perfectly.  The  Southerners  regarded 
the  Yankees  as  a  skinning,  tricky,  penurious  race  of  peddlers,  filling  the 
country  with  tinware,  brass  clocks,  and  wooden  nutmegs.  The  North- 
erner thought  of  the  Southerner  as  a  lean,  lank,  lazy  creature,  burrowing 
in  a  hut,  and  rioting  in  whisky,  dirt  and  ignorance.  These  causes  aided 
in  making  the  struggle  long  and  bitter.  So  strong  was  the  sympathy 
with  slavery  that,  in  spite  of  the  ordinance  of  1787,  and  in  spite  of  the 
deed  of  cession,  it  was  determined  to  allow  the  old  French  settlers  to 
retain  their  slaves.     Planters  from  the  slave   States  mioht  bring  their 


120  HISTORY   OF  THE  STATE   OF  ILLINOIS. 

slaves,  if  they  would  give  them  a  chance  to  choose  freedom  or  years 
of  service  and  bondage  for  their  children  till  they  should  become 
thirty  years  of  age.  If  they  chose  freedom  they  must  leave  the  State 
in  sixtv  days  or  be  sold  as  fugitives.  Servants  were  whipped  for  offenses 
for  which  white  men  are  fined.  Each  lash  paid  forty  cents  of  the  fine.  A 
neo-ro  ten  miles  from  home  without  a  pass  was  whipped.  These  famous 
laws  were  imported  from  the  slave  States  just  as  they  imported  laws  foi 
the  inspection  of  flax  and  wool  when  there  was  neither  in  the  State. 

These  Black  Laws  are  now  wiped  out.  A  vigorous  effort  was  made 
to  protect  slavery  in  the  State  Constitution  of  1817.  It  barely  failed. 
It  was  renewed  in  1825,  when  ^  convention  was  asked  to  make  a  new 
constitution.  After  a  hard  fight  the  convention  was  defeated.  Bat 
slaves  did  not  disappear  from  the  census  of  the  State  until  1850.  There 
were  mobs  and  murders  in  the  interest  of  slavery.  Lovejoy  was  added 
to  the  list  of  martyrs— a  sort  of  first-fruits  of  that  long  life  of  immortal 
heroes  who  saw  freedom  as  the  one  supreme  desire  of  their  souls,  and 
were  so  enamored  of  her  that  they  preferred  to  die  rather  than  survive  her. 
The  population  of  12,282  that  occupied  the  territory  in  A.D.  1800, 
increased  to  45,000  in  A.D.  1818,  when  the  State  Constitution  was 
adopted,  and  Illinois  took  her  place  in  the  Union,  with  a  star  on  the  flag 
and  two  votes  in  the  Senate. 

Shadrach  Bond  was  the  first  Governor,  and  in  his  first  message  he 
recommended  the  construction  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal. 

The  simple  economy  in  those  days  is  seen  in  the  fact  that  the  entire 
bill  for  stationery  for  the  first  Legislature  was  only  il3.50.  Yet  this 
simple  body  actually  enacted  a  very  superior  code. 

There  was  no  money  in  the  territory  before  the  war  of  1812.  Deer 
skins  and  coon  skins  were  the  circulating  medium.  In  1821,  the  Legis- 
lature ordained  a  State  Bank  on  the  credit  of  the  State.  It  issued  notes 
in  the  likeness  of  bank  bills.  These  notes  were  made  a  legal  tender  for 
every  thing,  and  the  bank  was  ordered  to  loan  to  the  people  flOO  on  per- 
sonal security,  and  more  on  mortgages.  They  actually  passed  a  resolu- 
tion requesting  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States  to 
receive  these  notes  for  land.  The  old  French  Lieutenant  Governor,  Col. 
Menard,  put  the  resolution  as  follows:  "  Gentlemen  of  the  Senate  :  It  is 
moved  and  seconded  dat  de  notes  of  dis  hank  be  made  land-office  money. 
All  in  favor  of  dat  motion  say  aye  ;  all  against  it  say  no.  It  is  decided 
in  de  affirmative.  Now,  gentlemen,  I  bet  you  one  hundred  dollar  he 
never  be  land-office  money  ! "     Hard  sense,  like  hard  money,  is  always 

above  par. 

This  old  Frenchman  presents  a  fine  figure  up  against  the  dark  back- 
ground of  most  of  his  nation.  They  made  no  progress.  They  clung  to 
their  earliest  and  simplest  implements.     They  never  wore  hats  or  cap? 


HISTORY   OP   THE   STATE    OF   ILLINOIS.  121 

They  pulled  their  blankets  over  their  heads  in  the  winter  like  the  Indians, 
with  whom  they  freely  intermingled. 

Demagogism  had  an  early  development.  One  John  Grammar  (only 
in  name),  elected  to  the  Territorial  and  State  Legislatures  of  1816  and 
1836,  invented  the  policy  of  opposing  every  new  thing,  saying,  "  If  it 
succeeds,  no  one  will  ask  who  voted  against  it.  If  it  proves  a  failure,  he 
could  quote  its  record."  In  sharp  contrast  with  Grammar  was  the  char- 
acter of  D.  P.  Cook,  after  whom  the  county  containing  Chicago  was 
named.  Such  was  his  transparent  integrity  and  remarkable  ability  that 
his  will  was  almost  the  law  of  the  State.  In  Congress,  a  young  man, 
and  from  a  poor  State,  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the  Ways  and  Means 
Committee.  He  was  pre-eminent  for  standing  by  his  committee,  regard- 
less of  consequences.  It  was  his  integrity  that  elected  John  Quincy 
Adams  to  the  Presidency.  There  were  four  candidates  in  1821,  Jackson, 
Clay,  Crawford,  and  John  Quincy  Adams.  There  being  no  choice  by  the 
people,  the  election  was  thrown  into  the  House.  It  was  so  balanced  that 
it  turned  on  his  vote,  and  that  he  cast  for  Adams,  electing  him ;  then 
went  home  to  face  the  wrath  of  the  Jackson  party  in  Illinois.  It  cost 
him  all  but  character  and  greatness.  It  is  a  suggestive  comment  on  the 
times,  that  there  was  no  legal  interest  till  1830.  It  often  reached  150 
per  cent.,  usually  50  per  cent.  Then  it  was  reduced  to  12,  and  now  to 
10  per  cent. 

PHYSICAL  FEATURES  OF  THE    PRAIRIE  STATE. 

In  area  the  State  has  55,410  square  miles  of  territory.  It  is  about 
150  miles  wide  and  400  miles  long,  stretching  in  latitude  from  Maine  to 
North  Carolina.  It  embraces  wide  variety  of  climate.  It  is  tempered 
on  the  north  by  the  great  inland,  saltless,  tideless  sea,  which  keeps  the 
thermometer  from  either  extreme.  Being  a  table  land,  from  600  to  1,600 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  one  is  prepared  to  find  on  the  health 
maps,  prepared  by  the  general  government,  an  almost  clean  and  perfect 
record.  In  freedom  from  fever  and  malarial  diseases  and  consumptions, 
the  three  deadly  enemies  of  the  American'  Saxon,  Illinois,  as  a  State, 
stands  without  a  superior.  She  furnishes  one  of  the  essential  conditions 
of  a  great  people — sound  bodies.  I  suspect  that  this  fact  lies  back  of 
that  old  Delaware  word,  Illini,  superior  men. 

The  great  battles  of  history  that  have  been  determinative  of  dynas- 
ties and  destinies  have  been  strategical  battles,  chiefly  the  question  of 
position.  Thermopylae  has  been  the  war-cry  of  freemen  for  twenty-four 
centuries.  It  only  tells  how  much  there  may  be  in  position.  All  this 
advantage  belongs  to  Illinois.  It  is  in  the  heart  of  the  greatest  valley  in 
the  world,  the  vast  region  between  the  mountains — a  valley  that  could 


122 


HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 


feed  mankind  for  one  thousand  years.  It  is  well  on  toward  the  center  of 
the  continent.  It  is  in  the  great  temperate  belt,  in  which  have  been 
found  nearly  all  the  aggressive  civilizations  of  history.  It  has  sixty-five 
miles  of  frontage  on  the  head  of  the  lake.  With  the  Mississippi  forming 
the  western  and  southern  boundarv,  with  the  Ohio  running  along  the 
southeastern  line,  with  the  Illinois  River  and  Canal  dividing  the  State 
diagonally  from  the  lake  to  the  Lower  Mississippi,  and  with  the  Rock  and 
Wabash  Rivers  furnishing  altogether  2,000  miles  of  water-front,  con- 
necting with,  and  running  through,  in  all  about  12,000  miles  of  navi- 
gable water. 

But  tliis  is  not  all.  These  waters  are  made  most  available  by  the 
fact  that  the  lake  and  the  State  lie  on  the  ridge  running  into  the  great 
valley  from  the  east.  Within  cannon-shot  of  the  lake  the  water  runs- 
away  from  the  lake  to  the  Gulf.  The  lake  now  empties  at  both  ends, 
one  into  the  Atlantic  and  one  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The  lake  thus- 
seems  to  hang  over  the  land.  This  makes  the  dockage  most  serviceable  ;. 
there  are  no  steep  banks  to  damage  it.  Both  lake  and  river  are  made- 
for  use. 

The  climate  varies  from  Portland  to  Richmond ;  it  favors  every  pro- 
duct of  the  continent,  including  the  tropics,  with  less  than  half  a  dozen 
exceptions.  It  produces  every  great  nutriment  of  the  world  except  ban- 
anas and  rice.  It  is  hardly  too  much  to  say  that  it  is  the  most  productive 
spot  known  to  civilization.  With  the  soil  full  of  bread  and  the  earth  full 
of  minerals ;  with  an  upper  surface  of  food  and  an  under  layer  of  fuel  j 
with  perfect  natural  drainage,  and  abundant  springs  and  streams  ancE 
navigable  rivers  ;  half  way  between  the  forests  of  the  North  and  the  fruits 
of  the  South  ;  within  a  day's  ride  of  the  great  deposits  of  iron,  coal,  cop- 
per, lead,  and  zinc ;  containing  and  controlling  the  great  grain,  cattle^ 
pork,  and  lumber  markets  of  the  world,  it  is  not  strange  that  Illinois  has 
the  advantage  of  position. 

This  advantage  has  been  supplemented  by  the  character  of  the  popu- 
lation. Jn  the  early  days  when  Illinois  was  first  admitted  to  the  Union^ 
her  population  were  cliiefly  from  Kentucky  and  Virginia.  But,  in  th& 
conflict  of  ideas  concerning  slavery,  a  strong  tide  of  emigration  came  in. 
from  the  East,  and  soon  changed  this  composition.  In  1870  her  non- 
native  population  were  from  colder  soils.  New  York  furnished  133,290  ;, 
Ohio  gave  162,623;  Pennsylvania  sent  on  98,352;  the  entire  South  gave- 
us  only  206,734.  In  all  her  cities,  and  in  all  her  German  and  Scandina- 
vian and  other  foreign  colonies,  Illinois  has  only  about  one-fifth  of  her 
people  of  foreign  birth. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS.  123 


PROGRESS  OF  DEVELOPMENT. 

One  of  the  greatest  elements  in  the  early  development  of  Illinois  is 
the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal,  connecting  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi 
Rivers  with  the  lakes.  It  was  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  State. 
It  was  recommended  by  Gov.  Bond,  the  first  governor,  in  his  first  message. 
In  1821,  the  Legislature  appropriated  $10,000  for  surveying  the  route. 
Two  bright  young  engineers  surveyed  it,  and  estimated  the  cost  at 
1600,000  or  $700,000.  It  finally  cost  18,000,000.  In  1825,  a  law  was 
passed  to  incorporate  the  Canal  Company,  but  no  stock  was  sold.  In 
1826,  upon  the  solicitation  of  Cook,  Congress  gave  800,000  acres  of  land 
on  the  line  of  the  work.  In  1828,  another  law — commissioners  appointed, 
and  work  commenced  with  new  survey  and  new  estimates.  In  1834-35, 
George  Farquhar  made  an  able  report  on  the  whole  matter.  This  was, 
doubtless,  the  ablest  report  ever  made  to  a  western  legislature,  and  it 
became  the  model  for  subsequent  reports  and  action.  From  this  the 
work  went  on  till  it  was  finished  in  1848.  It  cost  the  State  a  laro^e 
amount  of  money ;  but  it  gave  to  the  industries  of  the  State  an  impetus 
that  pushed  it  up  into  the  first  rank  of  greatness.  It  was  not  built  as  a 
speculation  any  more  than  a  doctor  is  employed  on  a  speculation.  But 
it  has  paid  into  the  Treasary  of  the  State  an  average  annual  net  sum  of 
over  $111,000. 

Pending  the  construction  of  the  canal,  the  land  and  town-lot  fever 
broke  out  in  the  State,  in  1834-35.  It  took  on  the  malignant  type  in 
Chicago,  lifting  the  town  up  into  a  city.  The  disease  spread  over  the 
entire  State  and  adjoining  States.  It  was  epidemic.  It  cut  up  men's 
farms  without  regard  to  locality,  aiid  Jut  up  the  purses  of  the  purchasers 
without  regard  to  consequences.  It  is  estimated  that  building  lots  enough 
were  sold  in  Indiana  alone  to  accommodate  every  citizen  then  in  the 
United  States. 

Towns  and  cities  were  exported  to  uhe  Eastern  market  by  the  ship- 
load. There  was  no  lack  of  buyers.  Ever/  up-ship  came  freighted  with 
speculators  and  their  money. 

This  distemper  seized  upon  the  Legislature  in  1836-37,  and  left  not 
one  to  tell  the  tale.  They  enacted  a  system  of  internal  improvement 
without  a  parallel  in  the  grandeur  of  its  conception.  They  ordered  the 
construction  of  1,300  miles  of  railroad,  crossing  the  State  in  all  direc- 
tions. This  was  surpassed  by  the  river  and  canal  improvements. 
There  were  a  few  counties  not  touched  by  either  railroad  or  river  or 
canal,  and  those  were  to  be  comforted  and  compensated  by  the  free  dis- 
tribution of  $200,000  among  them.  To  inflate  this  balloon  beyond  cre- 
dence it  was  ordered  that  work  should  be  commenced  on  both  ejids  of 


124  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

each  of  these  raih-oads  and  rivers,  and  at  each  river-crossing,  all  at  the 
same  time.  The  appropriations  for  these  vast  improvements  were  over 
112,000,000,  and  commissioners  were  appointed  to  borrow  the  money  on 
the  credit  of  the  State.  Remember  that  all  this  was  in  the  early  days  of 
railroading,  when  railroads  were  luxuries ;  that  the  State  had  whole 
counties  with  scarcely  a  cabin ;  and  that  the  population  of  the  State  was 
less  than  400,000,  and  you  can  form  some  idea  of  the  vigor  with  which 
these  brave  men  undertook  the  work  of  making  a  great  State.  In  the 
light  of  history  I  am  compelled  to  say  that  this  was  only  a  premature 
throb  of  the  power  that  actually  slumbered  in  the  soil  of  the  State.  It 
was  Hercules  in  the  cradle. 

At  this  juncture  the  State  Bank  loaned  its  funds  largely  to  Godfrey 
Oilman  &  Co.,  and  to  other  leading  houses,  for  the  purpose  of  drawing 
trade  from  St.  Louis  to  Alton.  Soon  they  failed,  and  took  down  the 
bank  with  them. 

In  1840,  all  hope  seemed  gone.  A  population  of  480,000  were  loaded 
with  a  debt  of  $14,000,000.  It  had  only  six  small  cities,  really  only 
towns,  namely :  Chicago,  Alton,  Springfield,  Quincy,  Galena,  Nauvoo. 
This  debt  was  to  be  cared  for  when  there  was  not  a  dollar  in  the  treas- 
ury, and  when  the  State  had  borrowed  itself  out  of  all  credit,  and  when 
there  was  not  good  money  enough  in  the  hands  of  all  the  people  to  pay 
the  interest  of  the  debt  for  a  single  year.  Yet,  in  the  presence  of  all 
these  difficulties,  the  young  State  steadily  refused  to  repudiate.  Gov. 
Ford  took  hold  of  the  problem  and  solved  it,  bringing  the  State  through 
in  triumph. 

Having  touched  lightly  upon  some  of  the  more  distinctive  points  in 
the  history  of  the  development  of  Illinois,  let  us  next  briefly  consider  the 

MATERIAL  RESOURCES  OF  THE  STATE. 

It  is  a  garden  four  hundred  miles  long  and  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  wide.  Its  soil  is  chiefly  a  black  sandy  loam,  from  six  inches  to 
sixty  feet  thick.  On  the  American  bottoms  it  has  been  cultivated  for 
one  hundred  and  fifty  years  without  renewal.  About  the  old  French 
towns  it  has  yielded  corn  for  a  century  and  a  half  without  rest  or  help. 
It  produces  nearly  everything  green  in  the  temperate  and  tropical  zones. 
She  leads  all  other  States  in  the  number  of  acres  actually  under  plow. 
Her  products  from  25,000,000  of  acres  are  incalculable.  Her  mineral 
wealth  is  scarcely  second  to  her  agricultural  power.  She  has  coal,  iron, 
lead,  copper,  zinc,  many  varieties  of  building  stone,  fire  clay,  cunia  clay, 
common  brick  clay,  sand  of  all  kinds,  gravel,  mineral  paint — every  thing 
needed  for  a  hi^h  civilization.  Left  to  herself,  she  has  the  elements  of 
all  greatness.     The  single  item  of  coal  is  too  vast  for  an  appreciative 


o 


HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF  ILLINOIS.  125 

handling  in  figures.  We  can  handle  it  in  general  terms  like  algebraical 
signs,  but  long  before  we  get  up  into  the  millions  and  billions  the  human 
mind  drops  down  from  comprehension  to  mere  symbolic  apprehension. 

When  I  tell  you  that  nearly  four-fifths  of  the  entire  State  is  under- 
laid with  a  deposit  of  coal  more  than  forty  feet  thick  on  the  average  (now 
estimated,  by  recent  surveys,  at  seventy  feet  thick),  you  can  get  some 
idea  of  its  amount,  as  you  do  of  the  amount  of  the  national  debt.  There 
it  is !  41,000  square  miles — one  vast  mine  into  which  you  could  put 
any  of  the  States  ;  in  which  you  could  bury  scores  of  European  and 
ancient  empires,  and  have  room  enough  all  round  to  work  without  know- 
ing that  they  had  been  sepulchered  there. 

Put  this  vast  coal-bed  down  by  the  other  great  coal  deposits  of  the 
world,  and  its  importance  becomes  manifest.  Great  Britain  has  12,000 
square  miles  of  coal;  Spain,  3,000;  France,  1,719;  Belgium,  578;  Illinois 
about  twice  as  many  square  miles  as  all  combined.  Virginia  has  20,000 
square  miles ;  Pennsylvania,  16,000 ;  Ohio,  12,000.  Illinois  has  41,000 
square  miles.  One-seventh  of  all  the  known  coal  on  this  continent  is  in 
Illinois. 

Could  we  sell  the  coal  in  this  single  State  for  one-seventh  of  one  cent 
a  ton  it  would  pay  the  national  debt.  Converted  into  power,  even  with 
the  wastage  in  our  common  engines,  it  would  do  more  work  than  could 
be  done  by  the  entire  race,  beginning  at  Adam's  wedding  and  working 
ten  hours  a  day  through  all  the  centuries  till  the  present  time,  and  right 
on  into  the  future  at  the  same  rate  for  the  next  600,000  years. 

Great  Britain  uses  enough  mechanical  power  to-day  to  give  to  each 
man,  woman,  and  child  in  the  kingdom  the  help  and  service  of  nineteen 
untiring  servants.  No  wonder  she  has  leisure  and  luxuries.  No  wonder 
the  home  of  the  common  artisan  has  in  it  more  luxuries  than  could  be 
found  in  the  palace  of  good  old  King  Arthur.  Think,  if  you  can  conceive 
of  it,  of  the  vast  army  of  servants  that  slumber  in  the  soil  of  Illinois, 
impatiently  awaiting  the  call  of  Genius  to  come  forth  to  minister  to  our 
comfort. 

At  the  present  rate  of  consumption  England's  coal  supply  will  be 
exhausted  in  250  years.  When  this  is  gone  she  must  transfer  her  dominion 
either  to  the  Indies,  or  to  British  America,  which  I  would  not  resist ;  or 
to  some  other  people,  which  I  would  regret  as  a  loss  to  civilization. 

COAL  IS    KING. 

At  the  same  rate  of  consumption  (which  far  exceeds  our  own)  the 
deposit  of  coal  in  Illinois  will  last  120,000  years.  And  her  kingdom  shall 
be  an  everlasting  kingdom. 

Let  us  turn  now  from  this  reserve  power  to  the  annual  products  of 


126  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

the  State.  We  shall  not  be  humiliated  in  this  field.  Here  we  strike  the 
secret  of  our  national  credit.  Nature  provides  a  market  in  the  constant 
appetite  of  the  race.  Men  must  eat,  and  if  we  can  furnish  the  provisions 
we  can  command  the  treasure.  All  that  a  man  hath  will  he  give  for  his 
life. 

According  to  the  last  census  Illinois  produced  30,000,000  of  bushels 
of  wheat.  That  is  more  wheat  than  was  raised  by  any  other  State  in  the 
Union.  She  raised  In  1875,  130,000,000  of  bushels  of  corn — twice  as 
much  as  any  other  State,  and  one-sixth  of  all  the  corn  raised  in  the  United 
States.  She  harvested  2,747,000  tons  of  hay,  nearl}^  one-tenth  of  all  the 
hay  in  the  Republic.  It  is  not  generally  ajjpreciated,  but  it  is  true,  that 
the  hay  crop  of  the  country  is  worth  more  than  the  cotton  crop.  The 
hay  of  Illinois  equals  the  cotton  of  Louisiana.  Go  to  Charleston,  S.  C, 
and  see  them  peddling  handfuls  of  hay  or  grass,  almost  as  a  curiosity, 
as  we  regard  Chinese  gods  or  the  cryolite  of  Greenland ;  drink  your 
coffee  and  condensed  milk ;  and  walk  back  from  the  coast  for  many  a 
league  through  the  sand  and  burs  till  you  get  up  into  the  better  atmos- 
phere of  the  mountains,  without  seeing  a  waving  meadow  or  a  grazing 
herd ;  then  you  will  begin  to  appreciate  the  meadows  of  the  Prairie  State, 
where  the  grass  often  grows  sixteen  feet  high. 

The  value  of  her  farm  implements  is  $211,000,000,  and  the  value  of 
her  live  stock  is  only  second  to  the  great  State  of  New  York.  in  1875 
she  had  25,000,000  hogs,  and  packed  2,113,845,  about  one-half  of  ail  that 
were  packed  in  the  United  States.  This  is  no  insignificant  item.  Pork 
is  a  growing  demand  of  the  old  world.  Since  the  laborers  of  Europe 
have  gotten  a  taste  of  our  bacon,  and  we  have  learned  how  to  pack  it  dry 
in  boxes,  like  diy  goods,  the  world  has  become  the  market. 

The  hosr  is  on  the  march  into  the  future.  His  nose  is  ordained  to 
uncover  the  secrets  of  dominion,  and  his  feet  shall  be  guided  by  the  star 
of  empire. 

Illinois  marketed  $57,000,000  worth  of  slaughtered  animals — more 
than  any  other  State,  and  a  seventh  of  all  the  States. 

Be  patient  with  me,  and  pardon  my  pride,  and  I  will  give  you  a  list 
of  some  of  the  things  in  which  Illinois  excels  all  other  States. 

Depth  and  richness  of  soil  ;  per  cent,  of  good  ground  ;  acres  of 
improved  land ;  large  farms — some  farms  contain  from  40,000  to  60,000 
acres  of  cultivated  land,  40,000  acres  of  corn  on  a  single  farm  ;  number  of 
farmers  ;  amount  of  wheat,  corn,  oats  and  honey  produced  ;  value  of  ani- 
mals for  slaughter;  number  of  hogs;  amount  of  pork;  number  of  horses 
— three  times  as  many  as  Kentucky,  the  horse  State. 

Illinois  excels  all  other  States  in  miles  of  railroads  and  in  miles  of 
postal  service,  and  in  money  orders  sold  per  annum,  and  in  the  amount  of 
lumber  sold  in  her  markets. 


HISTORY   OF   THE  STATE   OF  ILLINOIS.  12T 

Illinois  is  only  second  in  many  important  matters.  This  sample  list 
comprises  a  few  of  the  more  important :  Permanent  school  fund  (good 
for  a  3'oung"  state)  ;  total  income  for  educational  purposes  ;  number  of  pub- 
lishers of  books,  maps,  papers,  etc.;  value  of  farm  products  and  imple- 
ments, and  of  live  stock  ;  in  tons  of  coal  mined. 

The  shipping  of  Illinois  is  only  second  to  New  York.  Out  of  one 
port  during  the  business  hours  of  the  season  of  navigation  she  sends  forth 
a  vessel  every  ten  minutes.  This  does  not  include  canal  boats,  which  go 
one  every  five  minutes.  No  wonder  she  is  only  second  in  number  of 
bankers  and  brokers  or  in  physicians  and  surgeons. 

She  is  third  in  colleges,  teachers  and  schools ;  cattle,  lead,  hay^ 
flax,  sorghum  and  beeswax. 

She  is  fourth  in  population,  >n  children  enrolled  in  public  schools,  in 
law  schools,  in  butter,  potatoes  and  carriages. 

She  is  fifth  in  value  of  real  and  personal  property,  in  theological 
seminaries  and  colleges  exclusively  for  women,  in  milk  sold,  and  in  boots, 
and  shoes  manufactured,  and  in  book-binding. 

She  is  only  seventh  in  the  production  of  wood,  while  she  is  the 
twelfth  in  area.  Surely  that  is  well  done  for  the  Prairie  State.  She  now 
has  much  more  wood  and  growing  timber  than  she  had  thirty  years  ago. 

A  few  leading  industries  will  justify  emphasis.  She  manufactures- 
$205,000,000  worth  of  goods,  which  places  her  well  up  toward  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania.  The  number  of  her  manufacturing  establishments 
increased  from  1860  to  1870,  300  per  cent.;  capital  employed  increased  350^ 
per  cent.,  and  the  amount  of  product  increased  400  per  cent.  She  issued 
5,500,000  copies  of  commercial  and  financial  newspapers — only  second  to 
New  York.  She  has  6,759  miles  of  railroad,  thus  leading  all  other  States, 
worth  $636,458,000,  using  3,245  engines,  and  67,712  cars,  making  a  train 
long  enough  to  cover  one-tenth  of  the  entire  roads  of  the  State.  Her 
stations  are  only  five  miles  apart.  She  carried  last  year  15,795,000  passen- 
gers, an  average  of  36^  miles,  or  equal  to  taking  her  entire  population  twice- 
across  the  State.  More  than  two-thirds  of  her  land  is  within  five  miles  of 
a  railroad,  and  less  than  two  per  cent,  is  more  than  fifteen  miles  away. 

The  State  has  a  large  financial  interest  in  the  Illinois  Central  railroad.. 
The  road  was  incorporated  in  1850,  and  the  State  gave  each  alternate  sec- 
tion for  six  miles  on  each  side,  and  doubled  the  price  of  the  remaining- 
land,  so  keeping  herself  good.  The  road  received  2,595,000  acres  of  land, 
and  pays  to  the  State  one-seventh  of  the  gross  receipts.  The  State 
receives  this  year  $350,000,  and  has  received  in  all  about  $7,000,000.  It 
is  practically  the  people's  road,  and  it  has  a  most  able  and  gentlemanly 
management.  Add  to  this  the  annual  receipts  from  the  canal,  $111, 000* 
and  a  large  per  cent,  of  the  State  tax  is  provided  for. 


128  HISTORY   OF  THE  STATE   OF  ILLINOIS. 


THE    RELIGION  AND  MORALS 

of  the  State  keep  step  with  her  productions  and  growth.  She  was  born 
of  the  missionary  spirit.  It  was  a  minister  who  secured  for  her  the  ordi- 
nance of  1787,  by  which  she  has  been  saved  from  slavery,  ignorance,  and 
dishonesty.  Rev.  Mr.  Wiley,  pastor  of  a  Scotch  congregation  in  Randolph 
County,  petitioned  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1818  to  recognize 
Jesus  Christ  as  king,  and  the  Scriptures  as  the  only  necessary  guide  and 
book  of  law.  The  convention  did  not  act  in  the  case,  and  the  old  Cove- 
nanters refused  to  accept  citizenship.  They  never  voted  until  1824,  when 
the  slavery  question  was  submitted  to  the  people;  then  they  all  voted 
against  it  and  cast  the  determining  votes.  Conscience  has  predominated 
whenever  a  great  moral  question  has  been  submitted  to  the  people. 

But  little  mob  violence  has  ever  been  felt  in  the  State.  In  1817 
regulators  disposed  of  a  band  of  horse-thieves  that  infested  the  territory. 
The  Mormon  indignities  finallj^  awoke  the  same  spirit.  Alton  was  also 
the  scene  of  a  pro-slavery  mob,  in  which  Lovejoy  was  added  to  the  list  of 
martyrs.  The  moral  sense  of  the  people  makes  the  law  supreme,  and  gives 
to  the  State  unrufiSed  peace. 

With  $22,300,000  in  church  property,  and  4,298  church  organizations, 
the  State  has  that  divine  police,  the  sleepless  patrol  of  moral  ideas,  that 
alone  is  able  to  secure  perfect  safety.  Conscience  takes  the  knife  from 
the  assassin's  hand  and  the  bludgeon  from  the  grasp  of  the  highwa3^man. 
We  sleep  in  safety,  not  because  we  are  behind  bolts  and  bars — these  only 
fence  against  the  innocent ;  not  because  a  lone  officer  drowses  on  a  distant 
corner  of  a  street;  not  because  a  sheriff  may  call  his  posse  from  a  remote 
part  of  the  county ;  but  because  conscience  guards  the  very  portals  of  the 
iiir  and  stirs  in  the  deepest  recesses  of  the  public  mind.  This  spirit  issues 
within  the  State  9,500,000  copies  of  religious  papers  annually,  and  receives 
still  more  from  without.  Thus  the  crime  of  the  State  is  only  one-fourth 
that  of  New  York  and  one-half  that  of  Pennsylvania. 

Illinois  never  had  but  one  duel  between  her  own  citizens.  In  Belle- 
ville, in  1820,  Alphonso  Stewart  and  William  Bennett  arranged  to  vindi- 
cate injured  honor.  The  seconds  agreed  to  make  it  a  sham,  and  make 
them  shoot  blanks.  Stewart  was  in  the  secret.  Bennett  mistrusted  some- 
thing, and,  unobserved,  slipped  a  bullet  into  his  gun  and  killed  Stewart. 
He  then  fled  the  State.  After  two  years  he  was  caught,  tried,  convicted, 
and,  in  spite  of  friends  and  political  aid,  was  hiing.  This  fixed  the  code 
of  honor  on  a  Christian  basis,  and  terminated  its  use  in  Illinois. 

The  early  preachers  were  ignorant  men,  who  were  accounted  eloquent 
according  to  the  strength  of  their  voices.  But  they  set  the  style  for  all 
public  speakers.    Lawyers  and  political  speakers  followed  this  rule.    Gov. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   STATE  OF  ILLINOIS.  129 

Ford  says:  "Nevertheless,  these  first  preachers  were  of  incalculable 
benefit  to  the  country.  They  inculcated  justice  and  morality.  To  them 
are  we  indebted  for  the  first  Christian  character  of  the  Protestant  portion 
of  the  people." 

In  education  Illinois  surpasses  her  material  resources.  The  ordinance 
of  1787  consecrated  one  thirty-sixth  of  her  soil  to  common  schools,  and 
the  law  of  1818,  the  first  law  that  went  upon  her  statutes,  gave  three  per 
cent,  of  all  the  rest  to 

EDUCATION. 

The  old  compact  secures  this  interest  forever,  and  by  its  yoking 
morality  and  intelligence  it  precludes  the  legal  interference  with  the  Bible 
in  the  public  schools.  With  such  a  start  it  is  natural  that  we  should  have 
11,050  schools,  and  that  our  illiteracy  should  be  less  than  New  York  or 
Pennsylvania,  and  only  about  one-half  of  Massachusetts.  We  are  not  to 
blame  for  not  having  more  than  one-half  as  many  idiots  as  the  great 
States.  These  public  schools  soon  made  colleges  inevitable.  The  first 
college,  still  flourishing,  was  started  in  Lebanon  in  1 828,  by  the  M.  E.. 
church,  and  named  after  Bishop  McKendree.  Illinois  College,  at  Jackson- 
ville, supported  by  the  Presbyterians,  followed  in  1830.  In  1832  the  Bap- 
tists built  Shurtleff  College,  at  Alton.  Then  the  Presbyterians  built  Knox 
College,  at  Galesburg,  in  1838,  and  the  Episcopalians  built  Jubilee  College, 
at  Peoria,  in  1847.  After  these  early  years  colleges  have  rained  down. 
A  settler  could  hardly  encamp  on  the  prairie  but  a  college  would  spring 
up  by  his  wagon.  The  State  now  has  one  very  well  endowed  and  equipped 
university,  namely,  the  Northwestern  University,  at  Evanston,  with  six 
colleges,  ninety  instructors,  over  1,000  students,  and  #1,500,000  endow- 
ment. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Peck  was  the  first  educated  Protestant  minister  m  tne 
State.  He  settled  at  Rock  Spring,  in  St.  Clair  County,  1820,  and  left  his 
impress  on  the  State.  Before  1837  only  party  papers  were  published,  but 
Mr.  Peck  published  a  Gazetteer  of  Illinois.  Soon  after  John  Russell,  of 
Bluffdale,  published  essays  and  tales  showing  genius.  Judge  James  Hall 
published  The  Illinois  Monthly  Magazine  with  great  ability,  and  an  annual 
called  The  Western  Souvenir^  which  gave  him  an  enviable  fame  all  over  the 
United  States.  From  these  beginnings  Illinois  has  gone  on  till  she  has 
more  volumes  in  public  libaaries  even  than  Massachusetts,  and  of  the 
44,500,000  volumes  in  all  the  public  libraries  of  the  United  States,  she 
has  one-thirteenth.  In  newspapers  she  stands  fourth.  Her  increase  is 
marvelous.  In  1850  she  issued  5,000,000  copies ;  in  1860,  27,590,000  ;  in 
1870,  113,140,000.  In  1860  she  had  eighteen  colleges  and  seminaries ;  in 
1870  she  had  eighty.     That  is  a  grand  advance  for  the  war  decade. 

This  brings  us  to  a  record  unsurpassed  in  the  history  of  any  age, 


130  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 


THE  WAR    RECORD  OF  ILLINOIS. 

I  hardly  know  where  to  begin,  or  how  to  advance,  or  what  to  say.  I 
can  at  best  give  you  only  a  broken  synopsis  of  her  deeds,  and  you  must 
put  them  in  the  order  of  glory  for  yourself.  Her  sons  have  always  been 
foremost  on  fields  of  danger.  In  1832-33,  at  the  call  of  Gov.  Reynolds, 
her  sons  drove  Blackhawk  over  the  Mississippi. 

When  the  Mexican  war  came,  in  May,  1846,  8,370  men  offered  them- 
selves when  only  3,720  could  be  accepted.  The  fields  of  Buena  Vista  and 
Vera  Cruz,  and  the  storming  of  Cerro  Gordo,  will  carry  the  glory  of  Illinois 
soldiers  along  after  the  infamy  of  the  cause  they  served  has  been  forgotten. 
But  it  was  reserved  till  our  day  for  her  sons  to  find  a  field  and  cause  and 
foemen  that  could  fitly  illustrate  their  spirit  and  heroism.  Illinois  put 
into  her  own  regiments  for  the  United  States  government  256,000  men, 
and  into  the  army  through  other  States  enough  to  swell  the  number  to 
290,000.  This  far  exceeds  all  the  soldiers  of  the  federal  government  in 
all  the  war  of  the  revolution.  Her  total  years  of  service  were  over  600,000. 
She  enrolled  men  from  eighteen  to  forty-five  3^ears  of  age  when  the  law 
of  Congress  in  1864 — the  test  time — only  asked  for  those  from  twenty  to 
forty-five.  Her  enrollment  was  otherwise  excessive.  Her  people  wanted 
to  go,  and  did  not  take  the  pains  to  correct  the  enrollment.  Thus  the 
basis  of  fixing  the  quota  was  too  great,  and  then  the  quota  itself,  at  least 
in  the  trying  time,  was  far  above  any  other  State. 

Thus  the  demand  on  some  counties,  as  Monroe,  for  example,  took  every 
able-bodied  man  in  the  county,  and  then  did  not  have  enough  to  fill  the 
quota.  Moreover,  Illinois  sent  20,814  men  for  ninety  or  one  hundred  days, 
for  whom  no  credit  was  asked.  When  Mr.  Lincoln's  attention  was  called 
to  the  inequality  of  the  quota  compared  with  other  States,  he  replied, 
"  The  country  needs  the  sacrifice.  We  must  put  the  whip  on  the  free 
horse."  In  spite  of  all  these  disadvantages  Illinois  gave  to  the  country 
73,000  years  of  service  above  all  calls.  With  one-thirteenth  of  the  popu- 
lation of  the  loyal  States,  she  sent  regularly  one-tenth  of  all  the  soldiers, 
and  in  the  peril  of  the  closing  calls,  when  patriots  were  few  and  weary, 
she  then  sent  one-eighth  of  all  that  were  called  for  by  her  loved  and  hon- 
ored son  in  the  white  house.  Her  mothers  and  daughters  went  into  the 
fields  to  raise  the  grain  and  keep  the  children  together,  w^hile  the  fathers 
and  older  sons  went  to  the  harvest  fields  of  the  world.  I  knew  a  father 
and  four  sons  who  agreed  that  one  of  them  must  stay  at  home ;  and  they 
pulled  straws  from  a  stack  to  see  who  might  go.  The  father  was  left. 
The  next  day  he  came  into  the  camp,  saying  :  "  Mother  says  she  can  get 
the  crops  in,  and  I  am  going,  too."  I  know  large  Methodist  churches 
from  which  every  male  member  went  to  the  army.    Do  you  want  to  know 


HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS.  131 

what  these  heroes  from  Illinois  did  in  the  field  ?  Ask  any  soldier  with  a 
good  record  of  his  own,  who  is  thus  able  to  judge,  and  he  will  tell  you 
that  the  Illinois  men  went  in  to  win.  It  is  common  history  that  the  greater 
victories  were  won  in  the  West.  When  everything  else  looked  dark  Illi- 
nois was  gaining  victories  all  down  the  river,  and  dividing  the  confederacy. 
Sherman  took  with  him  on  his  great  march  forty-five  regiments  of  Illinois 
infantry,  three  companies  of  artillery,  and  one  company  of  cavalry.  He 
could  not  avoid 

GOING  TO  THE  SEA. 

If  he  had  been  killed,  I  doubt  not  the  men  would  have  gone  right  on. 
Lincoln  answered  all  rumors  of  Sherman's  defeat  with,  "  It  is  impossible  ; 
there  is  a  mighty  sight  of  fight  in  100,000  Western  men."  Illinois  soldiers 
brought  home  300  battle-flags.  The  first  United  States  flag  that  floated 
over  Richmond  was  an  Illinois  flag.  She  sent  messengers  and  nurses  to 
every  field  and  hospital,  to  care  for  her  sick  and  wounded  sons.  She  said, 
*'  These  suffering  ones  are  my  sons,  and  I  will  care  for  them." 

When  individuals  had  given  all,  then  cities  and  towns  came  forward 
with  their  credit  to  the  extent  of  many  millions,  to  aid  these  men  and 
their  families. 

Illinois  gave  the  country  the  great  general  of  the  war — Ulysses  S. 
Grant — since  honored  with  two  terms  of  the  Presidency  of  the  United 
States. 

One  other  name  from  Illinois  comes  up  in  all  minds,  embalmed  in  all 
hearts,  that  must  have  the  supreme  place  in  this  story  of  our  glory  and 
of  our  nation's  honor ;  that  name  is  Abraham  Lincoln,  of  Illinois. 

The  analysis  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  character  is  difflcult  on  account  of  its 
symmetry. 

In  this  age  we  look  with  admiration  at  his  uncompromising  honesty. 
And  well  we  may,  for  this  saved  us.  Thousands  throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  our  country  who  knew  him  only  as  "  Honest  Old  Abe," 
vote'd  for  him  on  that  account ;  and  wisely  did  they  choose,  for  no  other 
man  could  have  carried  us  through  the  fearful  night  of  the  war.  When 
his  plans  were  too  vast  for  our  comprehension,  and  his  faith  in  the  cause 
too  sublime  for  our  participation ;  when  it  was  all  night  about  us,  and  all 
dread  before  us,  and  all  sad  and  desolate  behind  us ;  when  not  one  ray 
shone  upon  our  cause ;  when  traitors  were  haughty  and  exultant  at  the 
South,  and  fierce  and  blasphemous  at  the  North  ;  when  the  loyal  men  here 
seemed  almost  in  the  minority  ;  when  the  stoutest  heart  quailed,  the  bravest 
cheek  paled  ;  when  generals  were  defeating  each  other  for  place,  and 
contractors  were  leeching  out  the  very  heart's  blood  of  the  prostrate 
republic :  when  every  thing  else  had  failed  us,  we  looked  at  this  calm, 
patient  man  standing  like  a  rock  in  the  storm,  and  said  :     "  Mr.  Lincoln 


132  HISTORY   OP   THE   STATE   OF    ILLINOIS. 

is  honest,  and  we  can  trust  him  still."  Holding  to  this  single  point  with 
the  energy  of  faith  and  despair  we  held  together,  and,  under  God,  he 
brought  us  through  to  victory. 

His  practical  wisdom  made  him  the  wonder  of  all  lands.  With  such 
certainty  did  Mr.  Lincoln  follow  causes  to  their  ultimate  effects,  that  his 
foresight  of  contingencies  seemed  almost  prophetic. 

He  is  radiant  with  all  the  great  virtues,  and  his  memory  shall  shed  a 
glory  upon  this  age  that  shall  fill  the  eyes  of  men  as  they  look  into  his- 
tory. Other  men  have  excelled  him  in  some  point,  but,  taken  at  all 
points,  all  in  all,  he  stands  head  and  shoulders  above  every  other  man  of 
6,000  years.  An  administrator,  he  saved  the  nation  in  the  perils  of 
unparalleled  civil  war.  A  statesman,  he  justified  his  measures  by  their 
success.  A  philanthropist,  he  gave  liberty  to  one  race  and  salvation  to 
another.  A  moralist,  he  bowed  from  the  summit  of  human  power  to  the 
foot  of  the  Cross,  and  became  a  Christian.  A  mediator,  he  exercised  mercy 
under  the  most  absolute  abeyance  to  law.  A  leader,  he  was  no  partisan. 
A  commander,  he  was  untainted  with  blood.  A  ruler  in  desperate  times, 
he  was  unsullied  with  crime.  A  man,  he  has  left  no  word  of  passion,  no 
thought  of  malice,  no  trick  of  craft,  no  act  of  jealousy,  no  purpose  of 
selfish  ambition.  Thus  perfected,  without  a  model,  and  without  a  peer, 
he  was  dropped  into  these  troubled  years  to  adorn  and  embellish  all  that 
is  good  and  all  that  is  great  in  our  humanity,  and  to  present  to  all  coming 
time  the  representative  of  the  divine  idea  of  free  government. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  away  down  in  the  future,  when  the 
republic  has  fallen  from  its  niche  in  the  wall  of  time ;  when  the  great 
war  itself  shall  have  faded  out  in  the  distance  like  a  mist  on  the  horizon ; 
when  the  Anglo-Saxon  language  shall  be  spoken  only  by  the  tongue  of 
the  stranger ;  then  the  generations  looking  this  way  shall  see  the  great 
president  as  the  supreme  figure  in  this  vortex  of  historv 

CHICAGO. 

It  is  impossible  in  our  brief  space  to  give  more  than  a  meager  sketch 
of  such  a  city  as  Chicago,  which  is  in  itself  the  greatest  marvel  of  the 
Prairie  State.  This  mysterious,  majestic,  miglity  city,  born  first  of  water, 
and  next  of  fire;  sown  in  weakness,  and  raised  in  power ;  planted  among 
the  willows  of  the  marsh,  and  crowned  with  the  glory  of  the  mountains  ; 
sleeping  on  the  bosom  of  the  prairie,  and  rocked  on  the  bosom  of  the  sea , 
the  youngest  city  of  the  world,  and  still  the  eye  of  the  prairie,  as  Damas- 
cus, the  oldest  city  of  the  world,  is  the  eye  of  the  desert.  AVith  a  com- 
merce far  exceeding  that  of  Corinth  on  her  isthmus,  in  the  highway  to 
the  East ;  with  the  defenses  of  a  continent  piled  around  her  by  the  tliou- 
sand  miles,  making  her  far  safer  than   Rome  on  the  banks  of  the  Tiber ; 


HISTORY  OP  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS. 


133 


CO 
CO 
CO 


o 
o 

a 


>84  HISTOllY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

with  schools  eclipsing  Alexandria  and  Athens ;  with  liberties  more  con- 
spicuous than  those  of  the  old  republics  ;  with  a  heroism  equal  to  the  first 
Carthage,  and  with  a  sanctity  scarcely  second  to  that  of  Jerusalem — set 
your  thoughts  on  all  this,  lifted  into  the  eyes  of  all  men  by  the  miracle  of 
its  growth,  illuminated  by  the  flame  of  its  fall,  and  transfigured  by  the 
divinity  of  its  resurrection,  and  you  will  feel,  as  I  do,  the  utter  impossi- 
bility of  compassing  this  subject  as  it  deserves.  Some  impression  of  her 
importance  is  received  from  the  shock  her  burning  gave  to  the  civilized 
world. 

When  the  doubt  of  her  calamity  was  removed,  and  the  horrid  fact 
was  accepted,  there  went  a  shudder  over  all  cities,  and  a  quiver  over  all 
lands.  There  was  scarcely  a  town  in  the  civilized  world  that  did  not 
shake  on  the  brink  of  this  opening  chasm.  The  flames  of  our  homes  red- 
dened all  skies.  The  city  was  set  upon  a  hill,  and  could  not  be  hid.  All 
eyes  were  turned  upon  it.  To  have  struggled  and  suffered  amid  the 
scenes  of  its  fall  is  as  distinguishing  as  to  have  fought  at  Thermopylse,  or 
Salamis,  or  Hastings,  or  Waterloo,  or  Bunker  Hill. 

Its  calamity  amazed  the  world,  because  it  was  felt  to  be  the  common 
property  of  mankind. 

The  early  history  of  the  city  is  full  of  interest,  just  as  the  early  his- 
tory of  such  a  man  as  Washington  or  Lincoln  becomes  public  property, 
and  is  cherished  by  every  patriot. 

Starting  with  560  acres  in  1833,  it  embraced  and  occupied  23,000 
acres  in  1869,  and,  having  now  a  population  of  more  than  500,000,  it  com- 
mands general  attention. 

The  first  settler — Jean  Baptiste  Pointe  au  Sable,  a  mulatto  from  the 
West  Indies — came  and  began  trade  with  the  Indians  in  1796.  John 
Kinzie  became  his  successor  in  1804,  in  which  year  Fort  Dearborn  was 
erected. 

A  mere  trading-post  was  kept  here  from  that  time  till  about  the  time 
of  the  Blackhawk  war,  in  1832.  It  was  not  the  city.  It  was  merely  a 
cock  crowing  at  midnight.  The  morning  was  not  yet.  In  1833  the  set- 
tlement about  the  fort  was  incorporated  as  a  town.  The  voters  were 
divided  on  the  propriety  of  such  corporation,  twelve  voting  for  it  and  one 
against  it.  Four  years  later  it  was  incorporated  as  a  city,  and  embraced 
660  acres. 

The  produce  handled  in  this  city  is  an  indication  of  its  power.  Grain 
and  flour  were  imported  from  the  East  till  as  late  as  1837.  The  first 
exportation  by  way  of  experiment  was  in  1839.  Exports  exceeded  imports 
first  in  1842.  The  Board  of  Trade  was  organized  in  1848,  but  it  was  so 
weak  that  it  needed  nursing  till  1855.  Grain  was  purchased  by  the 
*  wagon-load  in  the  street. 

I  remember  sitting  with  my  father  on  a  load  of  wheat,  in  the  long 


HISTOKY  OF  THE  STATE  OE  ILLINOIS.  135 

line  of  wagons  along  Lake  street,  while  the  buyers  came  and  untied  the 
bags,  and  examined  the  grain,  and  made  their  bids.  That  manner  of 
business  had  to  cease  with  the  day  of  small  things.  Now  our  elevators 
will  hold  15,000,000  bushels  of  grain.  The  cash  value  of  the  produce 
handled  in  a  year  is  $215,000,000,  and  the  produce  weighs  7,000,000 
tons  or  700,000  car  loads.  This  handles  thirteen  and  a  half  ton  each 
minute,  all  the  year  round.  One  tenth  of  all  the  wheat  in  the  United 
States  is  handled  in  Chicago.  Even  as  long  ago  as  1853  the  receipts  of 
grain  in  Chicago  exceeded  those  of  the  goodly  city  of  St.  Louis,  and  in 
1854  the  exports  of  grain  from  Chicago  exceeded  those  of  New  York  and 
doubled  those  of  St.  Petersburg,  Archangel,  or  Odessa,  the  largest  grain 
markets  in  Europe. 

The  manufacturing  interests  of  the  city  are  not  contemptible.  In 
1873  manufactories  employed  45,000  operatives ;  in  1876,  60,000.  The 
manufactured  product  in  1875  was  worth  $177,000,000. 

No  estimate  of  the  size  and  power  of  Chicago  would  be  adequate 
that  did  not  put  large  emphasis  on  the  railroads.  Before  they  came 
thundering  along  our  streets  canals  were  the  hope  of  our  country.  But 
who  ever  thinks  now  of  traveling  by  canal  packets  ?  In  June,  1852, 
there  were  only  forty  miles  of  railroad  connected  with  the  city.  The 
old  Galena  division  of  the  Northwestern  ran  out  to  Elgin.  But  now, 
who  can  count  the  trains  and  measure  the  roads  that  seek  a  terminus  or 
connection  in  this  city  ?  The  lake  stretches  away  to  the  north,  gathering 
in  to  this  center  all  the  harvests  that  might  otherwise  pass  to  the  north 
of  us.  If  you  will  take  a  map  and  look  at  the  adjustment  of  railroads, 
you  will  see,  first,  that  Chicago  is  the  great  railroad  center  of  the  world, 
as  New  York  is  the  commercial  city  of  this  continent ;  and,  second,  that 
the  railroad  lines  form  the  iron  spokes  of  a  great  wheel  whose  hub  is 
this  city.  The  lake  furnishes  the  only  break  in  the  spokes,  and  this 
seems  simply  to  have  pushed  a  few  spokes  together  on  each  shore.  See 
the  eighteen  trunk  lines,  exclusive  of  eastern  connections. 

Pass  round  the  circle,  and  view  their  numbers  and  extent.  There 
is  the  great  Northwestern,  with  all  its  branches,  one  branch  creeping 
along  the  lake  shore,  and  so  reaching  to  the  north,  into  the  Lake  Superior 
regions,  away  to  the  right,  and  on  to  the  Northern  Pacific  on  the  left, 
swinging  around  Green  Bay  for  iron  and  copper  and  silver,  twelve  months 
in  the  year,  and  reaching  out  for  the  wealth  of  the  great  agricultural 
belt  and  isothermal  line  traversed  by  the  Northern  Pacific.  Another 
branch,  not  so  far  north,  feeling  for  the  heart  of  the  Badger  State. 
Another  pushing  lower  down  tlie  Mississippi — all  these  make  many  con- 
nections, and  tapping  all  the  vast  wheat  regions  of  Minnesota,  Wisconsin, 
Iowa,  and  all  the  regions  this  side  of  sunset.  There  is  that  elegant  road, 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy,  running  out  a  goodly  number  of 


136 


HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 


OLD    FOET    DEARBORN,   1830. 


PEESENT    SITE    OF    J.AKK    .STUKET    llUllXiE,    CUICAGO,    IX 


1833. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   STATE  OF  ILLINOIS.  13T 

branches,  and  reaping  the  great  fields  this  side  of  the  Missouri  River. 
I  can  only  mention  the  Chicago,  Alton  &  St.  Louis,  our  Illinois  Central, 
described  elsewhere,  and  the  Chicago  &  Rock  Island.  Further  around 
we  come  to  the  lines  connecting  us  with  all  the  eastern  cities.  The 
Chicago,  Indianapolis  &,  St.  Louis,  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  & 
Chicago,  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  Southern,  and  the  Michigan  Cen- 
tral and  Great  Western,  give  us  many  highways  to  the  seaboard.  Thus  we 
reach  the  Mississippi  at  five  points,  from  St.  Paul  to  Cairo  and  the  Gulf 
itself  by  two  routes.  We  also  reach  Cincinnati  and  Baltimore,  and  Pitts- 
burgh and  Philadelphia,  and  New  York.  North  and  south  run  the  water 
courses  of  the  lakes  and  the  rivers,  broken  just  enough  at  this  point  to 
make  a  pass.  Through  this,  from  east  to  west,  run  the  long  lines  that 
stretch  from  ocean  to  ocean. 

This  is  the  neck  of  the  glass,  and  the  golden  sands  of  commerce 
must  pass  into  our  hands.  Altogether  we  have  more  than  10,000  miles 
of  railroad,  directly  tributary  to  this  city,  seeking  to  unload  their  wealth 
in  our  coffers.  All  these  roads  have  come  themselves  by  the  infallible 
instinct  of  capital.  Not  a  dollar  was  ever  given  by  the  city  to  secure 
one  of  them,  and  only  a  small  per  cent,  of  stock  taken  originally  by  her 
citizens,  and  that  taken  simply  as  an  investment.  Coming  in  the  natural 
order  of  events,  they  will  not  be  easily  diverted. 

There  is  still  another  showing  to  all  this.  The  connection  between 
New  York  and  San  Francisco  is  by  the  middle  route.  This  passes  inevit- 
ably through  Chicago.  St.  Louis  wants  the  Southern  Pacific  or  Kansas 
Pacific,  and  pushes  it  out  through  Denver,  and  so  on  up  to  Cheyenne. 
But  before  the  road  is  fairly  under  way,  the  Chicago  roads  shove  out  to 
Kansas  City,  making  even  the  Kansas  Pacific  a  feeder,  and  actually  leav- 
ing St.  Louis  out  in  the  cold.  It  is  not  too  much  to  expect  that  Dakota, 
Montana,  and  Washington  Territory  will  find  their  great  market  in  Chi- 
cago. 

But  these  are  not  all.  Perhaps  I  had  better  notice  here  the  ten  or 
fifteen  new  roads  that  have  just  entered,  or  are  just  entering,  our  city. 
Their  names  are  all  that  is  necessary  to  give.  Chicago  &  St.  Paul,  look- 
ing up  the  Red  River  country  to  the  British  possessions ;  the  Chicago, 
Atlantic  &  Pacific ;  the  Chicago,  Decatur  &  State  Line ;  the  Baltimore  & 
Ohio;  the  Chicago,  Danville  &  Vincennes;  the  Chicago  &  LaSalle  Rail- 
road ;  the  Chicago,  Pittsburgh  &  Cincinnati ;  the  Chicago  and  Canada 
Southern ;  the  Chicago  and  Illinois  River  Railroad.  These,  with  their 
connections,  and  with  the  new  connections  of  the  old  roads,  already  in 
process  of  erection,  give  to  Chicago  not  less  than  10,000  miles  of  new 
tributaries  from  the  richest  land  on  the  continent.  Thus  there  will  be 
added  to  the  reserve  power,  to  the  capital  within  reach  of  this  city,  not 
less  than  $1,000,000,000. 


138  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF  ILLINOIS. 

Add  to  all  this  transporting  power  the  ships  that  sail  one  every  nine 
minutes  of  the  business  hours  of  the  season  of  navigation ;  add,  also,  the 
canal  boats  that  leave  one  every  five  minutes  during  the  same  time — and 
you  will  see  something  of  the  business  of  the  city. 

THE  COMMERCE  OF  THIS  CITY 

has  been  leaping  along  to  keep  pace  with  the  growth  of  the  country 
around  us.  In  1852,  our  commerce  reached  the  hopeful  sum  of 
820,000,000.  In  1870  it  reached  1400,000,000.  In  1871  it  was  pushed 
up  above  $450,000,000.     And  in  1875  it  touched  nearly  double  that. 

One-half  of  our  imported  goods  come  directly  to  Chicago.  Grain 
enough  is  exported  directly  from  our  docks  to  the  old  world  to  employ  a 
semi-weekly  line  of  steamers  of  3,000  tons  capacity.  This  branch  is 
not  likely  to  be  greatly  developed.  Even  after  the  great  Welland  Canal 
is  completed  we  shall  have  only  fourteen  feet  of  water.  The  great  ocean 
vessels  will  continue  to  control  the  trade. 

The  banking  capital  of  Chicago  is  824,431,000.  Total  exchange  in 
1875,  $659,000,000.  Her  wholesale  business  in  1875  was  $294,000,000. 
The  rate  of  taxes  is  less  than  in  any  other  great  city. 

The  schools  of  Chicago  are  unsurpassed  in.  America.  Out  of  a  popu- 
lation of  300,000  there  were  only  186  persons  between  the  ages  of  six 
and  twenty-one  unable  to  read.     This  is  the  best  known  record. 

In  1831  the  mail  system  was  condensed  into  a  half-breed,  who  went 
on  foot  to  Niles,  Mich.,  once  in  two  weeks,  and  brought  back  what  papers 
and  news  he  could  find.     As  late  as  1840  there  was  often  only  one  mail^ 
a  week.     A  post-office  was  established  in  Chicago  in  1833,  and  the  post- 
master nailed  up  old  boot-legs  on  one  side  of  his  shop  to  serve  as  boxes j 
for  the  nabobs  and  literary  men. 

It  is  an  interesting  fact  in  the  growth  of  the  young  city  that  in  the 
active  life  of  the  business  men  of  that  day  the  mail  matter  has  grown  to 
a  daily  average  of  over  6,500  pounds.  It  speaks  equally  well  for  the 
intelligence  of  the  people  and  the  commercial  importance  of  the  place, ; 
that  the  mail  matter  distributed  to  the  territory  immediately  tributary  toi 
Chicago  is  seven  times  greater  than  that  distributed  to  the  territory 
immediately  tributary  to  St.  Louis. 

The  improvements  that  have  characterized  the  cit}^  are  as  startling, 
as  the  city  itself.     In  1831,  Mark  Beaubien  established  a  ferry  over  the 
river,  and  put  himself  under  bonds  to  carry  all  the  citizens  free  for  the 
privilege  of  charging  strangers.     Now  there  are  twenty-four  large  bridges  j 
and  two  tunnels. 

In  1833  the  government  expended  $30,000  on  the  harbor.     Then 
commenced  that  series  of  manoeuvers  with  the  river  that  has  made  it  one 


HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OP  H^LINOIS.  1'6'i) 

of  the  world's  curiosities.  It  used  to  wind  around  in  the  lower  end  of 
the  town,  and  make  its  way  rippling  over  the  sand  into  the  lake  at  the 
foot  of  Madison  street.  They  took  it  up  and  put  it  down  where  it  now 
is.  It  was  a  narrow  stream,  so  narrow  that  even  moderately  small  crafts 
had  to  go  up  through  the  willows  and  cat's  tails  to  the  point  near  Lake 
street  bridge,  and  back  up  one  of  the  branches  to  get  room  enough  in 
which  to  turn  around. 

In  1844  the  quagmires  in  the  streets  were  first  pontooned  by  plank 
roads,  which  acted  in  wet  weather  as  public  squirt-guns.  Keeping  you 
out  of  the  mud,  they  compromised  by  squirting  the  mud  over  you.  The 
wooden-block  pavements  came  to  Chicago  in  1857.  In  1840  water  was 
delivered  by  peddlers  in  carts  or  by  hand.  Then  a  twenty -five  horse- 
power engine  pushed  it  through  hollow  or  bored  logs  along  the  streets 
till  1854,  when  it  was  introduced  into  the  houses  by  new  works.  The 
first  fire-engine  was  used  in  1835,  and  the  first  steam  fire-engine  in  1859. 
Gas  was  utilized  for  lighting  the  city  in  1850.  The  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association  was  organized  in  1858,  and  horse  railroads  carried  them 
to  their  work  in  1859.  The  museum  was  opened  in  1863.  The  alarm 
telegraph  adopted  in  1864.  The  opera-house  built  in  1865.  The  city 
grew  from  560  acres  in  1833  to  23,000  in  1869.  In  1834,  the  taxes 
amounted  to  $48.90,  and  the  trustees  of  the  town  borrowed  $60  more  for 
opening  and  improving  streets.  In  1835,  the  legislature  authorized  a  loan 
of  $2,000,  and  the  treasurer  and  street  commissioners  resigned  rather  than 
plunge  the  town  into  such  a  gulf. 

Now  the  city  embraces  36  square  miles  of  territory,  and  has  30  miles 
of  water  front,  besides  the  outside  harbor  of  refuge,  of  400  acres,  inclosed 
by  a  crib  sea-wall.  One-third  of  the  city  lias  been  raised  up  an  average 
of  eight  feet,  giving  good  pitch  to  the  263  miles  of  sewerage.  The  water 
of  the  city  is  above  all  competition.  It  is  received  through  two  tunnels 
extending  to  a  crib  in  the  lake  two  miles  from  shore.  The  closest  analy- 
sis fails  to  detect  any  impurities,  and,  received  35  feet  below  the  surface, 
it  is  always  clear  and  cold.  The  first  tunnel  is  five  feet  two  inches  in 
diameter  and  two  miles  long,  and  can  deliver  50,000,000  of  gallons  per 
day.  The  second  tunnel  is  seven  feet  in  diameter  and  six  miles  long, 
running  four  miles  under  the  city,  and  can  deliver  100,000,000  of  gal- 
lons per  day.  This  water  is  distributed  through  410  miles  of  water- 
mains. 

The  three  grand  engineering  exploits  of  the  city  are :  First,  lifting 
the  city  up  on  jack-screws,  whole  squares  at  a  time,  without  interrupting 
the  business,  thus  giving  us  good  drainage  ;  second,  running  the  tunnels 
under  the  lake,  giving  us  the  best  water  in  the  world ;  and  third,  the 
turning  the  current  of  the  river  in  its  own  channel,  delivering  us  from  the 
old  abominations,  and  making  decency  possible.     They  redound  about 


140  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

equally  to  the  credit  of  the  engineering,  to  the  energy  of  the  people,  and 
to  the  health  of  the  city. 

That  which  really  constitutes  the  city,  its  indescribable  spirit,  its  soul, 
the  way  it  lights  up  in  every  feature  in  the  hour  of  action,  has  not  been 
touched.  In  meeting  strangers,  one  is  often  surprised  how  some  homely 
women  marry  so  well.  Their  forms  are  bad,  their  gait  uneven  and  awk- 
ward, their  complexion  is  dull,  their  features  are  misshapen  and  mismatch- 
ed, and  when  we  see  them  there  is  no  beauty  that  we  should  desire  them. 
But  when  once  they  are  aroused  on  some  subject,  they  put  on  new  pro- 
portions. They  light  up  into  great  power.  The  real  person  comes  out 
from  its  unseemly  ambush,  and  captures  us  at  will.  They  have  power. 
They  have  ability  to  cause  things  to  come  to  pass.  We  no  longer  wonder 
why  they  are  in  such  high  demand.     So  it  is  with  our  city. 

There  is  no  grand  scenery  except  the  two  seas,  one  of  water,  the 
other  of  prairie.  Nevertheless,  there  is  a  spirit  about  it,  a  push,  a  breadth, 
a  power,  that  soon  makes  it  a  place  never  to  be  forsaken.  One  soon 
ceases  to  believe  in  impossibilities.  Balaams  are  the  only  prophets  that  are 
disappointed.  The  bottom  that  has  been  on  the  point  of  falling  out  has 
been  there  so  long  that  it  has  grown  fast.  It  can  not  fall  out.  It  has  all 
the  capital  of  the  world  itching  to  get  inside  the  corporation. 

The  two  great  laws  that  govern  the  growth  and  size  of  cities  are, 
first,  the  amount  of  territory  for  which  they  are  the  distributing  and 
receiving  points  ;  second,  the  number  of  medium  or  moderate  dealers  that 
do  this  distributing.  Monopolists  build  up  themselves,  not  the  cities. 
They  neither  eat,  wear,  nor  live  in  proportion  to  their  business.  Both 
these  laws  help  Chicago. 

The  tide  of  trade  is  eastward — not  up  or  down  the  map,  but  across 
the  map.  The  lake  runs  up  a  wingdam  for  500  miles  to  gather  in  the 
business.  Commerce  can  not  ferry  up  there  for  seven  months  in  the  year, 
and  the  facilities  for  seven  months  can  do  the  work  for  twelve.  Then  the 
great  region  west  of  us  is  nearly  all  good,  productive  land.  Dropping 
south  into  the  trail  of  St.  Louis,  you  fall  into  vast  deserts  and  rocky  dis- 
tricts, useful  in  holding  the  world  together.  St.  Louis  and  Cincinnati, 
instead  of  rivaling  and  hurling  Chicago,  are  her  greatest  sureties  of 
dominion.  They  are  far  enough  away  to  give  sea-room, — farther  off  than 
Paris  is  from  London, — and  yet  they  are  near  enough  to  prevent  the 
springing  up  of  any  other  great  city  between  them. 

St.  Louis  will  be  helped  by  the  opening  of  the  Mississippi,  but  also 
hurt.  That  will  put  New  Orleans  on  her  feet,  and  with  a  railroad  running 
over  into  Texas  and  so  West,  she  will  tap  the  streams  that  now  crawl  up 
the  Texas  and  Missouri  road.  The  current  is  East,  not  North,  and  a  sea- 
port at  New  Orleans  can  not  permanently  help  St.  Louis. 

Chicago  is  in  the  field  almost  alone,  to  handle  the  wealth  of  one- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF  ILLINOIS.  141 

fourth  of  the  territory  of  this  great  republic.  This  strip  of  seacoast 
divides  its  margins  between  Portland,  Boston,  New  York,  Philadelphia, 
Baltimore  and  Savannah,  or  some  other  great  port  to  be  created  for  the 
South  in  the  next  decade.  But  Chicago  has  a  dozen  empires  casting  their 
treasures  into  her  lap.  On  a  bed  of  coal  that  can  run  all  the  machinery 
of  the  world  for  500  centuries ;  in  a  garden  that  can  feed  the  race  by  the 
thousand  years ;  at  the  head  of  the  lakes  that  give  her  a  temperature  as  a 
summer  resort  equaled  by  no  great  city  in  the  land ;  with  a  climate  that 
insures  the  health  of  her  citizens ;  surrounded  by  all  the  great  deposits 
of  natural  wealth  in  mines  aud  forests  and  herds,  Chicago  is  the  wonder 
of  to-day,  and  will  be  the  city  of  the  future. 

MASSACRE  AT  FORT  DEARBORN. 

During  the  war  of  1812,  Fort  Dearborn  became  the  theater  of  stirring 
events.  The  garrison  consisted  of  fifty-four  men  under  command  of 
Captain  Nathan  Heald,  assisted  by  Lieutenant  Helm  (son-in-law  of  Mrs. 
Kinzie)  and  Ensign  Ronan.  Dr.  Voorhees  was  surgeon.  The  only  resi- 
dents at  the  post  at  that  time  were  the  wives  of  Captain  Heald  and  Lieu- 
tenant Helm,  and  a  few  of  the  soldiers,  Mr.  Kinzie  and  his  family,  and 
a  few  Canadian  voyageurs^  with  their  wives  and  children.  The  soldiers 
.and  Mr.  Kinzie  were  on  most  friendly  terms  with  the  Pottawattamies 
and  Winnebagos,  the  principal  tribes  around  them,  but  they  could  not 
win  them  from  their  attachment  to  the  British. 

One  evening  in  April,  1812,  Mr.  Kinzie  sat  playing  on  his  violin  and 
his  children  were  dancing  to  the  music,  when  Mrs.  Kinzie  came  rushing 
into  the  house,  pale  with  terror,  and  exclaiming:  "The  Indians!  the 
Indians!"  "What?  Where?"  eagerly  inquired  Mr.  Kinzie.  "Up 
at  Lee's,  killing  and  scalping,"  answered  the  frightened  mother,  who, 
when  the  alarm  was  given,  was  attending  Mrs.  Barnes  (just  confined) 
living  not  far  off.  Mr.  Kinzie  and  his  family  crossed  the  river  and  took 
refuge  in  the  fort,  to  which  place  Mrs.  Barnes  and  her  infant  not  a  day 
old  were  safely  conveyed.  The  rest  of  the  inhabitants  took  shelter  in  the 
fort.  This  alarm  was  caused  by  a  scalping  party  of  Winnebagos,  who 
hovered  about  the  fort  several  days,  when  they  disappeared,  and  for  several 
weeks  the  inhabitants  were  undisturbed. 

On  the  7th  of  August,  1812,  General  Hull,  at  Detroit,  sent  orders  to 
Captain  Heald  to  evacuate  Fort  Dearborn,  and  to  distribute  all  the  United 
States  property  to  the  Indians  in  the  neighborhood — a  most  insane  order. 
The  Pottawattamie  chief,  who  brought  the  dispatch,  had  more  wisdom 
than  the  commanding  general.  He  advised  Captain  Heald  not  to  make 
the  distribution.  Said  he  :  "  Leave  the  fort  and  stores  as  they  are,  and 
let  the  Indians  make  distribution  for  themselves ;  and  while  they  are 
engaged  in  the  business,  the  white  people  may  escape  to  Fort  Wayne." 


HISTORY   OF  THE  STATE  OF   ILLINOIS.  143 

Captain  Heald  held  a  council  with  the  Indians  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  12th,  in  which  his  officers  refused  to  join,  for  they  had  been  informed 
that  treachery  was  designed — that  the  Indians  intended  to  murder  the 
white  people  in  the  council,  and  then  destroy  those  in  the  fort.  Captain 
Heald,  however,  took  the  precaution  to  open  a  port-hole  displaying  a 
cannon  pointing  directly  upon  the  council,  and  by  that  means  saved 
his  life. 

Mr.  Kinzie,  who  knew  the  Indians  well,  begged  Captain  Heald  not 
to  confide  in  their  promises,  nor  distribute  the  arms  and  munitions  among 
them,  for  it  would  only  put  power  into  their  hands  to  destroy  the  whites. 
Acting  upon  this  advice,  Heald  resolved  to  withhold  the  munitions  of 
wai- ;  and  on  the  night  of  the  13th,  after  the  distribution  of  the  other 
property  had  been  made,  the  powder,  ball  and  liquors  were  thrown  into 
thfe  river,  the  muskets  broken  up  and  destroyed. 

Black  Partridge,  a  friendly  chief,  came  to  Captain  Heald,  and  said : 
"  Linden  birds  have  been  singing  in  my  ears  to-day :  be  careful  on  the 
march  you  are  going  to  take."  On  that  dark  night  vigilant  Indians  had 
crept  near  the  fort  and  discovered  the  destruction  of  their  promised  booty 
going  on  within.  The  next  morning  the  powder  was  seen  floating  on  the 
surface  of  the  river.  The  savages  were  exasperated  and  made  loud  com- 
plaints and  threats. 

On  the  following  day  when  preparations  were  making  to  leave  the 
fort,  and  all  the  inmates  were  deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  impend- 
ing danger,  Capt.  Wells,  an  uncle  of  Mrs.  Heald,  was  discovered  upon 
the  Indian  trail  among  the  sand-hills  on  the  borders  of  the  lake,  not  far 
distant,  with  a  band  of  mounted  Miamis,  of  whose  tribe  he  was  chief, 
having  been  adopted  by  the  famous  Miami  warrior.  Little  Turtle.  When 
news  of  Hull's  surrender  reached  Fort  Wayne,  he  had  started  with  this 
force  to  assist  Heald  in  defending  Fort  Dearborn.  He  was  too  late. 
Every  means  for  its  defense  had  been  destroyed  the  night  before,  and 
arrangements  were  made  for  leaving  the  fort  on  the  morning  of  the  15th. 

It  was  a  warm  bright  morning  in  the  middle  of  August.  Indications 
were  positive  that  the  savages  intended  to  murder  the  white  people ;  and 
when  they  moved  out  of  the  southern  gate  of  the  fort,  the  march  was 
like  a  funeral  procession.  The  band,  feeling  the  solemnity  of  the  occa- 
sion, struck  up  the  Dead  March  in  Saul. 

Capt.  Wells,  who  had  blackened  his  face  with  gun-powder  in  token 
of  his  fate,  took  the  lead  with  his  band  of  Miamis,  followed  by  Capt. 
Heald,  with  his  wife  by  his  side  on  horseback.  Mr.  Kinzie  hoped  by  his 
personal  influence  to  avert  the  impending  blow,  and  therefore  accompanied 
them,  leaving  his  family  in  a  boat  in  charge  of  a  friendly  Indian,  to  be 
taken  to  his  trading  station  at  the  site  of  Niles,  Michigan,  in  the  event  ot 
his  death. 


144 


HISTOKY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 


HISTORY  OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS.  145 

The  procession  moved  slowly  along  the  lake  shore  till  they  reached 
the  sand-hills  between  the  prairie  and  the  beach,  when  the  Pottawattamie 
escort,  under  the  leadership  of  Blackbird,  filed  to  the  right,  placing  those 
hills  between  them  and  the  white  people.  Wells,  with  his  Miamis,  had 
kept  in  the  advance.  They  suddenly  came  rushing  back.  Wells  exclaim- 
ing, "  They  are  about  to  attack  us ;  form  instantly."  These  words  were 
quickly  followed  by  a  storm  of  bullets,  which  came  whistling  over  the 
little  hills  which  the  treacherous  savages  had  made  the  covert  for  their 
murderous  attack.  The  white  troops  charged  upon  the  Indians,  drove 
them  back  to  the  prairie,  and  then  the  battle  was  waged  between  fifty- 
four  soldiers,  twelve  civilians  and  three  or  four  women  (the  cowardly 
Miamis  having  fled  at  the  outset)  against  five  hundred  Indian  warriors. 
The  white  people,  hopeless,  resolved  to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible. 
Ensign  Ronan  wielded  his  weapon  vigorously,  even  after  falling  upon  his 
knees  weak  from  the  loss  of  blood.  Capt.  Wells,  who  was  by  the  side  of 
his  niece,  Mrs.  Heald,  when  the  conflict  began,  behaved  with  the  srreatest 
coolness  and  courage.  He  said  to  her,  "  We  have  not  the  slightest  chance 
for  life.  We  must  part  to  meet  no  more  in  this  world.  God  bless  you." 
And  then  he  dashed  forward.  Seeing  a  young  warrior,  painted  like  a 
demon,  climb  into  a  wagon  in  which  were  twelve  children,  and  tomahawk 
them  all,  he  cried  out,  unmindful  of  his  personal  danger,  "  If  that  is  your 
game,  butchering  women  and  children,  I  will  kill  too."  He  spurred  his 
horse  towards  the  Indian  camp,  where  they  had  left  their  squaws  and 
papooses,  hotly  pursued  by  swift-footed  young  warriors,  who  sent  bullets 
whistling  after  him.  One  of  these  killed  his  horse  and  wounded  him 
severely  in  the  leg.  With  a  yell  the  young  braves  rushed  to  make  him 
their  prisoner  and  reserve  him  for  torture.  He  resolved  not  to  be  made 
a  captive,  and  by  the  use  of  the  most  provoking  epithets  tried  to  induce 
them  to  kill  him  instantly.  He  called  a  fiery  young  chief  a  squaw,  when 
the  enraged  warrior  killed  Wells  instantly  with  his  tomahawk,  jumped 
upon  his  body,  cut  out  his  heart,  and  ate  a  portion  of  the  warm  morsel 
with  savage  delight ! 

In  this  fearful  combat  women  bore  a  conspicuous  part.  Mrs.  Heald 
was  an  excellent  equestrian  and  an  expert  in  the  use  of  the  rifle.  She 
fought  the  savages  bravely,  receiving  several  severe  wounds.  Though 
faint  from  the  loss  of  blood,  she  managed  to  keep  her  saddle.  A  savage 
raised  his  tomahawk  to  kill  her,  when  she  looked  him  full  in  the  face, 
and  with  a  sweet  smile  and  in  a  gentle  voice  said,  in  his  own  language, 
"  Surely  you  will  not  kill  a  squaw  !  "  The  arm  of  the  savage  fell,  and 
the  life  of  the  heroic  woman  was  saved. 

Mrs.  Helm,  the  step-daughter  of  Mr.  Kinzie,  had  an  encounter  with 
a  stout  Indian,  who  attempted  to  tomahawk  her.  Springing  to  one  side, 
she  received  the  glancing  blow  on  her  shoulder,  and  at  the  same  instant 


146  HISTORY   OF  THE  STATE  OF   ILLINOIS. 

seized  the  savage  round  the  neck  with  her  arms  and  endeavored  to  get 
hold  of  his  scalping  knife,  which  hung  in  a  sheath  at  his  breast.  While 
she  was  thus  struggling  she  was  dragged  from  her  antagonist  by  anothei 
powerful  Indian,  who  bore  her,  in  spite  of  her  struggles,  to  the  margin 
of  the  lake  and  plunged  her  in.  To  her  astonishment  she  was  held  by 
him  so  that  she  would  not  drown,  and  she  soon  perceived  that  she  was 
in  the  hands  of  the  friendly  Black  Partridge,  who  had  saved  her  life. 

The  wife  of  Sergeant  Holt,  a  large  and  powerful  woman,  behaved  as 
bravely  as  an  Amazon.  She  rode  a  fine,  high-spirited  horse,  which  the 
Indians  coveted,  and  several  of  them  attacked  her  with  the  butts  of  their 
guns,  for  the  purpose  of  dismounting  her ;  but  she  used  the  sword  which 
she  had  snatched  from  her  disabled  husband  so  skillfully  that  she  foiled 
them ;  and,  suddenly  wheeling  her  horse,  she  dashed  over  the  prairie, 
followed  by  the  savages  shouting,  "  The  brave  woman  !  the  brave  woman  ! 
Don't  hurt  her !  "  They  finally  overtook  her,  and  while  she  was  fighting 
them  in  front,  a  powerful  savage  came  up  behind  her,  seized  her  by  the 
neck  and  dragged  her  to  the  ground.  Horse  and  woman  were  made 
captives.  Mrs.  Holt  was  a  long  time  a  captive  among  the  Indians,  but 
was  afterwards  ransomed. 

In  this  sharp  conflict  two-thirds  of  the  white  people  were  slain  and 
wounded,  and  all  their  horses,  baggage  and  provision  were  lost.  Only 
twenty-eight  straggling  men  now  remained  to  fight  five  hundred  Indians 
rendered  furious  b}^  the  sight  of  blood.  They  succeeded  in  breaking 
through  the  ranks  of  the  murderers  and  gaining  a  slight  eminence  on  the 
prairie  near  the  Oak  Woods.  The  Indians  did  not  pursue,  but  gathered 
on  their  Hanks,  while  the  chiefs  lield  a  consultation  on  the  sand-hills,  and 
showed  signs  of  willingness  to  parley.  It  would  have  been  madness  on 
the  part  of  the  whites  to  renew  the  fight ;  and  so  Capt.  Heald  weiit  for- 
ward and  met  Blackbird  on  the  open  prairie,  where  terms  of  surrender 
were  soon  agreed  upon.  It  was  arranged  that  the  white  people  should 
give  up  their  arms  to  Blackbird,  and  that  the  survivors  should  become 
prisoners  of  war,  to  be  exchanged  for  ransoms  as  soon  as  practicable. 
With  this  understanding  captives  and  captors  started  for  the  Indian 
camp  near  the  fort,  to  which  Mrs.  Helm  had  been  taken  bleeding  and 
suffering  by  Black  Partridge,  and  had  met  her  step-father  and  learned 
that  her  husband  was  safe. 

A  new  scene  of  horror  was  now  opened  at  the  Indian  camp.  The 
wounded,  not  being  included  in  tlie  terms  of  surrender,  as  it  was  inter- 
preted by  the  Indians,  and  the  British  general.  Proctor,  having  offered  a 
liberal  bounty  for  American  scalps,  delivered  at  Maiden,  nearly  all  the 
wounded  men  were  killed  and  scalped,  and  the  price  of  the  trophies  was 
afterwards  paid  by  the  British  government. 


HISTORY    OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 


149 


SHABBONA. 


[This  was  engraved  from  a  daguerreotype,  taken  when  Shabbona  was  83  years  old.] 


This  celebrated  Indian  chief,  whose  portrait  appears  in  this  work,  deserves 
more  than  a  passing  notice.  Although  Shabbona  was  not  so  conspicuous  as 
Tecumseh  or  Black  Hawk,  yet  in  point  of  merit  he  was  superior  to  either 
oi  them. 

Shabbona  was  born  at  an  Indian  village  on  the  Kankakee  River,  now  in 
Will  County,  about  the  year  1775.  While  young  he  was  made  chief  of  the 
band,  and  went  to  Shabbona  Grove,  now  DeKalb  County,  where  they  were 
found  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  county. 

In  the  war  of  1812,  Shabbona,  with  his  warriors,  joined  Tecumseh,  was 


150  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   H^LTNOIS. 

aid  to  that  great  chief,  and  stood  by  his  side  when  he  fell  at  the  battle  of 
the  Thames.  At  the  time  of  the  Winnebago  war,  in  1827,  he  visited  almost 
every  village  among  the  Pottawatomies,  and  by  his  persuasive  arguments 
prevented  them  from  taking  part  in  the  war.  By  request  of  the  citizens 
of  Chicago,  Shabbona,  accompanied  l)y  Billy  Caldwell  (Sauganash),  visited 
Big  Foot's  village  at  Geneva  Lake,  in  order  to  pacify  the  warriors,  as  fears 
were  entertained  that  they  were  about  to  raise  the  tomahawk  against  the 
whites.  He]'e  Shabbona  was  taken  prisoner  by  Big  Foot,  and  his  life 
threatened,  but  on  the  following  day  was  set  at  libert}'.  From  that  time 
the  Indians  (thi'ough  reproach)  styled  him  "  the  white  man's  friend," 
and  man}'  times  his  life  was  endangered. 

Before  the  Black  Hawk  war,  Shabbona  met  in  council  at  two  differ- 
ent times,  and  by  his  influence  prevented  his  people  from  taking  j^art  with 
the  Sacs  and  Foxes.  After  the  death  of  Black  Partridge  and  Senachwine, 
no  chief  among  the  Pottawatomies  exerted  so  much  influence  as  Shabbona. 
Black  Hawk,  aware  of  this  influence,  visited  him  at  two  different  times,  in 
order  to  enlist  him  in  his  cause,  but  was  unsuccessful.  While  Black  Hawk 
was  a  prisoner  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  he  said,  had  it  not  been  for  Shabbona 
the  wliole  Pottawatomie  nation  would  have  joined  his  standard,  and  he 
could  have  continued  the  war  for  years. 

To  Shabbona  many  of  the  early  settlers  of  Illinois  owe  the  pres- 
ervation of  their  lives,  for  it  is  a  well-known  fact,  had  he  not  notified  the 
people  of  their  danger,  a  large  portion  of  them  would  have  fallen  victims 
to  the  tomahawk  of  savages.  By  saving  the  lives  of  whites  he  endangered 
■  his  own,  for  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  threatened  to  kill  him,  and  made  two 
attempts  to  execute  their  threats.  They  killed  Pypeogee,  his  son,  and 
Pyps,  his  nephew,  and  hunted  him  down  as  though  he  was  a  wild  beast. 

Shabbona  had  a  reservation  of  two  sections  of  land  at  his  Grove,  but 
by  leaving  it  and  going  west  for  a  short  time,  the  Government  declared 
the  reservation  focfeited,  and  sold  it  the  same  as  other  vacant  land.  On 
Shabbona's  return,  and  finding  his  possessions  gone,  he  was  very  sad  and 
broken  down  inspirit,  and  left  the  Grove  for  ever.  The  citizens  of  Ottawa 
raised  money  and  bought  him  a  tract  of  land  on  the  Illinois  River,  above 
Seneca,  in  Grundy  County,  on  wliich  they  built  a  house,  and  supplied 
him  Avith  means  to  live  on.  He  lived  here  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
on  the  17th  of  July,  1859,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  and  was 
buried  with  great  pomp  in  the  cemetery  at  Morris.  His  squaw,  Pokanoka, 
was  drowned  in  Mazen  Creek,  Grundy  County,  on  the  30th  of  November, 
1864,  and  was  buried  by  his  side. 

In  1861  subscriptions  were  taken  up  in  many  of  the  river  towns,  to 
erect  a  monument  over  the  remains  of  Shabbona,  but  the  war  breaking 
out,  the  enterprise  was  abandoned.  Only  a  plain  marble  slab  marks  the 
resting-place  of  this  friend  of  the  white  man. 


Abstract  of    Illinois    State  Laws. 


BILLS  OF  EXCHANGE  AND  PROMISSORY  NOTES. 

No  promissory  note^  checTc,  drafts  hill  of  exchange,  order,  or  note,  negO" 
tiable  instrument  payable  at  sight,  or  on  demand,  or  on  presentment,  shall 
be  entitled  to  days  of  grace.  All  other  hills  of  exchange,  drafts  or  notes  are 
entitled  to  three  days  of  grace.  All  the  above  mentioned  paper  falling 
due  on  Sunday,  New  Years''  Day,  the  Fourth  of  July,  Christmas,  or  any 
day  appointed  or  recommended  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  or 
the  Gfovernor  of  the  State  as  a  day  of  fast  or  thanksgiving,  shall  be  deemed 
as  due  on  the  day  previous,  and  should  two  or  more  of  these  days  come 
together,  then  such  instrument  shall  be  treated  as  due  on  the  day  previous 
to  the  first  of  said  days.  JVo  defense  can  be  made  against  a  negotiahle 
instrument  (^assigned  before  due')  in  the  hands  of  the  assignee  without 
notice,  except  fraud  was  used  in  obtaining  the  same.  To  hold  an  indorser, 
due  diligence  must  be  iised  hy  suit,  in  collecting  of  the  maker,  unless  suit 
would  have  been  unavailing.  Notes  payable  to  person  named  or  to  order, 
in  order  to  absolutely  transfer  title,  must  be  indorsed  by  the  payee.  Notes 
payable  to  bearer  may  be  transferred  hy  delivery,  and  when  so  payable 
every  indorser  thereon  is  held  as  a  guarantor  of  payment  unless  otherwise 
expressed. 

In  computing  interest  or  discount  on  negotiable  instruments,  a  month 
shall  be  considered  a  calendar  month  or  twelfth  of  a  year,  and  for  less 
than  a  month,  a  day  shall  be  figured  a  thirtieth  part  of  a  month.  Notes 
only  bear  interest  when  so  expressed,  but  after  due  they  draw  the  legal 
interest,  even  if  not  stated. 

INTEREST. 

The  legal  rate  of  interest  is  six  per  cent.  Parties  may  agree  in  writ- 
ing on  a  rate  not  exceeding  ten  per  cent.  If  a  rate  of  interest  greater 
than  ten  per  cent,  is  contracted  for,  it  works  a  forfeiture  of  the  whole  of 
said  interest,  and  only  the  principal  can  be  recovered. 

DESCENT. 

When  no  will  is  made,  the  property  of  a  deceased  person  is  distrib- 
uted as  follows : 


152  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS. 

First.  To  his  or  her  children  and  their  descendants  in  equal  parts  ; 
the  descendants  of  the  deceased  child  or  grandchild  taking  the  share  of 
their  deceased  parents  in  equal  parts  among  them. 

Second.  Where  there  is  no  child,  nor  descendant  of  such  child,  and 
no  widow  or  surviving  husband,  then  to  the  parents,  brothers  and  sisters 
of  the  deceased,  and  their  descendants,  in  equal  parts,  the  surviving 
parent,  if  either  be  dead,  taking  a  double  portion  ;  and  if  there  is  no 
parent  living,  then  to  the  brothers  and  sisters  of  the  intestate  and  their 
descendants. 

Third.  When  there  is  a  widow  or  surviving  husband^  and  no  child  or 
children^  or  descendants  of  the  same,  then  one-half  of  the  real  estate  and 
the  whole  of  the  personal  estate  shall  descend  to  such  widow  or  surviving 
husband,  absolutely,  and  the  other  half  of  the  real  estate  shall  descend  as 
in  other  cases  where  there  is  no  child  or  children  or  descendants  of  the 
same. 

Fourth.  When  there  is  a  widow  or  surviving  husband  and  also  a  child 
or  children.,  or  descendants  of  the  latter,  then  one  third  of  all  the  personal 
estate  to  the  ividow  or  surviving  husbarid  absolutely. 

Fifth.  If  there  is  no  child,  parent,  brother  or  sister,  or  descendants  of 
either  of  them,  and  no  widow  or  surviving  husband,  then  in  equal  parts 
to  the  next  of  kin  to  the  intestate  in  equal  degree.  Collaterals  shall  not 
be  represented  except  with  the  descendants  of  brothers  and  sisters  of  the 
intestate,  and  there  shall  be  no  distinction  between  kindred  of  the  whole 
and  the  half  blood. 

Sixth.  If  any  intestate  leaves  a  ividoiv  or  surviving  husband  and  no 
kindred,  then  to  such  widoio  or  surviving  husband  ;  and  if  there  is  no  such 
widow  or  surviving  husband,  it  shall  escheat  to  and  vest  in  the  county 
where  the  same,  or  the  greater  portion  thereof,  is  situated. 

WILLS  AND  ESTATES  OF  DECEASED  PERSONS. 

No  exact  form  of  words  are  necessary  in  order  to  make  a  will  good  at 
law.  Every  male  person  of  the  age  of  tiventy-one  years,  and  qyqvj  female 
of  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  of  sound  mind  and  memory,  can  make  a  valid 
will ;  it  must  be  in  ivriting,  signed  by  the  testator  or  by  some  one  in  his 
or  her  presence  and  by  his  or  her  direction,  and  attested  by  two  or  more 
credible  witnesses.  Oare  should  be  taken  that  the  tvitnesses  are  not  inter- 
ested in  the  will.  Persons  knoiving  themselves  to  have  been  named  in  the 
will  or  appointed  executor,  must  within  thirty  days  of  the  death  of 
deceased  cause  the  will  to  be  proved  and  recorded  in  the  proper  county, 
or  present  it,  and  refuse  to  accept;  on  failure  to  do  so  are  liable  to  forfeit 
the  sura  of  twenty  dollars  per  month.  Inventory  to  be  made  by  executor 
or  administrator  within  three  months  from  date  of  letters  testamentary  or 


ABSTRACT    OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS.  153 

of  administration.  Executors'  and  administrators'  compensation  not  to 
exceed  six  per  cent,  on  amount  of  personal  estate,  and  three  per  cent, 
on  money  realized  from  real  estate,  with  such  additional  allowance  a? 
shall  be  reasonable  for  extra  services.  Appraisers'  compensation  $2  pei" 
day. 

Notice  requiring  all  claims  to  be  presented  against  the  estate  shall  b^ 
given  by  the  executor  or  administrator  within  six  months  of  being  quali- 
fied. Any  person  having  a  claim  a7id  7iot  presenting  it  at  the  time  fixed 
by  said  notice  is  required  to  have  summons  issued  notifying  the  executor 
or  administrator  of  his  having  filed  his  claim  in  court ;  in  such  cases  the 
costs  have  to  be  paid  by  the  claimant.  Claims  should  be  filed  within  two 
years  from  the  time  administration  is  granted  on  an  estate,  as  after  that 
time  they  are  forever  barred^  unless  other  estate  is  found  that  was  not  in- 
ventoried. Married  women^  infants^  persons  insane,  imprisoned  or  without 
the  United  States,  in  the  employment  of  the  United  States,  or  of  this 
State,  have  two  years  after  their  disabilities  are  removed  to  file  claims. 

Claims  are  classified  and  ^a«t?  out  of  the  estate  in  the  following  manner: 

First.     Funeral  expenses. 

Second.  The  widow's  aivard,  if  there  is  a  widow  ;  or  children  if  there 
are  children,  and  no  widow. 

Third.  Expenses  attending  the  last  illness,  not  including  physician's 
bill. 

Fourth.     Debts  due  the  common  school  or  township  fund . 

Fifth.  All  expenses  of  proving  the  will  and  taking  out  letters  testa- 
mentary or  administration,  and  settlement  of  the  estate,  and  the  physi- 
cian s  bill  in  the  last  illness  of  deceased. 

Sixth.  Where  the  deceased  has  received  money  in  trust  for  any  pur- 
pose, his  executor  or  administrator  shall  pay  out  of  his  estate  the  amount 
received  and  not  accounted  for. 

Seventh.  All  other  debts  and  demands  of  whatsoever  kind,  without 
regard  to  quality  or  dignity,  which  shall  be  exhibited  to  the  court  within 
two  years  from  the  granting  of  letters. 

Aivard  to  Widow  and  Children,  exclusive  of  debts  and  legacies  or  be- 
quests, except  funeral  expenses : 

First.  The  family  pictures  and  wearing  apparel,  jewels  and  ornaments 
of  herself  and  minor  children. 

Second.     School  books  and  the  family  library  of  the  value  of  $100. 

Third.      One  sewing  machine. 

Fourth.     Necessary  beds,  bedsteads  and  bedding  for  herself  and  family. 

Fifth.  The  stoves  and  pipe  used  in  the  family,  with  the  necessary 
cooking  utensils,  or  in  case  they  have  none,  $50  in  money. 

Sixth.     Household  and  kitchen  furniture  to  the  value  of  $100. 

Seventh.      One  milch  cow  and  calf  for  every  four  members  of  her  family. 


154  ABSTRACT   OF    ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS. 

Eighth.  Two  sheep  for  each  member  of  her  family,  and  the  fleeces 
taken  from  the  same,  and  one  horse,  saddle  and  bridle. 

Ninth.     Provisions  for  herself  and  family  for  one  year. 

Tenth.     Food  for  the  stock  above  specified  fo-r  six  months. 

Eleventh.     Fuel  for  herself  and  family  for  three  months. 

Twelfth.  One  hundred  dollars  worth  of  other  property  suited  to  her 
condition  in  life,  to  be  selected  by  the  widoiv. 

The  tvidoiv  if  she  elects  may  have  in  lieu  of  the  said  award,  the  same 
personal  property  or  money  in  place  thereof  as  is  or  may  be  exempt  from, 
execution  or  attachment  against  the  head  of  a  family. 

TAXES. 

The  owners  of  real  and  personal  property,  on  the  first  day  of  May  in 
each  year,  are  liable  for  the  taxes  thereon. 

Assessments  should  be  completed  before  the  fourth  Monday  in  June., 
at  which  time  the  town  board  of  review  meets  to  examine  assessments, 
hear  objections.,  and  make  such  changes  as  ought  to  be  made.  The  county 
board  have  also  power  to  correct  or  change  assessmerits. 

The  tax  books  are  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  town  collector  on  or 
before  the  tenth  day  of  December,  who  retains  them  until  the  tenth  day 
of  March  following,  when  he  is  required  to  return  them  to  the  county 
treasurer,  who  then  collects  all  delinquent  taxes. 

No  costs  accrue  on  real  estate  taxes  till  advertised,  which  takes  place 
the  first  day  of  April,  when  three  weeks'  notice  is  required  before  judg- 
ment. Cost  of  advertising,  twenty  cents  each  tract  of  land,  and  ten  cents 
each  lot. 

Judgment  is  usually  obtained  at  May  term  of  County  Court.  Costs 
six  cents  each  tract  of  land,  and  five  cents  each  lot.  Sale  takes  place  in 
June.  Costs  in  addition  to  those  before  mentioned,  twenty-eight  cents 
each  tract  of  land,  and  twenty-seven  cents  each  town  lot. 

Meal  estate  sold  for  taxes  may  be  redeemed  any  time  before  the  expi- 
ration of  two  years  from  the  date  of  sale,  by  payment  to  the  County  Clerk 
of  the  amount  for  which  it  was  sold  and  twenty-five  per  cent,  thereon  if 
redeemed  within  six  months,  fifty  per  cent,  if  between  six  and  twelve 
months,  if  between  twelve  and  eighteen  months  seventy-five  per  cent., 
and  if  between  eighteen  months  and  two  years  one  hundred  per  cent.,, 
and  in  addition,  all  subsequent  taxes  paid  by  the  purchaser,  with  ten  per 
cent,  interest  thereon,  also  one  dollar  each  tract  if  notice  is  given  by  the 
purchaser  of  the  sale,  and  a  fee  of  twenty-five  cents  to  the  clerk  for  his 
certificate. 

JURISDICTION  OF  COURTS. 

Justices  have  jurisdiction  in  all  civil  cases  on  contracts  for  the  recovery 
of  moneys  for  damages  for  injury  to  real  property,  or  taking,  detaining,  or 


ABSTRACT   OF  ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS.  155 

injuring  personal  property  ;  for  rent;  for  all  cases  to  recover  damages  done 
real  or  personal  property*  by  railroad  companies,  in  actions  of  replevin,  and 
in  actions  for  damages  for  fraud  in  the  sale,  pturchase,  or  exchange  of  per- 
gonal property,  when  the  amount  claimed  as  due  is  not  over  8200.  They 
have  also  jurisdiction  in  all  cases  for  violation  of  the  ordinances  of  cities, 
toivns  or  villages.  A  justice  of  the  peace  may  orally  order  an  officer  or  a 
private  person  to  arrest  any  one  committing  or  attempting  to  commit  a 
criminal  offense.  He  also  upon  complaint  can  issue  his  warrant  for  the 
■arrest  of  any  person  accused  of  having  committed  a  crime,  and  have  him 
brought  before  him  for  examination. 

COUNTY  COURTS 

Have  jurisdiction  in  all  matters  of  probate  (except  in  counties  having  a 
population  of  one  hundred  thousand  or  over),  settlement  of  estates  of 
deceased  persons,  appointment  of  guardians  and  conservators,  and  settle- 
ment of  their  accounts  ;  all  matters  relating  to  apprentices  ;  proceedings 
for  the  collection  of  taxes  and  assessments,  and  in  proceedings  of  executors^ 
■administrators,  guardians  and  conservators  for  the  sale  of  real  estate.  In 
law  cases  they  have  concurrent  jurisdiction  with  Circuit  Courts  in  all 
cases  where  justices  of  the  peace  now  have,  or  hereafter  may  have, 
jurisdiction  when  the  amount  claimed  shall  not  exceed  81,000,  and  in  all 
criminal  offenses  where  the  punishment  is  not  imprisonynent  in  the  peni- 
tentiary, or  death,  and  in  all  cases  of  appeals  from  justices  of  the  peace 
and  police  magistrates;  excepting  when  the  county  judge  is  sitting  as  a 
justice  of  the  peace.     Circuit  Courts  have  unlimited  jurisdiction. 

LIMITATION  OF  ACTION. 

Accounts  jive  years.  Notes  and  written  contracts  ten  years.  Judg- 
ments twenty  years.  Partial  payments  or  new  promise  in  writing,  within 
or  after  said  period,  wiMrevive  the  debt.  Absence  from  the  State  deducted, 
and  when  the  cause  of  action  is  barred  by  the  law  of  another  State,  it  has 
the  same  effect  here.  Slander  and  libel,  one  year.  Personal  injm-ies,  two 
years.  To  recover  land  or  make  entry  thereon,  tiventy  years.  Action  to 
foreclose  mortgage  or  trust  deed,  or  make  a  sale,  within  ten  years. 

All  persons  in  possession  of  land,  and  paying  taxes  for  seven  consecu- 
tive years,  with  color  of  title,  and  all  persons  paying  taxes  for  seven  con- 
secutive years,  with  color  of  title,  on  vacant  land,  shall  be  held  to  be  the 
legal  owners  to  the  extent  of  their  paper  title. 

MARRIED  WOMEN 

JMfay  sue  and  be  sued.  Husband  and  wife  not  liable  for  each  other^s  debts^ 
either  before  or  after  marriage,  but  both  are  liable  for  expenses  and  edu- 
cation of  the  family. 

4 


156  ABSTRACT   OF    ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS. 

She  may  contract  the  same  as  if  unmarried^  except  that  in  a  partner- 
ship business  she  can  not,  without  consent  of  her  husband,  unless  he  has 
abandoned  or  deserted  her,  or  is  idiotic  or  insane,  or  confined  in  peniten- 
tiary ;  she  is  entitled  and  can  recover  her  own  earnings,  but  neither  hus- 
band nor  wife  is  entitled  to  compensation  for  any  services  rendertjd  for  the 
other.  At  the  death  of  the  husband,  in  addition  to  widow's  award,  a 
married  woman  has  a  dower  interest  (one-third)  in  all  real  estate  owned 
by  her  husband  after  their  marriage,  and  which  has  not  been  released  by 
her,  and  the  husband  has  the  same  interest  in  the  real  estate  of  the  wife 
at  her  death. 

EXEMPTIONS  FROM  FORCED  SALE. 

Home  tvorth  $1,000,  and  the  following  Personal  Property  :  Lot  of  ground! 
and  buildings  thereon,  occupied  as  a  residence  by  the  debtor,  being  a  house- 
holder and  having  a  family,  to  the  value  of  $1,000.     Exemption  continues 
after  the  death  of  the  householder  for  the  benefit  of  widow  and  family,  some 
one  of  them  occupying  the  homestead  until  youngest  child  shall  become 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  until  death  of  widow.     There  is  no  exemption 
from  sale  for  taxes,  assessments,  debt  or  liability  incurred  for  the  purchase- 
or  improvement  of  said  homestead.     No  release  or  waiver  of  exemption  is- 
valid,  unless  in  writing,  and  subscribed  by  such  householder  and  v/ife  (if 
he  have  one),  and  acknowledged  as  conveyances  of  real  estate  are  required 
to  be  acknowledged.     The  following  articles  of  personal  property  owned 
by  the  debtor,  are  exempt  from  execution,  writ  of  attachment,  and  distress 
for  rent :  The  necessary  ivearing  apjyarel.  Bibles,  school  books  and  family 
pictures  of  every  person  ;  and,  2d,  one  hundred  dollars  worth  of  other 
property  to  be  selected  by  the  debtor,  and,  in  addition,  when  the  debtor 
is  the  head  of  a  family  and  resides  with  the  same,  three  hundred  dollars- 
worth  of  other  property  to  be  selected  by  the  debtor ;  provided  that  such 
selection  and  exemption  shall  not  be  made  by  the  debtor  or  allowed  to- 
him  or  her  from  any  money,  salary  or  wages  due  him  or  her  from  any 
person  or  persons  or  corporations  whatever. 

When  the  head  of  a  family  shall  die,  desert  or  not  reside  with  the 
same,  the  family  shall  be  entitled  to  and  receive  all  the  benefit  and  priv- 
ileges which  are  by  this  act  conferred  upon  the  head  of  a  family  residing 
with  the  same.  No  personal  property  is  exempt  from  execution  when 
judgment  is  obtained  for  the  wages  of  laborers  or  servants.  Wages  of  a 
laborer  who  is  the  head  of  a  family  can  not  be  garnisheed,  except  the  sum. 
due  him  be  in  excess  of  $25. 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS.  157 

DEEDS  AND  MORTGAGES. 

To  he  valid  there  must  he  a  valid  consideration.  Special  care  should 
be  taken  to  have  them  signed,  sealed,  delivered,  and  properly  acknowl- 
edged, with  the  proper  seal  attached.  Wit^iesses  are  not  required.  The 
acknowledgement  must  be  made  in  this  state,  before  Master  in  Chancery^ 
Notary  Puhlic,  United  States  Commissioner .^  Circuit  or  County  Clerk,  Justice 
of  Peace,  or  any  Court  of  Record  haviiig  a  seal,  or  any  Judge,  Justice,  or 
Clerk  of  any  such  Court.  When  taken  before  a  Notary  Public,  or  United 
States  Commissio7ier,  the  same  shall  be  attested  by  his  official  seal,  when 
taken  before  a  Court  or  the  Clerk  thereof,  the  same  shall  be  attested  by 
the  seal  of  such  Court,  and  when  taken  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  resid- 
ing out  of  the  county  where  the  real  estate  to  be  conveyed  lies,  there  shall 
be  added  a  certificate  of  the  County  Clerk  under  his  seal  of  office,  that  he 
was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the  county  at  the  time  of  taking  the  same. 
A  deed  is  good  without  such  certificace  attached,  but  can  not  be  used  in 
evidence  unless  such  a  certificate  is  produced  or  other  competent  evidence 
introduced.  Acknowledgements  made  out  of  the  state  must  either  be 
executed  according  to  the  laws  of  this  state,  or  there  should  be  attached 
a  certificate  that  it  is  in  conformity  with  the  laws  of  the  state  or  country 
where  executed.  Where  this  is  not  done  the  same  may  be  proved  by  any 
other  legal  way.  Acknowledgments  where  the  Homestead  rights  are  to 
be  waived  must  state  as  follows  :  "  Including  the  release  and  waiver  of 
the  right  of  homestead." 

Notaries  Puhlio  can  take  acknowledgements  any  where  in  the  state. 

Sheriffs,  if  authorized  by  the  mortgagor  of  real  or  personal  property 
in  his  mortgage,  may  sell  the  property  mortgaged. 

In  the  case  of  the  death  of  grantor  or  holder  of  the  equity  of  redemp- 
tion of  real  estate  mortgaged,  or  conveyed  by  deed  of  trust  where  equity 
of  redemption  is  waived,  and  it  contains  power  of  sale,  must  be  foreclosed 
in  the  same  manner  as  a  common  mortgage  in  court. 

ESTRAYS. 

Horses,  mules,  asses,  neat  cattle,  swine,  sheep,  or  goats  found  straying 
at  any  time  during  the  year,  in  counties  where  such  animals  are  not  allowed 
to  run  at  large,  or  between  the  last  day  of  October  and  the  15th  day  of 
April  in  other  counties,  the  oivner  thereof  being  unknown,  may  he  taken  up 
as  estrays. 

No  person  not  a  householder  in  the  county  where  estray  is  found  can 
lawfully  take  up  an  estray,  and  then  only  upon  or  about  his  farm  or  place 
of  residence.  Estrays  should  not  he  used  before  advertised,  except  animals 
giving  milk,  which  may  be  milked  for  their  benefit. 


158  ABSTRACT   OF    ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS. 

Notices  must  be  posted  up  within  five  (5)  days  in  tliree  (3)  of  the 
most  public  places  in  the  town  or  precinct  in  which  estray  was  found,  giv- 
ing the  residence  of  the  taker  up,  and  a  particular  description  of  the 
estray,  its  age,  color,  and  marks  natural  and  artificial,  and  stating  before 
what  justice  of  the  peace  in  such  town  or  precinct,  and  at  what  time,  not 
less  than  ten  (10)  nor  more  than  fifteen  (15)  days  from  the  time  of  post- 
ing such  notices,  he  will  apply  to  have  the  estray  appraised. 

A  copy  of  such  notice  should  be  filed  by  the  taker  up  with  the  totvn 
clerk,  whose  duty  it  is  to  enter  the  same  at  large,  in  a  hook  kept  by  him 
for  that  purpose. 

If  the  owner  of  estray  shall  not  have  appeared  and  proved  ownership, 
and  taken  the  same  away,  first  paying  the  taker  up  his  reasonable  charges 
for  taking  up,  keeping,  and  advertising  the  same,  the  taker  up  shall  appear 
before  the  justice  of  the  peace  mentioned  in  above  mentioned  notice,  and 
make  an  affidavit  as  required  by  law. 

As  the  affidavit  has  to  he  made  hefore  the  justice,  and  all  other  steps  as 
to  appraisement,  etc.,  are  before  him,  who  is  familiar  therewith,  they  are 
therefore  omitted  here. 

Any  person  taking  up  an  estray  at  any  other  place  than  about  or 
upon  his  farm  or  residence,  or  without  complying  with  the  law,  shall  forfeit 
and  pay  a  fine  of  ten  dollars  with  costs. 

Ordinary  diligeiice  is  required  in  taking  care  of  estrays,  but  in  case 
they  die  or  get  away  the  taker  is  not  liable  for  the  same. 

GAME. 

It  is  unlawful  for  any  person  to  kill,  or  attempt  to  kill  or  destroy,  in 
any  manner,  any  prairie  hen  or  chicken  or  woodcock  between  the  15th  day 
of  January  and  the  1st  day  of  September ;  or  any  deer,  fawn,  wild-turkey, 
partridge  or  pheasant  between  the  1st  day  of  February  and  the  1st  day 
of  October ;  or  any  quail  between  the  1st  day  of  February  and  1st  da}^  of 
November ;  or  any  wild  goose,  duck,  snijDe,  brant  or  other  water  fowl 
between  the  1st  day  of  May  and  15tli  day  of  August  in  each  year. 
Penalty  :  Fine  not  less  than  $5  nor  more  than  $25,  for  each  bird  or 
animal,  and  costs  of  suit,  and  stand  committed  to  county  jail  until  fine  is 
paid,  but  not  exceeding  ten  days.  It  is  unlawful  to  hunt  with  gun,  dog 
or  net  within  the  inclosed  grounds  or  lands  of  another  tvithout  permission. 
Penalty:  Fine  not  less  than  $3  nor  more  than  $100,  to  be  paid  into 
school  fund. 

WEIGHTS  AND  MEASURES. 

Whenever  any  of  the  following  articles  shall  be  contracted  for,  or 
sold  or  delivered,  and  no  special  contract  or  agreement  shall  be  made  to 
the  contrary,  the  weight  per  bushel  shall  be  as  follows,  to-wit : 


ABSTRACT   OF    ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS. 


159 


Founds. 

Pounds. 

Stone  Coal, 

-  80 

Buckwheat,     - 

-  52 

Unslackecl  Lime, 

-      80 

Coarse  Salt, 

-      50 

Corn  in  the  ear, 

-  70 

Barley,    -        -        - 

-  48 

Wheat, 

-      60 

Corn  Meal, 

-      48 

Irish  Potatoes, 

-  60 

Castor  Beans, 

-  46 

White  Beans, 

-      60 

Timothy  Seed,     - 

-      45 

Clover  Seed,   - 

-  60 

Hemp  Seed,    - 

-  44 

Onions,         _         =         - 

-      5T 

Malt,  -         -         -         - 

-      38 

Shelled  Corn, 

-  56 

Dried  Peaches, 

-  33 

Rye,    -         -         -         - 

-      56 

Oats,   -         -        -         - 

-      32 

Flax  Seed, 

-  56 

Dried  Apples, 

-  24 

Sweet  Potatoes,  - 

-      55 

Bran,  -         -         -         - 

-      20 

Turnips, 

-  55 

Blue  Grass  Seed,     - 

-  14 

Fine  Salt,    -         -         - 

-       55 

Hair  (plastering). 

8 

Penalty  for  giving  less  than  the  above  standard  is  double  the  amount 
of  property  wrongfully  not  given,  and  ten  dollars  addition  thereto. . 


MILLERS. 

The  owner  or  occuiDant  of  every  public  grist  mill  in  this  state  shall 
grind  all  grain  brought  to  his  mill  in  its  turn.  The  toll  for  both  steam 
and  ivater  mills,  is,  for  grinding  and  bolting  wheats  rye^  or  other  grain,  one 
eighth  part;  for  grinding  Indian  corn,  oats,  barley  and  huckivheat  not 
required  to  be  bolted,  one  seventh  part;  for  grinding  malt,  and  chojyping  all 
kinds  of  grain,  one  eighth  part.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  miller  when  his 
mill  is  in  repair,  to  aid  and  assist  in  loading  and  unloading  all  grain  brought 
to  him  to  be  ground,  and  he  is  also  required  to  keep  an  accurate  half 
bushel  measure,  and  an  accurate  set  of  toll  dishes  or  scales  for  weighing 
the  grain.  The  penalty  for  neglect  or  refusal  to  comply  with  the  law  is 
85,  to  the  use  of  any  person  to  sue  for  the  same,  to  be  recovered  before 
any  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  county  where  penalty  is  incurred.  Millers 
are  accountable  for  the  safe  keeping  of  all  grain  left  in  his  mill  for  the 
purpose  of  being  ground,  with  bags  or  casks  containing  same  (except  it 
results  from  unavoidable  accidents),  provided  that  such  bags  or  casks  are 
distinctly  marked  with  the  initial  letters  of  the  owner's  name. 

MARKS  AND  BRANDS. 

Owners  of  cattle,  horses,  hogs,  sheep  or  goats  may  have  one  earmark 
and  one  brand,  but  which  shall  be  different  from  his  neighbor's,  and  may 
be  recorded  by  the  county  clerk  of  the  county  in  which  such  property  is 
kept.  The  fee  for  such  record  is  fifteen  cents.  The  record  of  such  shall 
be  open  to  examination  free  of  charge.  In  cases  of  disputes  as  to  marks 
or  brands-,  such  record  is  vrima  facie  evidence.  Owners  of  cattle,  horses, 
hogs,  sheep    or   goats   that   may   have   been   branded  by  the  former  oivner, 


160  ABSTRACT   OF    ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS. 

may  be  re-branded  in  presence  of  one  or  more  of  his  neighbors,  who  shall 
certify  to  the  facts  of  the  marking  or  branding  being  done,  when  done, 
and  in  what  brand  or  mark  they  were  re-branded  or  re-marked,  which 
certificate  may  also  be  recorded  as  before  stated. 

ADOPTION  OF  CHILDREN. 

Children  may  be  adopted  by  any  resident  of  this  state,  by  filing  a 
petition  in  the  Circuit  or  County  Court  of  the  county  in  which  he  resides, 
asking  leave  to  do  so,  and  if  desired  may  ask  that  the  name  of  the  child 
be  changed.  Such  petition,  if  made  by  a  person  having  a  husband  or 
wife,  will  not  be  granted,  unless  the  husband  or  wife  joins  therein,  as  the 
adoption  must  be  Iw  them  jointly. 

The  jyetition  shall  state  name,  sex,  and  age  of  the  child,  and  the  new 
name,  if  it  is  desired  to  change  the  name.'  Also  the  name  and  residence 
of  the  parents  of  the  child,  if  known,  and  of  the  guardian,  if  any,  and 
whether  the  parents  or  guardians  consent  to  the  adoption. 

The  court  must  find,  before  granting  decree,  that  the  parents  of  the 
child,  or  the  survivors  of  them,  have  deserted  his  or  her  family  or  such 
child  for  one  year  next  preceding  the  application,  or  if  neither  are  living, 
the  guardian ;  if  no  guardian,  the  next  of  kin  in  this  state  capable  of  giving 
consent,  has  had  notice  of  the  presentation  of  the  petition  and  consents 
to  such  adoption.  If  the  (f!iild  is  of  the  age  oi  fourteen  years  or  upwards, 
the  adoption  can  not  be  made  without  its  consent. 

SURVEYORS  AND  SURVEYS. 

There  is  in  every  county  elected  a  surveyor  known  as  county  sur- 
veyor, who  has  power  to  appoint  deputies,  for  whose  official  acts  he  is 
responsible.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  county  surveyor,  either  by  himself  or 
his  deputy,  to  make  all  surveys  that  he  may  be  called  upon  to  make  within 
his  county  as  soon  as  may  be  after  application  is  made.  The  necessary 
chainmen  and  other  assistance  must  be  employed  bythe  person  requiring 
the  same  to  be  done,  and  to  be  by  him  paid,  unless  otherwise  agreed ;  but 
the  chainmen  must  be  disinterested  persons  and  approved  by  the  surveyor 
and  sworn  by  him  to  measure  justly  and  impartially. 

The  County  Board  in  each  county  is  required  by  law  to  provide  a  copy 
of  the  United  States  field  notes  and  plats  of  their  surveys  of  the  lands 
in  the  county  to  be  kept  in  the  recorder's  office  subject  to  examination 
by  the  public,  and  the  county  surveyor  is  required  to  make  his  surveys 
in  conformity  to  said  notes,  plats  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States  gov- 
erning such  matters.  The  surveyor  is  also  required  to  keep  a  record 
of  all  surveys  made  by  him,  which  shall  be  subject  to  inspection  by  any 
one  interested,  and  shall  be  delivered  up  to  his  successor  in  office.      A. 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS.  101 

certified  copy  of  the  said  surveyor's  record  shall  be  prima  facie  evidence 
of  its  contents. 

The  fees  of  county  surveyors  are  six  dollars  per  day.  The  county 
surveyor  is  also  ex  officio  inspector  of  mines,  and  as  such,  assisted  by  some 
practical  miner  selected  by  him,  shall  once  each  year  inspect  all  the 
mines  in  the  county,  for  which  they  shall  each  receive  such  compensa- 
tion as  may  be  fixed  by  the  County  Board,  not  exceeding  $5  a  day,  to 
be  paid  out  of  the  county  treasury. 

ROADS  AND  BRIDGES. 

Where  practicable  from  the  nature  of  the  ground,  persons  traveling 
in  any  kind  of  vehicle,  must  turn  to  the  right  of  the  center  of  the  road,  so 
as  to  permit  each  carriage  to  pass  without  interfering  with  each  other. 
The  penalty  for  a  violation  of  this  provision  is  $5  for  every  offense,  to> 
be  recovered  by  the  party  injured ;  but  to  recover,  there  must  have 
occurred  some  injury  to  person  or  property  resulting  from  the  violation.. 
The  owners  of  any  carriage  traveling  upon  any  road  in  this  State  for  the 
conveyance  of  passengers  who  shall  employ  or  continue  in  his  employment 
as  driver  any  person  who  is  addicted  to  drunkenness,  or  the  excessive  use  of 
spiritous  liquors,  after  he  has  had  notice  of  the  same,  shall  forfeit,  at  the- 
rate  of  $5  per  day,  and  if  any  driver  while  actually  engaged  in  driving 
any  such  carriage,  shall  be  guilty  of  intoxicqtioyi  to  such  a  degree  as  to 
endanger  the  safety  of  passengers,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  owner,  on 
receiving  'written  notice  of  the  fact,  signed  by  one  of  the  passengers,  and 
certified  by  him  on  oath,  forthwith  to  discharge  such  driver.  If  such  owner 
shall  have  such  driv6r  in  his  employ  ivithin  three  months  after  such  notice, 
he  is  liable  for  $5  per  day  for  the  time  he  shall  keep  said  driver  in  his 
employment  after  receiving  such  notice. 

Persons  driving  any  carriage  on  any  public  highway  are  prohibited 
from  running  their  horses  upon  any  occasion  under  a  penalty  of  a  fine  not 
exceeding  $10,  or  imprisonment  not  exceeding  sixty  days,  at  the  discre- 
tion of  the  court.  Horses  attached  to  any  carriage  used  to  convey  passen- 
gers for  hire  must  be  properly  hitched  or  the  lines  placed  in  the  hands  of 
some  other  person  before  the  driver  leaves  them  for  any  purpose.  For 
violation  of  this  provision  each  driver  shall  forfeit  twenty  dollars,  to  be 
recovered  by  action,  to  be  commenced  within  six  months.  It  is  under- 
stood by  the  ter')n  carriage  herein  to  mean  any  carriage  or  vehicle  used 
for  the  transportation  of  passengers  or  goods  or  either  of  them. 

The  commissioners  of  highways  in  the  different  tov/ns  have  the  care- 
and  superintendence  of  highways  and  bridges  therein.  They  have  all 
the  powers  necessary  to  lay  out,  vacate,  regulate  and  repair  all  roads*' 
build  and  repair  bridges.  In  addition  to  the  above,  it  is  their  duty  to 
tjrect  and   keep  in  rei:)air  at  the  forks  or  crossing-place  of  the   most 


162  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS. 

important  roads  post  and  guide  boards  with  plain  inscriptions,  giving 
•directions  and  distances  to  the  most  noted  places  to  which  such  road  may 
lead ;  also  to  make  provisions  to  prevent  thistles,  burdock,  and  cockle 
burrs,  mustard,  yellow  dock,  Indian  mallow  and  jimson  weed  from 
seeding,  and  to  extirpate  the  same  as  far  as  practicable,  and  to  prevent 
all  rank  growth  of  vegetation  on  the  public  highways  so  far  as  the  same 
may  obstruct  public  travel,  and  it  is  in  their  discretion  to  erect  watering 
places  for  public  use  for  watering  teams  at  such  points  as  may  be  deemed 

advisable. 

The  Commissioners,  on  or  before  the  1st  day  of  May  of  each  year, 
shall  make  out  and  deliver  to  their  treasurer  a  list  of  all  able-bodied  men 
in  their  town,  exceptirig  paupers,  idiots,  lunatics,  and  such  others  as  are 
exempt  by  law,  and  assess  against  each  the  sum  of  two  dollars  as  a  poll 
tax  for  highway  purposes.  Within  thirty  days  after  such  list  is  delivered 
they  shall  cause  a  written  or  printed  notice  to  be  given  to  each  person  so 
assessed,  notifying  him  of  the  time  when  and  place  where  such  tax  must 
be  paid,  or  its  equivalent  in  labor  performed  ;  they  may  contract  with 
persons  owing  such  poll  tax  to  perform  a  certain  amount  of  labor  on  any 
road  or  bridge  in  payment  of  the  same,  and  if  such  tax  is  not  paid  nor 
labor  performed  by  the  first  Monday  of  July  of  such  year,  or  within  ten 
days  after  notice  is  given  after  that  time,  they  shall  bring  suit  therefor 
against  such  person  before  a  justice  of  the  peace,  who  shall  hear  and 
determine  the  case  according  to  law  for  the  offense  complained  of,  and 
shall  forthwith  issue  an  execution,  directed  to  any  constable  of  the  county 
where  the  delinquent  shall  reside,  who  shall  forthwith  collect  the  moneys 
therein  mentioned. 

The  Commissioners  of  Highways  of  each  town  shall  annually  ascer- 
tain, as  near  as  practicable,  how  much  money  must  be  raised  by  tax  on  real 
and  personal  property  for  the  making  and  repairing  of  roads,  only,  to  any 
amount  they  may  deem  necessary,  not  exceeding  forty  cents  on  each  one 
hundred  dollars'  worth,  as  valued  on  the  assessment  roll  of  the  previous 
year.  The  tax  so  levied  on  property  lying  witliin  an  incorporated  village, 
town  or  city,  shall  be  paid  over  to  the  corporate  authorities  of  such  town, 
village  or  city.  Commissioners  shall  receive  $1.50  for  each  day  neces- 
sarily employed  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty. 

Overseers.  At  the  first  meeting  the  Commissioners  shall  choose  one 
of  their  number  to  act  General  Overseer  of  Highways  in  their  township, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  take  charge  of  and  safely  keep  all  tools,  imple- 
ments and  machinery  belonging  to  said  town,  and  shall,  by  the  direction 
of  the  Board,  have  general  supervision  of  all  roads  and  bridges  in  their 
town. 


ABSTRACT   OF  ILLINOIS    STATE  LAWS.  16i^ 

As  all  township  and  county  officers  are  familiar  with  their  duties,  it 
is  only  intended  to  give  the  points  of  the  law  that  the  public  should  be 
familiar  with.  The  manner  of  laying  out,  altering  or  vacating  roads,  etc., 
will  not  be  here  stated,  as  it  would  require  more  space  than  is  contem- 
plated in  a  work  of  this  kind.  It  is  sufficient  to  state  that,  the  first  step 
is  by  petition,  addressed  to  the  Commissioners,  setting  out  what  is  prayed 
for,  giving  the  names  of  the  owners  of  lands  if  known,  if  not  known  so 
state,  over  which  the  road  is  to  pass,  giving  the  general  course,  its  place 
of  beginning,  and  where  it  terminates.  It  requires  not  less  than  twelve 
freeholders  residing  within  three  miles  of  the  road  who  shall  sign  the 
petition.  Public  roads  must  not  be  less  than  fifty  feet  wide,  nor  more 
than  sixty  feet  wide.  Roads  not  exceeding  two  miles  in  length,  if  peti- 
tioned for,  may  be  laid  out,  not  less  than  forty  feet.  Private  roads 
for  private  and  public  use,  may  be  laid  out  af  the  width  of  three  rods,  on 
petition  of  the  person  directly  interested  ;  the  damage  occasioned  thereby 
shall  be  paid  by  the  premises  benefited  thereby,  and  before  the  road  is 
opened.  If  not  opened  in  two  years,  the  order  shall  be  considered 
rescinded.  Commissioners  in  their  discretion  may  permit  persons  who- 
live  on  or  have  private  roads,  to  work  out  their  road  tax  thereon.  Public 
roads  must  be  opened  in  five  days  from  date  of  filing  order  of  location^ 
or  be  deemed  vacated. 

DRAINAGE. 

Whenever  one  or  more  owners  or  occupants  of  land  desire  to  construct 
I  drain  or  ditch  across  the  land  of  others  for  agricultural,  sanitary  or 
mining  purposes,  the  proceedings  are  as  follows : 

File  a  petition  in  the  Circuit  or  County  Court  of  the  county  in  which 
the  proposed  ditch  or  drain  is  to  be  constructed,  setting  forth  the  neces- 
sity for  the  same,  with  a  description  of  its  proposed  starting  point,  route 
and  terminus,  and  if  it  shall  be  necessary  for  the  drainage  of  the  land  or 
coal  mines  or  for  sanitary  purposes,  that  a  drain,  ditch,  levee  or  similar 
work  be  constructed,  a  description  of  the  same.  It  shall  also  set  forth 
the  names  of  all  persons  owning  the  land  over  which  such  drain  or  ditch 
shall  be  constructed,  or  if  unknown  stating  that  fact. 

No  private  property  shall  be  taken  or  damaged  for  the  purpose  of 
constructing  a  ditch,  drain  or  levee,  without  compensation,  if  claimed  by 
the  owner,  the  same  to  be  ascertained  by  a  jury;  but  if  the  construction 
of  such  ditch,  drain  or  levee  shall  be  a  benefit  to.  the  owner,  the  same 
shall  be  a  set  off  against  such  compensation. 

If  the  proceedings  seek  to  affect  the  property  of  a  minor,  lunatic  or 
married  woman,  the  guardian,  conservator  or  husband  of  the  same  shall 
be  made  party  defendant.  The  petition  may  be  amended  and  parties 
made  defendants  at  any  time  when  it  is  necessary  to  a  fair  trial. 


\Q^  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS. 

When  the  petition  is  presented  to  the  judge,  he  shall  note  therein 
when  he  will  hear  the  same,  and  order  the  issuance  of  summonses  and 
the  publication  of  notice  to  each  non-resident  or  unknown  defendant. 

The  petition  may  be  heard  by  such  judge  in  vacation  as  well  as  in 
term  time.  Upon  the  trial,  the  jury  shall  ascertain  the  just  compensation 
to  each  owner  of  the  property  sought  to  be  damaged  by  the  construction 
of  such  ditch,  drain  or  levee,  and  truly  report  the  same. 

As  it  is  only  contemplated  in  a  work  of  this  kind  to  give  an  abstract 
of  the  laws,  and  as  the  parties  who  have  in  charge  the  execution  of  the 
further  proceedings  are  likely  to  be  familiar  with  the  requirements  of  the 
statute,  the  necessary  details  are  not  here  inserted. 

WOLF  SCALPS. 

The  County  Board  of  any  county  in  this  State  may  hereafter  alluw 
such  bounty  on  tvolf  scalps  as  the  board  may  deem  reasonable. 

Any  person  claiming  a  bounty  shall  produce  the  scalp  or  scalps  with 
the  ears  thereon,  within  sixty  days  after  the  wolf  or  wolves  shall  have 
been  caught,  to  the  Clerk  of  the  County  Board,  who  shall  administer  to 
s'did  person  the  following  oath  or  affirmation,  to-wit:  "You  do  solemnly 
swear  (or  affirm,  as  the  case  may  be),  that  the  scalp  or  scalps  here  pro- 
duced by  you  was  taken  from  a  wolf  or  wolves  killed  and  first  captured 
by  yourself  within  the  limits  of  this  county,  and  within  the  sixty  days 
last  past." 

CONVEYANCES. 

When  the  reversion  expectant  on  a  lease  of  any  tenements  or  here- 
ditaments of  any  tenure  shall  be  surrendered  or  merged,  the  estate  which 
shall  for  the  time  being  confer  as  against  the  tenant  under  the  same  lease 
the  next  vested  right  to  the  same  tenements  or  hereditaments,  shall,  to 
the  extent  and  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  such  incidents  to  and  obli- 
gations on  the  same  reversion,  as  but  for  the  surrender  or  merger  thereof, 
would  have  subsisted,  be  deemed  the  reversion  expectant  on  the  same 
lease. 

PAUPERS. 

Every  poor  person  who  shall  be  unable  to  earn  a  livelihood  in  conse- 
quence of  any  bodily  infirmity^  idiocy,  lunacy  or  unavoidable  cause,  shall 
be  supported  by  the  father,  grand-father,  mother,  grand-mother,  children, 
grand-children,  brothers  or  sisters  of  such  poor  person,  if  they  or  either 
of  them  be  of  sufficient  ability ;  but  if  any  of  such  dependent  class  shall 
have  become  so  from  intemperance  or  other  bad  conduct,  they  shall  not  be 
entitled  to  support  from  any  relation  except  parent  or  child. 


ABSTRACT   OF    ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS.  167 

The  ciiildren  shall  first  be  called  on  to  support  their  parents,  if  they 
are  able  ;  but  if  not,  the  parents  of  such  poor  person  shall  then  be  called 
on,  if  of  sufficient  ability  ;  and  if  there  be  no  parents  or  children   able, 
then  the   brothers  and  sisters  of  such  dependent  person  shall  be   called 
upon  ;  and  if  there   be  no  brothers  or  sisters  of  sufficient  ability,  the 
grand-children  of  such  person  shall  next  be   called  on ;  and  if  they  are 
not  able,  then  the  grand-parents.     Married  females,  while  their  husbands 
live,  shall  not  be  liable  to  contribute  for  the  support  of  their  poor  relations 
except  out  of   their  separate  property.     It  is  the   duty  of   the   state's 
(county)  attorney,  to  make  complaint  to  the  County  Court  of  his  county 
against  all  the  relatives  of  such  paupers  in  this  state  liable  to  his  support 
and  prosecute  the  same.   In  case  the  state's  attorney  neglects,  or  refuses,  to 
complain  in  such  cases,  then  it  is  the  duty  of  the  overseer  of  the  poor  to 
do  so.     The  person  called  upon  to  contribute  shall  have  at  least  ten  days' 
notice  of  such  application  by  summons.     The   court  has  the  power  to 
determine  the  kind  of  support,  depending  upon  the  circumstances  of  the 
parties,  and  may  also  order  two  or  more  of  the  different  degrees  to  main- 
tain such  poor  person,  and  prescribe  the  proportion  of  each,  according  to 
their  ability.     The  court  may  specify  the  time  for  which  the  relative  shall 
contribute — in  fact  has  control  over  the  entire  subject  matter,  with  power 
to  enforce  its  orders.     Every  county  (except  those  in  which  the  poor  are 
supported  by  the  towns,  and  in  such  cases  the  towns  are  liable)  is  required 
to  relieve  and  support  all  poor  and  indigent  persons  laivfuUy  resident 
therein.     Residence  means  the  actual  residence  of  the  party,  or  the  place 
where  he  was  employed ;  or  in  case  he  was  in  no   employment,  then  it 
shall  be  the  place  where  he  made  his  home.     When  any  person  becomes 
chargeable  as  a  pauper  in  any  county  or  town  who  did  not  reside  at  the 
commencement  of  six  months  immediately  preceding  his  becoming  so, 
but  did  at  that  time  reside  in  some  other  county  or  town   in  this  state, 
then  the  county  or  town,  as  the  case  may  be,  becomes  liable  for  the  expense 
of  taking  care  of  such  person  until  removed,  and  it  is  the  duty  of  the 
overseer  to  notify  the  proper  authorities  of  the  fact.     If  any  person  shall 
bring  and  leave  any  pauper  in  any  county  in  this  state  where  such  pauper 
had  no  legal  residence,  knowing  him  to  be  such,  he  is  liable  to  a  fine  of 
$100.     In  counties  under  township  organization,  the  supervisors  in  each 
town  are  ex-officio  overseers  of  the  poor.     The  overseers  of  the  poor  act 
under  the  directions  of  the  County  Board  in  taking  care  of  the  poor  and 
granting  of  temporary  relief;  also,  providing  for  non-resident  persons  not 
paupers  who  may  be  taken  sick  and  not  able  to  pay  their  way,  and  in  case 
of  death  cause  such  person  to  be  decently  buried. 

The  residence   of  the  inmates  of  poorhouses  and  other  charitable 
institutions  for  voting  purposes  is  their  former  place  of  abode. 


168  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS. 

FENCES. 

In  counties  under  township  organization,  the  town  assessor  and  com- 
missioner of  highways  are  the  fence-viewers  in  their  respective  towns. 
In  other  counties  the  County  Board  appoints  three  in  each  precinct  annu- 
ally.    A  laiofid  fence  is  four  and  one -half  feet  high,  in  good  repair,  con- 
sisting of   rails,  timber,   boards,  stone,  hedges,  or  whatever  the  fence- 
viewers  of  the  town  or  precinct  where  the   same  shall  lie,  shall  consider 
equivalent  thereto,  but  in  counties  under  township  organization  the  annual 
town  meeting  may  establish  any  other  kind  of  fence  as  such,  or  the  County 
Board  in  other  counties  may  do  the  same.     Division  fences  shall  be  made 
and  maintained  in  just  proportion  by  the  adjoining  owners,  except  when 
the  owner  shall  choose  to  let  his  land  lie  open,  but  after  a  division  fence  is 
built  by  agreement  or  otherwise,  neither  party  can  remove  his  part  of  such 
fence  so  long  as  he  may  crop  or  use  such  land  for  farm  purposes,  or  without 
giving  the  other  party  one  year's  notice  in  writing  of  his  intention  to  remove 
his  portion.     When  any  person  shall  enclose  his  land  upon  the  enclosure 
of  another,  he  shall  refund  the  owner  of  the  adjoining  lands  a  just  pro- 
portion of  the  value  at  tljat  time  of  such  fence.     The  value  of  fence  and 
the  just  proportion  to  be  paid  or  built  and  maintained  by  each  is  to  be 
ascertained  by  two  fence-viewers  in  the  town  or  precinct.     Such  fence- 
viewers  have  power  to  settle  all  disputes  between  different  owners  as  to 
fences  built  or  to  be  built,  as  well  as  to  repairs  to  be  made.     Each  party 
chooses  one  of  the  viewers,  but  if  the   other  party  neglects,  after  eight 
days'  notice   in   writing,  to  make  his  choice,  then   the  other  party  may 
select  both.     It  is  sufficient  to  notify  the  tenant  or  party  in  possession, 
when  the   owner  is  not  a  resident  of  the  town  or  precinct.     The  two 
fence-viewers   chosen,  after  viewing  the  premises,  shall  hear  the  state- 
ments of  the  parties ,    in  case  they  can't  agree,  they  shall  select  another 
fence-viewer  to  act  with   them,  and  the  decision  of  any  two  of  them  is 
final.     The  decision  must  be  reduced  to  writing,  and   should  plainly  set 
out  description  of  fence  and  all  matters  settled  by  them,  and  must  be 
filed  in  the  office  of  the  town  clerk  in  counties  under  township  organiza- 
tion, and  in  other  counties  with  the  county  clerk. 

Where  any  person  is  liable  to  contribute  to  the  erection  or  the 
repairing  of  a  division  fence,  neglects  or  refuses  so  to  do,  the  party 
injured,  after  giving  sixty  days  notice  in  writing  when  a  fence  is  to  be 
erected,  or  ten  days  when  it  is  only  repairs,  may  proceed  to  have  the 
work  done  at  the  expense  of  the  party  whose  duty  it  is  to  do  it,  to  be 
recovered  from  him  with  costs  of  suit,  and  the  party  so  neglecting  shall 
also  be  liable  to  the  party  injured  for  all  damages  accruing  from  such 
neglect  or  refusal,  to  be  determined  by  any  two  fence-viewers  selected 
as  before  provided,  the  appraisement  to  be  reduced  to  writing  and  signed. 


ABSTRACT    OF   ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS.  169 

Where  a  person  shall  conclude  to  remove  his  part  of  a  division  fence, 
and  let  his  land  lie  open,  and  having  given  the  year's  notice  required,  the 
adjoining  owner  may  cause  the  value  of  said  fence  to  be  ascertained  by 
fence-viewers  as  before  provided,  and  on  payment  or  tender  of  the 
amount  of  such  valuation  to  the  owner,  it  shall  prevent  the  removal.  A 
party  removing  a  division  fence  without  notice  is  liable  for  the  damages 
accruing  thereby. 

"Where  a  fence  has  been  built  on  the  land  of  another  through  mis- 
take, the  owner  may  enter  upon  such  premises  and  remove  his  fence  and 
material  within  oix  months  after  the  division  line  has  been  ascertained. 
Where  the  material  to  build  such  a  fence  has  been  taken  from  the  land 
on  which  it  was  built,  then  before  it  can  be  removed,  the  person  claiming 
must  first  pay  for  such  material  to  the  owner  of  the  land  from  which  it 
was  taken,  nor  shall  fc;uch  a  fence  be  removed  at  a  time  when  the  removal 
will  throw  open  or  expose  the  crops  of  the  other  party ;  a  reasonable 
time  must  be  given  beyond  the  .six  months  to  remove  crops. 

The  compensation  of  fence-viewers  is  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  a 
day  each,  to  be  paid  in  the  first  instance  by  the  party  calling  them,  but 
in  the  end  all  expenses,  including  amount  charged  by  the  fence-viewers, 
must  be  paid  equally  b}'-  the  parties,  except  in  cases  where  a  party  neglects 
or  refuses  to  make  or  maiiktain  a  just;  proportion  of  a  division  fence,  when 
the  party  in  default  shall  pay  them. 

DAMAGES  FROM  TRESPASS. 

Where  stock  of  any  kind  breaks  into  any  person's  enclosure,  the 
fence  being  good  and  sufficient,  the  owner  is  liable  for  the  damage  done  ; 
but  where  the  damage  is  done  by  stock  running  at  large,  contrary  to  law, 
the  owner  is  liable  where  tht^re  is  not  such  a  fence.  Where  stock  is 
found  trespassing  on  the  enclosure  of  another  as  aforesaid,  the  owner  oi 
occupier  of  the  premises  may  take  possession  of  such  stock  and  keep  the 
same  until  damages,  with  reasonable  charges  for  keeping  and  feeding  and 
all  costs  of  suit,  are  paid.  Any  person  taking  or  rescuing  such  stock  so 
held  without  his  consent,  shall  be  liable  to  a  fine  of  not  less  than  three 
nor  more  than  five  dollars  for  each  animal  rescued,  to  be  recovered  by 
suit  before  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  use  of  the  school  fund.  Within 
twenty-four  hours  after  taking  such  animal  into  his  possession,  the  per- 
son taking  it  up  must  give  notice  of  the  fact  to  the  owner,  if  known,  or 
if  unknown,  notices  must  be  posted  in  some  public  place  near  the  premises. 

LANDLORD  AND  TENANT. 

The  owner  of  lands,  or  his  legal  representatives,  can  sue  for  and 
recover  rent  therefor,  in  any  of  the  following  cases  : 

First.     When  rent  is  due  and  in  arrears  on  a  lease  for  life  or  lives. 


170  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS. 

Second.  When  lands  are  held  and  occupied  by  any  person  without 
any  special  agreement  for  rent. 

Third.  When  j)ossession  is  obtained  under  an  agreement,  written 
or  verbal,  for  the  purchase  of  the  premises  and  before  deed  given,  the 
right  to  possession  is  terminated  by  forfeiture  on  con-compliance  with  the 
agreement,  and  possession  is  wrongfully  refused  or  neglected  to  be  giver, 
upon  demand  made  in  writing  by  the  party  entitled  thereto.  Provided 
that  all  payments  made  by  the  vendee  or  his  representatives  or  assigns, 
may  be  set  off  against  the  rent. 

Fourth.  When  land  has  been  sold  upon  a  judgment  or  a  decree  of 
court,  when  the  party  to  such  judgment  or  decree,  or  person  liolding  under 
him,  wrongfully  refuses,  or  neglects,  to  surrender  possession  of  the  same, 
after  demand  in  writing  by  the  person  entitled  to  the  possession. 

Fifth.,  When  the  lands  have  been  sold  upon  a  mortgage  or  trust 
deed,  and  the  mortgagor  or  grantor  or  person  holding  under  him,  wrong- 
fully refuses  or  neglects  to  surrender  possession  of  the  same,  after  demand 
in  writing  by  the  person  entitled  to  the  possession. 

If  any  tenant,  or  any  person  who  shall  come  into  possession  from  or 
undeV  or  by  collusion  with  such  tenant,  shall  willfully  hold  over  any  lands, 
etc.,  after  the  expiration  the  term  of  their  lease,  and  after  demand  made 
in  writing  for  the  possession  thereof,  is  liable  to  pay  double  rent.  A 
tenancy  from  3'ear  to  year  requires  sixty  days  notice  in  writing,  to  termi- 
nate the  same  at  the  end  of  the  year ;  such  notice  can  be  given  at  any 
time  within  four  months  preceding  the  last  sixty  days  of  the  year. 

A  tenancy  by  the  month,  or  less  than  a  year,  where  the  tenant  holds 
over  without  any  special  agreement,  the  landlord  may  terminate  the 
tenancy,  by  thirty  days  notice  in  writing. 

When  rent  is  due,  the  landlord  may  serve  a  notice  upon  the  tenant, 
stating  that  unless  the  rent  is  paid  within  not  less  than  five  days,  his  lease 
will  be  terminated  ;  if  the  rent  is  not  paid,  the  landlord  may  consider  the 
lease  ended.  When  default  is  made  in  any  of  the  terms  of  a  lease,  it 
shall  not  be  necessary  to  give  more  than  ten  days  notice  to  quit  or  of  the 
termination  of  such  tenancy ;  and  the  same  may  be  terminated  on  giving 
such  notice  to  quit,  at  any  time  after  such  default  in  any  of  the  terms  of 
such  lease  ;  which  notice  may  be  substantially  in  the  following  form,  viz: 

To ,  You  are  hereby  notified  that,  in  consequence  of  your  default 

in  (here  insert  the  character  of  the  default),  of  the  premises  now  occupied 
by  you,  being  etc.  (here  describe  the  premises),  I  have  elected  to  deter- 
mine your  lease,  and  you  are  hereby  notified  to  quit  and  deliver  up  pos- 
session of  the  same  to  me  within  ten  days  of  this  date  (dated,  etc.) 

The  above  to  be  signed  by  the  lessor  or  his  agent,  and  no  other  notice 
or  demand  of  possession  or  termination  of  such  tenancy  is  necessar}^ 

Demand  may  be  made,  or  notice  served,  by  delivering  a  written  or 


ABSTRACT   OF    ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS.  171 

pn/ited,  or  partly  either,  copy  thereof  to  the  tenant,  or  leaving  the  same 
with  some  person  above  the  age  of  twelve  years  residing  on  or  in  posses- 
sion of  the  premises  ;  and  in  case  no  one  is  in  the  actual  possession  of  the 
said  premises,  then  by  posting  the  same  on  the  premises.  When  the 
tenancy  is  for  a  certain  time,  and  the  term  expires  by  the  terms  of  the 
lease,  the  tenant  is  then  bound  to  surrender  possession,  and  no  notice 
to  quit  or  demand  of  possession  is  necessar3\ 

Distress  for  rent. — In  all  cases  of  distress  for  rent,  the  landlord,  by 
himself,  his  agent  or  attorney,  may  seize  for  rent  any  personal  property  of 
his  tenant  that  may  be  found  in  the  county  where  the  tenant  resides ;  the 
property  of  any  other  person,  even  if  found  on  the  premises,  is  not 
liable. 

An  inventory  of  the  property  levied  upon,  with  a  statement  of  the 
amount  of  rent  claimed,  should  be  at  once  filed  with  some  justice  of  the 
peace,  if  not  over  $200 ;  and  if  above  that  sum,  with  the  clerk  of  a  court 
of  record  of  competent  jurisdiction.  Property  may  be  released,  by  the 
party  executing  a  satisfactory  bond  for  double  the  amount. 

The  landlord  may  distrain  for  rent,  any  time  within  six  months  after 
the  expiration  of  the  term  of  the  lease,  or  when  terminated. 

In  all  cases  where  the  premises  rented  shall  be  sub-let,  or  the  lease 
assigned,  the  landlord  shall  have  the  same  right  to  enforce  lien  against 
such  lessee  or  assignee,  that  he  has  against  the  tenant  to  whom  the  pre- 
mises were  rented. 

When  a  tenant  abandons  or  removes  from  the  premises  or  any  part 
thereof,  the  landlord,  or  his  agent  or  attorney,  may  seize  upon  any  grain 
or  other  crops  grown  or  growing  upon  the  premises,  or  part  thereof  so 
abandoned,  whether  the  rent  is  due  or  not.  If  such  grain,  or  other  crops, 
or  any  part  thereof,  is  not  fully  grown  or  matured,  the  landlord,  or  his 
agent  or  attorney,  shall  cause  the  same  to  be  properly  cultivated,  harvested 
or  gathered,  and  may  sell  the  same,  and  from  the  proceeds  pay  all  his 
labor,  expenses  and  rent.  The  tenant  may,  before  the  sale  of  such  pro- 
perty, redeem  the  same  by  tendering  the  rent  and  reasonable  compensation 
for  work  done,  or  he  may  replevy  the  same. 

Exemption. — The  same  articles  of  personal  property  which  are  bylaw 
exempt  from  execution,  except  the  crops  as  above  stated,  is  also  exempt 
from  distress  for  rent. 

If  any  tenant  is  about  to  or  shall  permit  or  attempt  to  sell  and 
remove  from  the  premises,  without  the  consent  of  his  landlord,  such 
portion  of  the  crops  raised  thereon  as  will  endanger  the  lien  of  the  land- 
lord upon  such  crops,  for  the  rent,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  landlord  to 
distress  before  rent  is  due. 


172  ABSTRACT    OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS. 

LIENS. 

Any  person  who  shall  by  contract^  express  or  implied,  or  partly  both, 
with  the  owner  of  any  lot  or  tract  of  land,  furnisli  labor  or  material,  or 
services  as  an  architect  or  superintendent,  in  building,  altering,  repairing 
or  ornamenting  any  house  or  other  building  or  appurtenance  thereto  on 
such  lot,  or  upon  an}^  street  or  alley,  and  connected  with  such  improve' 
ments,  shall  have  a  lien  upon  the  whole  of  such  lot  or  tract  of  land,  and 
upon  such  house  or  building  and  appurtenances,  for  the  amount  due  to 
him  for  such  labor,  material  or  services.  If  the  contract  is  expressed,  and 
the  time  for  the  completion  of  the  work  is  beyond  three  i/ears  from  the  com- 
mencement thereof;  or,  if  the  time  of  payment  is  beyond  one  year  from 
the  time  stipulated  for  the  completion  of  the  work,  then  no  lien  exists. 
If  the  contract  is  implied,  then  no  lien  exists,  unless  the  work  be  done  or 
material  is  furnished  within  one  year  from  the  commencement  of  the  work 
or  delivery  of  the  materials.  As  between  different  creditors  having  liens, 
no  preference  is  given  to  the  one  whose  contract  was  first  made  ;  but  each 
shares  pro-rata.  Incumbrances  existing  on  the  lot  or  tract  of  the  land  at 
the  time  the  contract  is  made,  do  not  operate  on  the  improvements,  and 
are  only  preferred  to  the  extent  of  the  value  of  the  land  at  the  time  of 
making  the  contract.  The  above  lien  can  not  be  enforced  unless  suit  is 
commenced  within  six  months  after  the  last  payment  for  labor  or  materials 
shall  have  become  due  and  payable.  Sub-contractors,  mechanics,  workmen 
and  other  persons  furnishing  any  material,  or  performing  any  labor  for  a 
contractor  as  before  specified,  have  a  lien  to  the  extent  of  the  amount  due 
the  contractor  at  the  time  the  following  notice  is  served  upon  the  owner 
of  the  land  who  made  the  contract : 

To ,  You  are  hereby  notified,  that  I  have  been  employed  by- 


(here  state  whether  to  labor  or  furnish  material,  and  substantially  the 
nature  of  the  demand)  upon  your  (here  state  in  general  terms  description 
and  situation  of  building),  and  that  I  shall  hold  the  (building,  or  as  the 
case  may  be),  and  your  interest  in  the  ground,  liable  for  the  amount  that 

may  (is  or  may  become)  due  me  on  account  thereof.     Signature, 

Date, 

If  there  is  a  contract  in  writing  between  contractor  and  sub-contractor, 
a  copy  of  it  should  be  served  with  above  notice,  and  said  notice  must  be 
served  within  forty  days  from  the  completion  of  such  sub-contract,  if  there 
is  one  ;  if  not,  then  from  the  time  payment  should  have  been  made  to  the 
person  performing  the  labor  or  furnishing  the  material.  If  the  owner  is 
not  a  resident  of  the  county,  or  can  not  be  found  therein,  then  the  above 
notice  must  be  filed  with  the  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  with  his  fee,  fifty 
cents,  and  a  copy  of  said  notice  must  be  published  in  a  newspaper  pub- 
lished in  the  county,  for  four  successive  weeks. 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS.  173 

When  the  owner  or  agent  is  notified  as  above,  he  can  retain  any 
money  due  the  contractor  sufficient  to  pay  such  claim  ;  if  more  than  one 
claim,  and  not  enough  to  pay  all,  they  are  to  be  paid  pro  rata. 

The  owner  has  the  right  to  demand  in  writing,  a  statement  of  the 
contractor,  of  what  he  owes  for  labor,  etc.,  from  time  to  time  as  the  work 
progresses,  and  on  his  failure  to  comply,  forfeits  to  the  owner  $50  for 
every  offense. 

The  liens  referred  to  cover  any  and  all  estates,  whether  in  fee  for 
life,  for  years,  or  any  other  interest  which  the  owner  may  have. 

To  enforce  the  lien  of  sub-contractors^  suit  must  be  commenced  within 
three  7nonths  from  the  time  of  the  performance  of  the  sub-contract,  or 
during  the  work  or  furnishing  materials. 

Hotel,  inn  and  hoarding-house  keepers,  have  a  lien  upon  the  baggage 
and  other  valuables  of  their  guests  or  boarders,  brought  into  such  hotel, 
inn  or  boarding-house,  by  their  guests  or  boarders,  for  the  proper  charges 
due  from  such  guests  or  boarders  for  their  accommodation,  board  and 
lodgings,  and  such  extras  as  are  furnished  at  their  request. 

Stable-keepers  and  other  persons  have  a  lien  upon  the  horses,  car- 
riages and  harness  kept  by  them,  for  the  proper  charges  due  for  the  keep- 
ing thereof  and  expenses  bestowed  thereon  at  the  request  of  the  owner 
or  the  person  having  the  possession  of  the  same. 

Agisters  (persons  who  take  care  of  cattle  belonging  to  others),  and 
persons  keeping,  yarding,  feeding  or  pasturing  domestic  animals,  shall 
have  a  lien  upon  the  animals  agistered,  kept,  yarded  or  fed,  for  the  proper 
charges  due  for  such  service. 

All  persons  who  may  furnish  any  railroad  corporation  in  this  state 
with  fuel,  ties,  material,  supplies  or  any  other  article  or  thing  necessary 
for  the  construction,  maintenance,  operation  or  repair  of  its  road  by  con- 
tract, or  may  perform  work  or  labor  on  the  same,  is  entitled  to  be  paid  as 
part  of  the  current  expenses  of  the  road,  and  have  a  lien  upon  all  its  pro- 
perty. Sub-contractors  or  laborers  have  also  a  lien.  The  conditions  and 
limitations  both  as  to  contractors  and  sub-contractors,  are  about  the  same 
as  herein  stated  as  to  general  liens. 

DEFINITION   OF  COMMERCIAL  TERMS. 

means  dollars,  being  a  contraction  of  U.  S.,  which  was  formerly 


placed  before  any  denomination  of  money,  and  meant,  as  it  means  now, 
United  States  Currency. 

<£ means  pounds,  English  money. 

@  stands  for  at  or  to.  Hb  iov pound,  and  bbl.  for  barrel;  "^  iov per  or 
hy  the.     Thus,  Butter  sells  at  20@30c  ^  tb,  and  Flour  at  $8@12  f  bbl. 

fo  for  per  cent  and  #  for  number. 

May  1.— Wheat  sells  at  |1.20@1.25,  "seller  June."      Seller  June 


174  ABSTRACT   OF    ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS, 

means  that  the  person  who  sells  the  wheat  has  the  privilege  of  delivering 
it  at  an}^  time  during  the  month  of  June. 

Selling  short,  is  contracting  to  deliver  a  certain  amount  of  grain  or 
stock,  at  a  fixed  price,  within  a  certain  length  of  time,  when  the  seller 
has  not  the  stock  on  hand.  It  is  for  the  interest  of  the  person  selling 
"short,"  to  depress  the  market  as  much  as  possible,  in  order  that  he  may 
buy  and  fill  his  contract  at  a  profit.  Hence  the  "  shorts  "'  are  termed 
"  bears." 

Buying  long,  is  to  contract  to  purchase  a  certain  amount  of  grain  or 
shares  of  stock  at  a  fixed  price,  deliverable  within  a  stipulated  time, 
expecting  to  make  a  profit  by  the  rise  of  prices.  The  "  longs  "  are- 
termed  "bulls,"  as  it  is  for  their  interest  to  "operate"  so  as  to  "toss" 
the  prices  upward  as  much  as  possible. 

NOTES. 

Form  of  note  is  legal,  worded  in  the  simplest  way,  so  that  the 
amount  and  time  of  payment  are  mentioned. 

$100.  Chicago,  111.,  Sept.  15,  1876. 

Sixty  da3^s  from  date  I  promise  to  pay  to  E.  F.  Brown,. 
or  order.  One  Hundred  dollars,  for  value  received. 

L.  D.  LowRY. 

A  note  to  be  payable  in  any  thing  else  than  money  needs  only  the 

facts  substituted  for  money  in  the  above  form. 

ORDERS. 

Orders  should  be  worded  simply,  thus : 

Mr.  F.  H.  Coats:  Chicago,  Sept.  15,  1876; 

Please  pay  to  H.  Birdsall,  Twenty-five  dollars,  and  charge  to 

F.   D.    SiLVA. 

RECEIPTS. 

Receipts  should  always  state  when  received  and  what  for,  thus: 

$100.  Chicago,  Sept.  15,  1876. 

Received  of  J.  W.  Davis,  One  Hundred  dollars,  for  services 
rendered  in  grading  his  lot  in  Fort  Madison,  on  account. 

Thomas  Brady. 

If  receipt  is  in  full  it  should  be  so  stated. 

BILLS   OF   PURCHASE. 

"VV.  N.  Mason.                                  Salem,  Illinois,  Sept.  15,  1876. 

Bought  of  A.  A.  Graham. 

4  Bushels  of  Seed  Wheat^  at  $1.50       -             -            -             -  $6.00 

2  Seamless  Sacks                    "        .30             -             -  .60 


Received  payment,  $6.60 

A.  A.  Graham. 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS.  176 

ARTICLES  OF  AGREEMENT. 

An  agreement  is  where  one  party  promises  to  another  to  do  a  certain 
thing  in  a  certain  time  for  a  stipulated  sum.  Good  business  men  always 
reduce  an  agreement  to  writing,  which  nearly  always  saves  misunder- 
standings and  trouble.  No  particular  form  is  necessary,  but  the  facts  must 
be  clearly  and  explicitly  stated,  and  there  must,  to  make  it  valid,  be  a 
reasonable  consideration. 

GENERAL  FORM  OF  AGREEMENT. 

This  Agreement,  made  the  Second  day  of  October,  1876,  between 
John  Jones,  of  Aurora,  County  of  Kane,  State  of  Illinois,  of  the  first  part, 
and  Thomas  Whiteside,  of  the  same  place,  of  the  second  part  — 

WITNESSETH,  that  the  said  John  Jones,  in  consideration  of  the  agree- 
ment of  the  party  of  the  second  part,  hereinafter  contained,  contracts  and 
agrees  to  and  with  the  said  Thomas  Whiteside,  that  he  will  deliver,  in 
good  and  marketable  condition,  at  the  Village  of  Batavia,  111.,  during  the 
month  of  November,  of  this  year.  One  Hundred  Tons  of  Prairie  Hay,  in 
the  following  lots,  and  at  the  following  specified  times ;  namely,  twenty- 
five  tons  by  the  seventh  of  November,  twenty-five  tons  additional  by  the 
fourteenth  of  the  month,  twenty-five  tons  more  by  the  twenty -first,  and 
the  entire  one  hundred  tons  to  be  all  delivered  by  the  thirtieth  of 
November. 

And  the  said  Thomas  Whiteside,  in  consideration  of  the  prompt 
fulfillment  of  this  contract,  on  the  part  of  the  party  of  the  first  part, 
contracts  to  and  agrees  with  the  said  John  Jones,  to  pay  for  said  hay  five 
dollars  per  ton,  for  each  ton  as  soon  as  delivered. 

In  case  of  failure  of  agreement  by  either  of  the  parties  hereto,  it  is 
hereby  stipulated  and  agreed  that  the  party  so  failing  shall  pay  to  the 
other.  One  Hundred  Dollars,  as  fixed  and  settled  damages. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  the  day  and 
year  first  above  written.  John  Jones, 

Thomas  Whiteside, 

AGREEMENT  WITH  CLERK  FOR  SERVICES. 

This  Agreement,  made  the  first  day  of  May,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  seventy-six,  between  Reuben  Stone,  of  Chicago,  County 
of  Cook,  State  of  Illinois,  party  of  the  first  part,  and  George  Barclay,  of 
Englewood,  County  of  Cook,  State  of  Illinois,  party  of  the  second  part  — 

WITNESSETH,  that  Said  George  Barclay  agrees  faithfully  and  dili- 
gentl}^  to  work  as  clerk  and  salesman  for  the  said  Reuben  Stone,  for 
and  during  the  space  of  one  year  from  the  date  hereof,  should  both 
live  such  length  of  time,  without  absenting  himself  from  his  occupation; 


JL76  ABSTRACT   OF    ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS. 

during  which  time  he,  the  said  Barclay,  in  the  store  of  said  Stone,  of 
Chicago,  will  carefully  and  honestly  attend,  doing  and  performing  all 
duties  as  clerk  and  salesman  aforesaid,  in  accordance  and  in  all  respects 
as  directed  and  desired  by  the  said  Stone. 

In  consideration  of  which  services,  so  to  be  rendered  by  the  said 
Barclay,  the  said  Stone  agrees  to  pay  to  said  Barclay  the  annual  sum  of 
one  thousand  dollars,  payable  in  twelve  equal  monthly  payments,  each 
upon  the  last  day  of  each  month  ;  provided  that  all  dues  for  days  of 
absence  from  business  bv  said  Barclav,  shall  be  deducted  from  the  sum 
otherwise  by  the  agreement  due  and  payable  by  the  said  Stone  to  the  said 
Barclay. 

Witness  our  hands.  Reuben  Stone. 

George  Barclay. 

BILLS   OF  SALE. 

A  bill  of  sale  is  a  written  agreement  to  another  party,  for  a  consider- 
ation to  convey  his  right  and  interest  in  the  personal  property.  The 
purchaser  must  take  actual  possession  of  the  property.  Juries  have 
power  to  determine  upon  the  fairness  or  unfairness  of  a  bill  of  sale. 

COMMON  FORM  OF  BILL  OF  SALE. 

Know  all  Men  by  this  instrument,  that  I,  Louis  Clay,  of  Princeton, 
Illinois,  of  the  first  part,  for  and  in  consideration  of  Five  Hundred 
and  Ten  dollars,  to  me  paid  by  John  Floyd,  of  the  same  place,  of  the 
second  part,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  have  sold,  and 
by  this  instrument  do  convey  unto  the  said  Floyd,  party  of  the  second 
part,  his  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns,  my  undivided  half  of 
ten  acres  of  corn,  now  growing  on  the  farm  of  Thomas  Tyrrell,  in  the 
town  above  mentioned ;  one  pair  of  horses,  sixteen  sheep,  and  five  cows, 
belonging  to  me,  and  in  my  possession  at  the  farm  aforesaid ;  to  have  and 
to  hold  the  same  unto  the  party  of  the  second  part,  his  executors  and 
assigns,  forever.  And  I  do,  for  myself  and  legal  representatives,  agree 
with  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  and  his  legal  representatives,  to 
warrant  and  defend  the  sale  of  the  afore-mentioned  property  and  chattels 
unto  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  and  his  legal  representatives, 
against  all  and  every  person  whatsoever. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my  hand,  this  tenth  day 
of  October,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-six. 

Louis  Clay. 

BONDS. 

« 

A  bond  is  a  written  admission  on  the  part  of  the  maker  in  which  he 
pledges  a  certain  sum  to  another,  at  a  certain  time. 


ABSTRACT    OF   ILLINOIS    STATE  LAWS.  177 

COMMON  FORM  OF  BOND. 

Know  all  Men  by  this  instrument,  that  I,  George  Edgerton,  of 
Watseka,  Iroquois  County,  State  of  Illinois,  am  firmly  bound  unto  Peter 
Kirchoff,  of  the  place  aforesaid,  in  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars,  to  be 
paid  to  the  said  Peter  Kirchoff,  or  his  legal  representatives  ;  to  which 
payment,  to  be  made,  I  bind  myself,  or  my  legal  representatives,  by  this 
instrument. 

Sealed  with  my  seal,  and  dated  this  second  day  of  November,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-four. 

The  condition  of  this  bond  is  such  that  if  I,  George  Edgerton,  my 
heirs,  administrators,  or  executors,  shall  promptly  pay  the  sum  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  in  three  equal  annual  payments  from  the  date 
hereof,  with  annual  interest,  then  the  above  obligation  to  be  of  no  effect ; 
otherwise  to  be  in  full  force  and  valid. 
Sealed  and  delivered  in 

presence  of  George  Edgerton.     [l.s.] 

William   Turner. 

CHATTEL   MORTGAGES. 

A  chattel  mortgage  is  a  mortgage  on  personal  property  for  payment 
of  a  certain  sum  of  money,  to  hold  the  property  against  debts  of  other 
creditors.  The  mortgage  must  describe  the  property,  and  must  be 
acknowledged  before  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  township  or  precinct 
where  the  mortgagee  resides,  and  entered  upon  his  docket,  and  must  be 
recorded  in  the  recorder's  office  of  the  county. 

GENERAL  FORM  OF  CHATTEL  MORTGAGE. 

This  Indenture,  made  and  entered  into  this  first  day  of  January, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-five, 
between  Theodore  Lottinville,  of  the  town  of  Geneseo  in  the  County 
of  Henry,  and  State  of  Illinois,  party  of  the  first  part,  and  Paul  Henshaw, 
of  the  same  town,  county,  and  State,  party  of  the  second  part. 

Witnesseth,  that  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  for  and  in  consider- 
ation of  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars,  in  hand  paid,  the  receipt  whereof 
is  hereby  acknowledged,  does  hereby  grant,  sell,  convey,  and  confirm  unto 
the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  all  and 
singular  the  following  described  goods  and  chattels,  to  wit : 

Two  three-year  old  roan-colored  horses,  one  Burdett  organ.  No.  987, 
one  Brussels  carpet,  15x20  feet  in  size,  one  marble-top  center  table,  one 
Home  Comfort  cooking  stove.  No.  8,  one  black  walnut  bureau  with  mirror 
attached,  one  set  of  parlor  chairs  (six  in  number),  upholstered  in  green 
rep,  with  lounge  corresponding  with  same  in  style  and  color  of  upholstery, 
now  in  possession  of  said  Lottinville,  at  No.  4  Prairie  Ave.,  Geneseo,  111. ; 


178  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS. 

Together  with  all  and  singular,  the  appurtenances  thereunto  \)elong- 
ing,  or  in  any  wise  appertaining ;  to  have  and  to  hold  the  above  described 
goods  and  chattels,  unto  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  his  heirs  and 
assigns,  forever. 

Provided,  always,  and  these  presents  are  upon  this  express  condition, 
that  if  the  said  Theodore  Lottinville,  his  heirs,  executors,  administrators, 
or  assigns,  shall,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  January,  A.D.,  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  seventy-six,  pay,  or  cause  to  be  paid,  to  the  said  Paul 
Ranslow,  or  his  lawful  attorney  or  attorneys,  heirs,  executors,  adminis- 
trators, or  assigns,  the  sum  of  One  Thousand  dollars,  together  with  the 
interest  that  may  accrue  thereon,  at  the  rate  of  ten  per  cent,  per  annum, 
from  the  first  day  of  January,  A.D.  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
seventy-five,  until  paid,  according  to  the  tenor  of  one  promissory  note 
bearing  even  date  herewith  for  the  payment  of  said  sura  of  money,  that 
then  and  from  thenceforth,  these  presents,  and  everything  herein  con- 
tained, shall  cease,  and  be  null  and  void,  anything  herein  contained  to  the 
contrary  notwithstanding. 

Provided,  also,  that  the  said  Theodore  Lottinville  may  retain  the 
possession  of  and  have  the  use  of  said  goods  and  chattels  until  the  day 
of  payment  aforesaid  ;  and  also,  at  his  own  expense,  shall  keep  said  goods 
and  chattels;  and  also  at  the  expiration  of  said  time  of  payment,  if  said 
sura  of  money,  tog'jther  with  the  interest  as  aforesaid,  shall  not  be  paid, 
shall  deliver  up  said  goods  and  chattels,  in  good  condition,  to  said  Paul 
Ranslow,  or  his  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  or  assigns. 

And  provided,  also,  that  if  default  in  payraent  as  aforesaid,  by  said 
party  of  the  first  part,  shall  be  made,  or  if  said  party  of  the  second  part 
shall  at  any  time  before  said  promissory  note  becomes  due,  feel  himself 
unsafe  or  insecure,  that  then  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  or  his 
attorney,  agent,  assigns,  or  heirs,  executors,  or  administrators,  shall  have 
the  right  to  take  possession  of  said  goods  and  chattels,  wherever  they 
may  or  can  be  found,  and  sell  the  same  at  public  or  private  sale,  to  the 
highest  bidder  for  cash  in  hand,  after  giving  ten  days'  notice  of  the  time 
and  place  of  said  sale,  together  with  a  description  of  the  goods  and  chat- 
tels to  be  sold,  by  at  least  four  advertisements,  posted  up  in  public  places 
in  the  vicinity  where  said  sale  is  to  take  place,  and  proceed  to  make  the 
sura  of  money  and  interest  promised  as  aforesaid,  together  with  all  reason- 
able costs,  charges,  and  expenses  in  so  doing  ;  and  if  there  shall  be  any 
overplus,  shall  pay  the  same  without  delay  to  the  said  party  of  the  first 
part,  or  his  legal  representatives. 

In  testimony  whereof,  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  lias  hereunto 
set  his  hand  and  affixed  his  seal,  the  day  and  year  first  above  written. 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in 

presence  of  Theodoki-:  Lottinville.     [l.s.] 

Samuel  J.  Tilden. 


ABSTRACT   OF  ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS.  179' 


LEASE  OF  FARM  AND   BUILDINGS  THEREON. 

This  Indenture,  made  this  second  day  of  June,  1875,  between  David 
Patton  of  the  Town  of  Bisbee,  State  of  Ilhnois,  of  the  first  part,  and  John 
Doyle  of  the  same  place,  of  the  second  part, 

Witnesseth,  that  the  said  David  Patton,  for  and  in  consideration  of 
the  covenants  hereinafter  mentioned  and  reserved,  on  the  part  of  the  said 
John  Doyle,  his  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns,  to  be  paid,  kept, 
and  performed,  hath  let,  and  by  these  presents  doth  grant,  demise,  and 
let,  unto  the  said  John  Doyle,  his  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns, 
all  that  parcel  of  land  situate  in  Bisbee  aforesaid,  bounded  and  described, 
as  follows,  to  wit : 

\^IIere.  describe  the  land.~\ 

Together  with  all  the  appurtenances  appertaining  thereto.  To  have 
and  to  hold  the  said  premises,  with  appurtenances  thereto  belonging,  unto 
the  said  Doyle,  his  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns,  for  the  term  of 
five  years,  from  the  first  day  of  October  next  following,  at  a  yearly  rent 
of  Six  Hundred  dollars,  to  be  paid  in  equal  payments,  semi-annually,  as 
lonof  as  said  buildinofs  are  in  o'ood  tenantable  condition. 

And  the  said  Doyle,  by  these  presents,  covenants  and  agrees  to  pay 
all  taxes  and  assessments,  and  keep  in  repair  all  hedges,  ditches,  rail,  and 
other  fences ;  (the  said  David  Patton,  his  heirs,  assigns  and  administra- 
tors, to  furnish  all  timber,  brick,  tile,  and  other  materials  necessary  for 
such  repairs.) 

Said  Doyle  further  covenants  and  agrees  to  apply  to  said  land,  in  a 
farmer-like  manner,  all  manure  and  compost  accumulating  upon  said 
farm,  and  cultivate  all  the  arable  land  in  a  husbandlike  manner,  accord- 
ing to  the  usual  custom  among  farmers  in  the  neighborhood ;  he  also- 
agrees  to  trim  the  hedges  at  a  seasonable  time,  preventing  injury  from 
cattle  to  such  hedges,  and  to  all  fruit  and  other  trees  on  the  said  premises. 
That  he  will  seed  down  with  clover  and  timothy  seed  twenty  acres  yearly 
of  arable  land,  ploughing  the  same  number  of  acres  each  Spring  of  land, 
now  in  grass,  and  hitherto  unbroken. 

It  is  further  agreed,  that  if  the  said  Doyle  shall  fail  to  perform  the 
whole  or  any  one  of  the  above  mentioned  covenants,  then  and  in  that 
case  the  said  David  Patton  may  declare  this  lease  terminated,  by  giving- 
three  months'  notice  of  the  same,  prior  to  the  first  of  October  of  any 
year,  and  may  distrain  any  part  of  the  stock,  goods,  or  chattels,  or  other 
property  in  possession  of  said  Doyle,  for  sufficient  to  compensate  for  the 
non-performance  of  the  above  written  covenants,  the  same  to  be  deter- 
mined, and  amounts  so  to  be  paid  to  be  determined,  by  three  arbitrators, 
chosen  as  follows:  Each  of  the  parties  to  this  instrument  to  choose  one,. 


180  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS. 

and  the  two  so  chosen  to  select  a  third  ;    the  decision  of  said  arbitrators 

to  be  final. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereto  set  our  hands  and  seals. 
Signed,  sealed,  and  delivered 

in  presence  of  David  Patton.     [l.s.] 

James  Waldron.  John  Doyle.         [l.s.] 

FORM  OF  LEASE  OF  A  HOUSE. 

This  Instrument,  made  the  first  day  of  October,  1875,  witnesseth 
that  Amos  Griest  of  Yorkville,  County  of  Kendall,  State  of  Illinois,  hath 
rented  from  Aaron  Young  of  Logansport  aforesaid,  the  dwelling  and  lot 
No.  13  Ohio  Street,  situated  in  said  City  of  Yorkville,  for  five  years 
from  the  above  date,  at  the  yearly  rental  of  Three  Hundred  dollars,  pay- 
able monthly,  on  the  first  day  of  each  month,  in  advance,  at  the  residence 
of  said  Aaron  Young. 

At  the  expiration  of  said  above  mentioned  term,  the  said  Griest 
agrees  to  give  the  said  Young  peaceable  possession  of  the  said  dwelling, 
in  as  good  condition  as  when  taken,  ordinary  wear  and  casualties  excepted. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  place  our  hands  and  seals  the  day  and  year 
aforesaid. 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  Amos  Griest.     [l.s.] 

in  presence  of 

NiCKOLAS   SCHUTZ,  AARON  YoUNG.    [l.S.] 

Notary  Public. 

LANDLORD'S  AGREEMENT. 

This  certifies  that  I  have  let  and  rented,  this  first  day  of  January, 
1876,  unto  Jacob  Schmidt,  my  house  and  lot.  No.  15  Erie  Street,  in  the 
City  of  Chicago,  State  of  Illinois,  and  its  appurtenances  ;  he  to  have  the 
free  and  uninterrupted  occupation  thereof  for  one  year  from  this  date,  at 
the  yearly  rental  of  Two  Hundred  dollars,  to  be  paid  monthly  in  advance  ; 
Tent  to  cease  if  destroyed  by  fire,  or  otherwise  made  untenantable. 

Peter  Funk. 

TENANT'S  AGREEMENT. 

This  certifies  that  I  have  hired  and  taken  from  Peter  Funk,  his 
house  and  lot.  No.  15  Erie  Street,  in  the  City  of  Chicago,  State  of  Illi- 
nois, with  appurtenances  thereto  belonging,  for  one  year,  to  commence 
this  day,  at  a  yearly  rental  of  Two  Hundred  dollars,  to  be  paid  monthly 
in  advance ;  unless  said  house  becomes  untenantable  from  fire  or  other 
causes,  in  which  case  rent  ceases  ;  and  I  further  agree  to  give  and  yield 
said  premises  one  year  from  this  first  day  of  January  1876,  in  as  good 
-condition  as  now,  ordinary  wear  and  damage  by  the  elements  excepted. 

Given  under  my  hand  this  day.  Jacob  Schivudt. 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS    STATE  LAWS.  18X 

NOTICE  TO  QUIT. 

To  F.  W.  Aelen, 

Sir :  Please  observe  that  the  term  of  one  year,  for  which  the  house 
and  land,  situated  at  No.  6  Indiana  Street,  and  now  occupied  by  you^ 
were  rented  to  you,  expired  on  the  first  day  of  October,  1875,  and  as  I 
desire  to  repossess  said  premises,  you  are  hereby  requested  and  required 
to  vacate  the  same.  Respectfully  Yours, 

P.  T.  Barnum. 

Lincoln,  Neb.,  October  4,  1875. 

TENANT'S  NOTICE  OF  LEAVING. 

Dear  Sir  : 

The  premises  I  now  occupy  as  your  tenant,  at  No.  6  Indiana  Street^ 
I  shall  vacate  on  the  first  day  of  November,  1875.  You  will  please  take 
notice  accordingly. 

Dated  this  tenth  day  of  October,  1875.  F.  W.  Arlen. 

To  P.  T.  Barnum,  Esq. 

REAL  ESTATE  MORTGAGE  TO  SECURE  PAYMENT  OF  MONEY. 

This  Indenture,  made  this  sixteenth  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-two,  between  William 
Stocker,  of  Peoria,  County  of  Peoria,  and  State  of  Illinois,  and  011a,  his 
wife,  party  of  the  first  part,  and  Edward  Singer,  party  of  the  second  part. 

Whereas,  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  is  justly  indebted  to  the  said 
party  of  the  second  part,  in  the  sum  of  Two  Thousand  dollars,  secured 
to  be  paid  by  two  certain  promissory  notes  (bearing  even  date  herewith} 
the  one  due  and  payable  at  the  Second  Natioilal  Bank  in  Peoria,  Illinois, 
with  interest,  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  May,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  seventy-three  ;  the  other  due  and  payable  at  the  Second 
National  Bank  at  Peoria,  111.,  with  interest,  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  May, 
in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seven t3^-four. 

Now,  therefore,  this  indenture  witnesseth,  that  the  said  party  of  the 
first  part,  for  the  better  securing  the  payment  of  the  money  aforesaid, 
with  interest  thereon,  according  to  the  tenor  and  effect  of  the  said  two 
promissory  notes  above  mentioned  ;  and,  also  in  consideration  of  the  fur- 
ther sum  of  one  dollar  to  them  in  hand  paid  by  the  said  party  of  the  sec- 
ond part,  at  the  delivery  of  these  presents,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby 
acknowledged,  have  granted,  bargained,  sold,  and  conveyed,  and  by  these 
presents  do  grant,  bargain,  sell,  and  convey,  unto  the  said  party  of  the 
second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  forever,  all  that  certain  parcel  of  land, 
situate,  etc. 

\^I}e scribing  the  premises.^ 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  same,  together  with  all  and  singular  the 
Tenements,    Hereditaments,    Privileges    and    Appui'tenances    thereunto 


182  ABSTRACT   OF    ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS. 

"belono-ing  or  in  any  wise  appertaining.  And  also,  all  the  estate,  interest, 
and  claim  whatsoever,  in  law  as  well  as  in  equit}^  which  the  party  of 
the  first  part  have  in  and  to  the  premises  hereby  conveyed  unto  the  said 
party  of  the  second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  and  to  their  only  proper 
use,  benefit  and  behoof.  And  the  said  William  Stocker,  and  011a,  his 
wife,  party  of  the  first  part,  hereby  expressly  waive,  relinquish,  release, 
^nd  convey  unto  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  his  heirs,  executors, 
administrators,  and  assigns,  all  right,  title,  claim,  interest,  and  benefit 
whatever,  in  and  to  the  above  described  premises,  and  each  and  every 
part  thereof,  which  is  given  by  or  results  from  all  laws  of  this  state  per- 
taining to  the  exemption  of  homesteads. 

Provided  always,  and  these  presents  are  upon  this  express  condition, 
that  if  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  their  heirs,  executors,  or  adminis- 
trators, shall  well  and  truly  pay,  or  cause  to  be  paid,  to  the  said  party  of 
the  second  part,  his  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  or  assigns,  the  afore- 
said sums  of  money,  with  such  interest  thereon,  at  the  time  and  in  the 
manner  specified  in  the  above  mentioned  promissory  notes,  according  to 
the  true  intent  and  meaning  thereof,  then  in  that  case,  these  presents  and 
«very  thing  herein  expressed,  shall  be  absolutely  null  and  void. 

In  witness  whereof,  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  hereunto  set  their 
hands  and  seals  the  day  and  year  first  above  written. 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of 

James  Whitehead,  William  Stocker.     [l.s.] 

Fred.  Samuels.  Olla  Stocker.  [l.s.] 

WARRANTY  DEED  WITH  COVENANTS. 

This  Indenture,  made  this  sixth  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-two,  between  Henry  Best 
of  Lawrence,  County  of  Lawrence,  State  of  Illinois,  and  Belle,  his  wife, 
of  the  first  part,  and  Charles  Pearson  of  the  same  place,  of  the  second  part, 

Witnesseth,  that  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  for  and  in  consideration 
■of  the  sum  of  Six  Thousand  dollars  in  hand  paid  by  the  said  party  of  the 
second  part,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  have  granted, 
bargained,  and  sold,  and  by  these  presents  do  grant,  bargain,  and  sell, 
unto  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  ail  the  fol- 
lowing described  lot,  piece,  or  parcel  of  land,  situated  in  the  City  of  Law- 
rence, in  the  County  of  Lawrence,  and  State  of  Illinois,  to  wit : 

\_Ee)'e   describe  the  property.'] 

Together  with  all  and  singular  the  hereditaments  and  appurtenances 
thereunto  belonging  or  in  any  wise  appertaining,  and  the  reversion  and 
reversions,  remainder  and  remainders,  rents,  issues,  and  profits  thereof; 
and  all  the  estate,  rignt,  title,  interest,  claim,  and  demand  whatsoever,  of 
the  said  party  of  the  nrst  part,  either  in  law  or  equity,  of,  in,  and  to  tht; 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS.  185 

above  bargained  premises,  with  the  hereditaments  and  appurtenances. 
To  have  and  to  hold  the  said  premises  above  bargained  and  described, 
with  the  appurtenances,  unto  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  his  heirs 
and  assigns,  forever.  And  the  said  Henry  Best,  and  Belle,  his  wife,  par- 
ties of  the  first  part,  hereby  expressly  waive,  release,  and  relinquish  unto 
the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  his  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  and 
assigns,  all  right,  title,  claim,  interest,  and  benefit  whatever,  in  and  to  the 
above  described  premises,  and  each  and  every  part  thereof,  which  is  given 
by  or  results  from  all  laws  of  this  state  pertaining  to  the  exemption  of 
homesteads. 

And  the  said  Henry  Best,  and  Belle,  his  wife,  party  of  the  first 
part,  for  themselves  and  their  heirs,  executors,  and  administrators,  do 
covenant,  grant,  bargain,  and  agree,  to  and  with  the  said  party  of  the 
second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  that  at  the  time  of  the  ensealing  and 
delivery  of  these  presents  they  were  well  seized  of  the  premises  above 
conveyed,  as  of  a  good,  sure,  perfect,  absolute,  and  indefeasible  estate  of 
inheritance  in  law,  and  in  fee  simple,  and  have  good  right,  full  power, 
and  lawful  authority  to  grant,  bargain,  sell,  and  convey  the  same,  in 
manner  and  form  aforesaid,  and  that  the  same  are  free  and  clear  from  all 
former  and  other  grants,  bargains,  sales,  liens,  taxes,  assessments,  and 
encumbrances  of  what  kind  or  nature  soever ;  and  the  above  bargained 
premises  in  the  quiet  and  peaceable  possession  of  the  said  party  of  the 
second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  against  all  and  every  person  or  persons 
lawfully  claiming  or  to  claim  the  whole  or  any  part  thereof,  the  said  party 
of  the  first  part  shall  and  will  warrant  and  forever  defend. 

In  testimony  whereof,  the  said  parties  of  the  first  part  have  hereunto 
set  their  hands  and  seals  the  day  and  year  first  above  written. 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered 

in  presence  of  Henry  Best,     [l.s.] 

Jerry  Linklater.  Belle  Best.      [l.s.] 

QUIT-CLAIM  DEED. 

This  Indenture,  made  the  eightli  day  of  June,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-four,  between  David  Tour, 
of  Piano,  County  of  Kendall,  State  of  Illinois,  party  of  the  first  part, 
and  Larry  O'Brien,  of  the  same  place,  party  of  the  second  part, 

Witnesseth,  that  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  for  and  in  considera- 
tion of  Nine  Hundred  dollars  in  hand  paid  by  the  said  party  of  the  sec- 
ond part,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  and  the  said  party 
of  the  second  part  forever  released  and  discharged  therefrom,  has  remised, 
released,  sold,  conveyed,  and  quit-claimed,  and  by  these  presents  does 
remise,  release,  sell,  convey,  and  quit-claim,  unto  the  said  party  of  the 
second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  forever,  all  the  right,  title,  interest, 


18(5  ABSTRACT  OF  ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS. 

claim,  and  demand,  which  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  has  in  and  to 
the  following  described  lot,  piece,  or  parcel  of  land,  to  wit : 

\^Here  describe  the  landJ] 
To  have  and  to  hold  the  same,  together  with  all  and  singular  the 
appurtenances  and  privileges  thereunto  belonging,  or  in  any  wise  there- 
unto appertaining,  and  all  the  estate,  right,  title,  interest,  and  claim 
whatever,  of  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  either  in  law  or  equity,  to 
the  only  proper  use,  benefit,  and  behoof  of  the  said  party  of  the  second 
part,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

In  witness  whereof  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  hereunto  set  his 
hand  and  seal  the  day  and  year  above  written. 

»Siigned,  sealed  and  delivered  David  Tour,     [l.s.] 

in  presence  of 
Thomas  Ashley. 

The  above  forms  of  Deeds  and  Mortgage  are  such  as  have  heretofore 
been  generally  used,  but  the  following  are  much  shorter,  and  are  made 
equally  valid  by  the  laws  of  this  state. 

WARRANTY  DEED. 

The  grantor  (here  insert  name  or  names  and  place  of  residence),  for 
and  in  consideration  of  (here  insert  consideration)  in  hand  paid,  conveys 
and  warrants  to  (here  insert  the  grantee's  name  or  names)  the  following 
described  real  estate  (here  insert  description),  situated  in  the  County  of 
in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Dated  this day  of  A.  D.  18 . 

QUIT  CLAIM  DEED. 

The  grantor  (here  insert  grantor's  name  or  names  and  place  of  resi- 
dence), for  the  consideration  of  (here  insert  consideration)  convey  and 
quit-claim  to  (here  insert  grantee's  name  or  names)  all  interest  in  the 
following  described  real  estate  (here  insert  description),  situated  in  the 
County  of  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Dated  this day  of  A.  D.  18 . 

MORTGAGE. 

The  mortgagor  (here  insert  name  or  names)  mortgages  and  warrants 
to  (here  insert  name  or  names  of  mortgagee  or  mortgagees),  to  secure  the 
payment  of  (here  recite  the  nature  and  amount  of  indebtedness,  showing 
when  due  and  the  rate  of  interest,  and  whether  secured  by  note  or  other- 
wise), the  following  described  real  estate  (here  insert  description  thereof), 
situated  in  the  County  of  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Dated  this day  of A.  D.  18 . 

RELEASE. 

Know  all  Men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Peter  Ahlund,  of  Chicago, 
of  the  County  of  Cook,  and  State  of  Illinois,  for  and  in  consideration  of 
One  dollar,  to  me  in  hand  paid,  and  for  other  good  and  valuable  considers- 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS.  187 

tions,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  confessed,  do  hereby  grant,  bargain, 
remise,  convey,  release,  and  quit-chaim  unto  Joseph  Carlin  of  Chicago, 
of  the  County  of  Cook,  and  State  of  Illinois,  all  the  right,  title,  interest, 
claim,  or  demand  whatsoever,  I  may  have  acquired  in,  through,  or  by  a 
certain  Indenture  or  Mortgage  Deed,  bearing  date  the  second  day  of  Jan- 
uary, A.  D.  1871,  and  recorded  in  the  Recorder's  office  of  said  county, 
in  book  A  of  Deeds,  page  46,  to  the  premises  therein  described,  and  which 
said  Deed  was  made  to  secure  one  certain  promissory  note,  bearing  even 
date  with  said  deed,  for  the  sum  of  Three  Hundred  dollars. 

Witness  my  hand  and  seal,  this  second  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1874. 

Peter  Ahlund.     [l.s.] 

State  of  Illinois,      ) 
Cook  County.        j  I,   George  Saxton,  a  Notary  Public  in 

and  for  said  county,  in  the  state  aforesaid,  do  hereby 

certify  that  Peter  Ahlund,  personally  known  to  me 

as  the  same   person  whose  name  is  subscribed  to  the 

foregoing  Release,  appeared  before  me  this  day  in 

[  "^Je AL."^^  ]  person,  and  acknowledged  that  he  signed,  sealed,  and 

delivered  the  said  instrument  of  writing  as  his  free 

and  voluntary  act,  for  the  uses  and  purposes  therein 

set  forth. 

Giv^n  under  my  hand  and  seal,  this  second  day  of 

November,  A.  D.  1874. 

George  Saxton,  N.  P. 

GENERAL  FOJtiVI  OF  WILL  FOR  REAL  AND  PERSONAL  PROPERTY. 

I,  Charles  Mansfield,  of  the  Town  of  Salem,  County  of  Jackson, 
Scate  of  Illinois,  being  aware  of  the  Lincertainty  of  life,  and  in  failing 
health,  but  of  sound  mind  and  memory,  do  make  and  declare  this  to  be 
my  last  will  and  testament,  in  manner  following,  to  wit: 

First.  I  give,  devise  and  bequeath  unto  my  oldest  son,  Sidney  H. 
Mansfield,  the  sum  of  Two  Thousand  Dollars,  cf  bank  stock,  now  in  the 
Third  National  Bank  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  the  farm  owned  by  myself 
in  the  Town  of  Buskirk,  consisting  of  one  hundred  jind  sixty  acres,  with 
all  the  houses,  tenements,  and  improvements  thereunto  belonging ;  to 
have  and  to  hold  unto  my  said  son,  his  heirs  and  assiguv,  forever. 

Second.  I  give,  devise  and  bequeath  to  each  of  my  daughters,  Anna 
Louise  Mansfield  and  Ida  Clara  Mansfield,  each  Two  Thousand  dollars  in 
bank  stock,  in  the  Third  National  Bank  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  also  each 
one  quarter  section  of  land,  owned  by  myself,  situated  in  tht.  Town  of 
Lake,  Illinois,  and  recorded  in  my  name  in  the  Recorder's  officvj  in  the 
county  where  such  land  is  located.  The  north  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  said  half  section  is  devised  to  ray  eldest  daughter,  Anna  Louise. 
6 


188  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS. 

Third.  I  give,  devise  and  bequeath  to  my  son,  Frank  Alfred  Mans- 
field, Five  shares  of  Railroad  stock  in  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad, 
and  my  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  and  saw  mill  thereon,  situ- 
ated in  Manistee,  Michigan,  with  all  the  improvements  and  appurtenances 
thereunto  belonging,  which  said  real  estate  is  recorded  in  my  name  in  the 
county  where  situated. 

Fourth.  I  give  to  my  wife,  Victoria  Elizabeth  Mansfield,  all  my 
household  furniture,  goods,  chattels,  and  personal  property,  about  my 
home,  not  hitherto  disposed  of,  including  Eight  Thousand  dollars  of  bank 
stock  in  the  Third  National  Bank  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Fifteen  shares  in 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  the  free  and  unrestricted  use,  pos- 
session, and  benefit  of  the  home  farm,  so  long  as  she  may  live,  in  lieu  of 
dower,  to  which  she  is  entitled  by  law ;  said  farm  being  my  present  place 
of  residence. 

Fifth.  I  bequeath  to  my  invalid  father,  Elijah  H.  Mansfield,  the 
income  from  rents  of  my  store  building  at  145  Jackson  Street,  Chicago, 
Illinois,  during  the  term  of  his  natural  life.  Said  building  and  land  there- 
with to  revert  to  my  said  sons  and  daughters  in  equal  proportion,  upon 
the  demise  of  my  said  father. 

Sixth.  It  is  also  my  will  and  desire  that,  at  the  death  of  my  wife, 
Victoria  Elizabeth  Mansfield,  or  at  any  time  when  she  may  arrange  to 
relinquish  her  life  interest  in  the  above  mentioned  homestead,  the  same 
may  revert  to  my  above  named  children,  or  to  the  lawful  heirs  of  each. 

And  lastly.  I  nominate  and  appoint  as  executors  of  this  my  last  will 
and  testament,  my  wife,  Victoria  Elizabeth  Mansfield,  and  my  eldest  son, 
Sidney  H.  Mansfield. 

I  further  direct  that  my  debts  and  necessary  funeral  expenses  shad 
be  paid  from  moneys  now  on  deposit  in  the  Savings  Bank  of  Salem,  the 
residue  of  such  moneys  to  revert  to  my  wife,  Victoria  Elizabeth  Mansfield, 
for  her  use  forever. 

In  witness  whereof,  I,  Charles  Mansfield,  to  this  my  last  will  and 
testament,  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal,  this  fourth  day  of  April, 
eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-two. 


Signed,  sealed,  and  declared  by  Charles 
Mansfield,  as  and  for  his  last  will  and 
testament,  in  the  presence  of  us,  who, 
at  his  request,  and  in  his  presence,  and 
in  the  presence  of  each  other,  have  sub-  )>■ 
scribed  our  names  hereunto  as  witnesses 
thereof. 

Peter  A.  Schenck,  Sycamore,  Ills. 

Frank  E.  Dent,  Salem,  Ills. 


Charles  Mansfield,  [l.s.] 


Charles  Mansfield,  [l.s.] 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS.  l8l) 

CODICIL. 

Whereas  I,  Charles  Mansfield,  did,  on  the  fourth  da}^  of  April,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-two,  make  my  last  will  and  testa- 
ment, I  do  now,  by  this  writing,  add  this  codicil  to  my  said  will,  to  be 
taken  as  a  part  thereof. 

Whereas,  by  the  dispensation  of  Providence,  my  daughter,  Anna 
Louise,  has  deceased  November  fifth,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-three, 
and  whereas,  a  son  has  been  born  to  me,  which  son  is  now  christened 
Richard  Albert  Mansfield,  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  him  my  gold  watch, 
and  all  right,  interest,  and  title  in  lands  and  bank  stock  and  chattels 
bequeathed  to  my  deceased  daughter,  Anna  Louise,  in  the  body  of  this  will. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  hereunto  place  my  hand  and  seal,  this  tenth 
day  of  March,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy -five. 

Signed,  sealed,  published,  and  declared  to^ 

us  by  the  testator,  Charles  Mansfield,  as 

and  for  a  codicil  to  be  annexed  to  his 

last  will  and   testament.      And  we,  at 

his  request,  and  in  his  presence,  and  in 

the  presence  of  each  other,  have  sub- 
scribed our  names  as  witnesses  thereto, 

at  the  date  hereof. 
Frank  E.  Dent,  Salem,  Ills. 
John  C.  Shay,  Salem,  Ills. 

CHURCH    ORGANIZATIONS 

May  be  legally  made  by  electing  or  appointing^  according  to  the  usages 
or  customs  of  the  body  of  which  it  is  a  part,  at  any  meeting  held  for  that 
purpose,  two  or  more  of  its  members  as  trustees,  wardens  or  vestrymen,  and 
may  adopt  a  corporate  name.  The  chairman  or  secretary  of  such  meeting 
shall,  as  soon  as  possible,  make  and  file  in  the  office  of  the  recorder  of 
deeds  of  the  county,  an  affidavit  substantially  in  the  following  form : 
State  of  Illinois, 


> 


County.       ( 

I,   ,  do    solemnly   swear    (or  affirm,   as   the    case   may  be), 

that  at  a  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  (here  insert  the  name  of  the 
church,  society  or  congregation  as  known   before  organization),  held  at 

(here  insert  place  of  meeting),   in  the   County  of ,  and  State  of 

Illinois,  on  the day  of  — ^ ,  A.D.  18—,  for  that  purpose,  the  fol- 
lowing persons  were  elected  (or  appointed)  [here  insert  their  natnes] 
trustees,  wardens,  vestrymen,  (or  officers  by  whatever  name  the}^  may 
choose  to  adopt,  with  powers  similar  to  trustees)  according  to  the  rules 
and  usages  of  such   (church,  society  or  congregation),  and  said 


190  ABSTRACT    OF    ILLINOIS    STATE    LAWS. 

adopted  as  its  corporate  name  (here  insert  name),  and  at  said  meeting- 
this  affiant  acted  as  (chairman  or  secretary,  as  the  case  may  be). 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  this day  of  ,  A.D. 

18—.  Name  of  Affiant 

which  affidavit  must  be  recorded  by  the  recorder,  and  shall  be,  or  a  certi- 
fied copy  made  by  the  recorder,  received  as  evidence  of  such  an  incorpo- 
ration. 

No  certificate  of  election  after  the  first  need  he  filed  for  record. 

The  term  of  office  of  the  trustees  and  the  general  government  of  the 
society  can  be  determined  by  the  rules  or  by-laws  adopted.  Failure  to- 
elect  trustees  at  the  time  provided  does  not  work  a  dissolution,  but  the 
old  trustees  hold  over.  A  trustee  or  trustees  may  be  removed,  in  the 
same  manner  by  the  society  as  elections  are  held  by  a  meeting  called  for 
that  purpose.  The  property  of  the  society  Vests  in  the  corporation.  The 
corporation  may  hold,  or  acquire  by  purchase  or  otherwise,  land  not 
exceeding  ten  acres,  for  the  purpose  of  the  society.  The  trustees  have 
the  care,  custody  and  control  of  the  praperty  of  the  corporation,  and  can, 
when  directed  by  the  society,  erect  houses  or  improvements,  and  repair 
and  alter  the  same,  and  may  also  when  so  directed  by  the  society, 
mortgage,  encumber,  sell  and  convey  any  real  or  personal  estate  belonging 
to  the  corporation,  and  make  all  proper  contracts  in  the  name  of  such 
corporation.  But  they  are  prohibited  by  law  from  encumbering  or  inter- 
fering with  any  property  so  as  to  destroy  the  effect  of  any  gift,  grant,, 
devise  or  bequest  to  the  corporation ;  but  such  gifts,  grants,  devises  of 
bequests,  must  in  all  cases  be  used  so  as  to  carry  out  the  object  intended 
by  the  persons  making  the  same.  Existing  societies  may  organize  in  the 
manner  herein  set  forth,  and  have  all  the  advantages  thereof. 

SUGGESTIONS  TO  THOSE  PURCHASING  BOOKS  BY  SUBSCRIPTION, 

The  business  of  publishing  books  by  subscription  having  so  often  been 
brought  into  disrepute  by  agents  making  representations  and  declarations 
not  authorized  by  the  publisher  ;  in  order  to  prevent  that  as  much  as  possi- 
ble, and  that  there  may  be  more  general  knowledge  of  the  relation  such 
agents  bear  to  their  principal,  and  the  law  governing  such  cases,  the  fol- 
lowing statement  is  made  : 

A  subscription  is  in  the  nature  of  a  contract  of  mutual  promises,  by 
which  the  subscriber  agrees  to  pay  a  certain  sum  for  the  work  described ; 
the  consideration  is  concurrent  that  the  publisher  shall  publish  the  book 
named,  and  deliver  the  same,  for  which  the  subscriber  is  to  pay  the  price 
named.  The  nature  and  character  of  the  tvork  is  described  in  the  prospectus 
and  by  the  sample  shown.  These  should  be  carefully  examined  before  sub- 
scribing, as  they  are  the  basis  and  consideration  of  the  promise  to  pay. 


ABSTRACT    OF    lL,LINOIS    STATE   LAWS. 

and  not  the  too  often  exaggerated  statements  of  the  agent^  who  is  merely 
employed  to  solicit  subscriptions,  for  which  he  is  usually  paid  a  commission 
for  each  subscriber,  and  has  yio  authority  to  change  or  alter  the  conditions 
upon  which  the  subscriptions  are  authorized  to  be  made  by  the  publisher. 
Should  the  agent  assume  to  agree  to  make  the  subscription  conditional  or 
modify  or  change  the  agreement  of  the  publisher,  as  set  out  by  prospectus 
and  sample,  in  order  to  hind  the  principal,  the  subscriber  should  see  that 
such  conditions  or  changes  are  stated  over  or  in  connection  with  his  signa- 
ture, so  that  the  publisher  may  have  notice  of  the  same. 

All  persons  making  contracts  in  reference  to  matters  of  this  kind,  or 
any  other  business,  should  remember  that  the  law  as  to  written  contracts  zs, 
that  they  can  not  be  varied,  altered  or  rescinded  verbally,  but  if  done  at  all, 
must  be  done  in  writing.  It  is  therefore  important  that  all  persons  contem- 
plating subscribing  should  distinctly  understand  that  all  talk  before  or  after 
the  subscription  is  made,  is  not  admissible  as  evidence,  and  is  no  part  of  the 
contract. 

Persons  employed  to  solicit  subscriptions  are  known  to  the  trade  as 
canvassers.  They  are  agents  appointed  to  do  a  particular  business  in  a 
prescribed  mode,  and  have  no  authority  to  do  it  in  any  other  way  to  the 
prejudice  of  their  principal,  nor  can  they  bind  their  principal  in  any  other 
matter.  They  cannot  collect  money,  or  agree  that  payment  may  be  made 
in  anything  else  hut  money.  They  can  not  extend  the  time  of  payment 
heyond  the  time  of  delivery,  nor  hind  their  principal  for  the  payment  of 
expenses  incurred  in  their  buisness. 

It  would  save  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  and  often  serious  loss,  if  persons, 
before  signing  their  names  to  any  subscription  book,  or  any  written  instru- 
ment, would  examine  carefully  what  it  is  ;  if  they  can  not  read  themselves, 
should  call  on  some  one  disinterested  who  can. 


192  CONSTITUTION   OP   THE   UNITED   STATES 


CONSTITUTION    OF    THE    UNITED    STATES    OF   AMERICA 

AND  ITS  AMENDMENTS. 

We,  the  people  of  the  United  States,  in  order  to  form  a  more  perfect  uniouy. 
establish  justice,  insure  domestic  trariquillity,  provide  for  the  common 
defense,  promote  the  general  ivelfare,  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty 
to  ourselves  and  our  posterity,  do  ordain  and  establish  this  Constitution 
for  the  United  States  of  America. 

Article  I. 

Section  1.  All  legislative  powers  herein  granted  shall  be  vested  in 
a  Congress  of  the  United  States,  which  shall  consist  of  a  Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives. 

Sec.  2.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  be  composed  of  mem- 
bers chosen  every  second  year  by  the  people  of  the  several  states,  and  the- 
electors  in  each  state  shall  have  the  qualifications  requisite  for  electors  of 
the  most  numerous  branch  of  the  State  Legislature. 

No  person  shall  be  a  representative  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the 
age  of  twenty-live  years,  and  been  seven  years  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  and  who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  inhabitant  of  that  state  in 
which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

Representatives  and  direct  taxes  shall  be  apportioned  among  the  sev- 
eral states  Avhicli  may  be  included  within  this  Union,  according  to  their 
respective  numbers,  which  shall  be  determined  by  adding  to  the  whole 
number  of  free  persons,  including  those  bound  to  service  for  a  term  of 
years,  and  excluding  Indians  not  taxed,  three-fifths  of  all  other  persons. 
The  actual  enumeration  shall  be  made  within  three  years  after  the  first 
meeting  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  within  every  subse- 
quent term  of  ten  j^ears,  in  such  manner  as  they  shall  by  law  direct.  The 
number  of  Representatives  shall  not  exceed  one  for  every  thirty  thousand^ 
but  each  state  shall  have  at  least  one  Representative  ;  and  until  such 
enumeration  shall  be  made  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  shall  be  entitled 
to  choose  three,  Massachusetts  eight,  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plan- 
tations one,  Connecticut  five,  New  York  six,  New  Jersey  four,  Pennsylva- 
nia eight,  Delaware  one,  Maryland  six,  Virginia  ten,  North  Carolina  five,, 
and  Georgia  three. 

When  vacancies  happen  in  the  representation  from  any  state,  the 
Executive  authority  thereof  shall  issue  writs  of  election  to  fill  such 
vacancies. 

The  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose  their  Speaker  and  other 
officers,  and  shall  have  the  sole  power  of  impeachment. 

Sec.  3.  The  Senate  of  the  United  States  shall  be  composed  of  two 
Senators  from  each  state,  chosen  by  the  Legislature  thereof  for  six  years ; 
and  each  Senator  shall  have  one  vote. 

Immediately  after  they  shall  be  assembled  in  consequence  of  the  first 
election,  they  shall  be  divided  as  equally  as  may  be  into  three  classes. 
The  seats  of  the  Senators  of  the  first  class  shall  be  vacated  at  the  expira- 


AND   ITS   AMENDMENTS.  19d 

tion  of  the  second  year,  of  the  second  class  at  the  expiration  of  the  fourth 
year,  and  of  the  third  class  at  the  expiration  of  the  sixth  year,  so  that 
one-third  may  be  chosen  every  second  year;  and  if  vacancies  happen  by 
resignation  or  otherwise,  during  the  recess  of  the  Legislature  of  any  state, 
the  Executive  thereof  may  make  temporary  appointments  until  the  next 
meeting  of  the  Legislature,  which  shall  then  fill  such  vacajcies. 

No  person  shall  be  a  Senator  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the  age 
of  thirty  years  and  been  nine  years  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and 
who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  "inhabitant  of  that  state  for  which  he 
shall  be  chosen. 

The  Vice-President  of  the  United  States  shall  be  President  of  the 
Senate,  but  shall  have  no  vote  unless  they  be  equally  divided. 

The  Senate  shall  choose  their  other  officers,  and  also  a  President  pro 
tempore,  in  the  absence  of  the  Vice-President,  or  when  he  shall  exercise 
the  office  of  President  of  the  United  States. 

The  Senate  shall  have  the  sole  power  to  try  all  impeachments.  When 
sitting  for  that  purpose  they  shall  be  on  oath  or  affirmation.  When  the 
President  of  the  United  States  is  tried  the  Chief  Justice  shall  preside. 
And  no  person  shall  be  convicted  without  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds 
of  the  members  present. 

Judgment,  in  cases  of  impeachment,  shall  not  extend  further  than  to 
removal  from  office,  and  disqualification  to  hold  and  enjoy  any  office  of 
honor,  trust,  or  profit  under  the  United  States ;  but  the  party  convicted 
shall  nevertheless  be  liable  and  subject  to  indictment,  trial,  judgment, 
and  punishment  according  to  law. 

Sec.  4.  The  times,  places  and  manner  of  holding  elections  for  Sen- 
ators and  Representatives  shall  be  prescribed  in  each  state  by  the  Legis- 
lature thereof ;  but  the  Congress  ma}^  at  any  time  by  law  make  or  alter 
such  regulations,  except  as  to  the  places  of  choosing  Senators. 

The  Congress  shall  assemble  at  least  once  in  every  year,  and  such 
meeting  shall  be  on  the  first  Monday  in  December,  unless  they  shall  by 
law  appoint  a  different  day. 

Sec.  5.  Each  house  shall  be  the  judge  of  the  election,  returns,  and 
qualifications  of  its  own  members,  and  a  majority  of  each  shall  constitute 
a  quorum  to  do  business;  but  a  smaller  number  may  adjourn  from  day  to 
day,  and  may  be  authorized  to  compel  the  attendance  of  absent  members 
in  such  manner  and  under  such  penalties  as  each  house  may  provide. 

Each  house  may  determine  the  rules  of  its  proceedings,  punish  its 
members  for  disorderly  behavior,  and,  with  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds, 
expel  a  member. 

Each  house  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  proceedings,  and  from  time  to 
time  publish  the  same,  excepting  such  parts  as  may,  in  their  judgment, 
require  secrecy  ;  and  the  yeas  and  nays  of  the  members  of  either  house 
on  any  question  shall,  at  the  desire  of  one-fifth  of  those  present,  be  entered 
on  the  journal. 

Neither  house,  during  the  session  of  Congress,  shall,  without  the 
consent  of  the  other,  adjourn  for  more  than  three  days,  nor  to  any  other 
place  than  that  in  which  the  two  houses  shall  be  sitting. 

Sec.  6.  The  Senators  and  Kepresentatives  shall  receive  a  compen- 
sation for  their  services,  to  be  ascertained  by  law,  and  paid  out  of  the 
treasury  of  the  United  States.     They  shall  in  all  cases,  except  treason. 


194  CONSTITUTION   OF  THE   UNITED   STATES 

felony,  and  breach  of  the  peace,  be  privileged  from  arrest  during  their 
attendance  at  the  session  of  their  respective  houses,  and  in  going  to  and 
returning  from  the  same  ;  and  for  any  speech  or  debate  in  either  house 
they  shall  not  be  questioned  in  any  other  place. 

No  Senator  or  Representative  shall,  during  the  time  for  which  he  was 
elected,  be  appointed  to  any  civil  office  under  the  authority  of  the  United 
States,  which  shall  have  been  created,  or  the  emoluments  whereof  shall 
have  been  increased  during  such  time  ;  and  no  person  holding  any  office 
under  the  United  States,  shall  be  a  member  of  either  house  during  his 
continuance  in  office. 

Sec.  7.  All  bills  for  raising  revenue  shall  originate  in  the  House  of 
Representatives  ;  but  the  Senate  may  propose  or  concur  with  amendments 
as  on  other  bills. 

Every  bill  which  shall  have  passed  the  House  of  Representatives  and 
the  Senate,  shall,  before  it  becomes  a  law,  be  presented  to  the  President 
1'  the  United  States ;  if  he  approve  he  shall  sign  it ;  but  if  not  he  shall 
return  it,  with  his  objections,  to  that  house  in  which  it  shall  have  origi- 
nated, who  shall  enter  the  objections  at  large  on  their  journal,  and 
proceed  to  reconsider  it.  If,  after  such  reconsideration  two-thirds  of  that 
house  shall  agree  to  pass  the  bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with  the  objec- 
tions, to  the  other  house,  by  which  it  shall  likewise  be  reconsidered,  and  if 
approved  by  two-thirds  of  that  house,  it  shall  become  a  law.  But  in  all 
such  cases  the  votes  of  both  houses  shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays, 
and  the  names  of  the  persons  voting  for  and  against  the  bill  shall  be  entered 
on  the  journal  of  each  house  respectively.  If  any  bill  shall  not  be  returned 
by  the  President  within  ten  days  (Sundays  excepted),  after  it  shall  have 
been  presented  to  him,  the  same  shall  be  a  law,  in  like  manner  as  if  he 
had  signed  it,  unless  the  Congress,  by  their  adjournment,  prevent  its 
return,  in  which  case  it  shall  not  be  a  law. 

Every  order,  resolution,  or  vote  to  which  the  concurrence  of  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  may  be  necessary  (except  on  a 
question  of  adjournment),  shall  be  presented  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  and  before  the  same  shall  take  effect  shall  be  approved  by 
him,  or,  being  disapproved  by  him,  shall  be  re-passed  by  two-thirds  of 
the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  according  to  the  rules  and  lim- 
itations prescribed  in  the  case  of  a  bill. 

Sec.  8.     The  Congress  shall  have  power — 

To  lay  and  collect  taxes,  duties,  imposts  and  excises,  to  pay  the  debts, 
and  provide  for  the  common  defense  and  general  welfare  of  the  United 
States ;  but  all  duties,  imposts,  and  excises  shall  be  uniform  throughout 
the  United  States ; 

To  borrow  money  on  the  credit  of  the  United  States ; 

To  regulate  commerce  with  foreign  nations,  and  among  the  several 
Str.tes,  and  with  the  Indian  tribes ; 

To  establish  a  uniform  rule  of  naturalization,  and  uniform  laws  on 
the  subject  of  bankruptcies  throughout  the  United  States ; 

To  coin  money,  regulate  the  value  thereof,  and  of  foreign  coin,  and 
fix  the  standard  of  weights  and  measures ; 

To  provide  for  the  punishment  of  counterfeiting  the  securities  and 
current  coin  of  the  United  States; 

To  establish  post  offices  and  post  roads ; 


AND   ITS   AMENDMENTS.  195 

To  promote  the  progress  of  sciences  and  useful  arts,  by  securing, 
for  I'mited  times,  to  authors  and  inventors,  the  exclusive  right  to  their 
respective  writings  and  discoveries ; 

To  constitute  tribunals  inferior  to  the  Supreme  Court ; 

To  define  and  punish  piracies  and  felonies  committed  on  the  high 
seas,  and  offenses  against  the  law  of  nations ; 

To  declare  war,  grant  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal,  and  make  rules 
concerning  captures  on  land  and  water  ; 

To  raise  and  support  armies,  but  no  appropriation  of  money  to  that 
use  shall  be  for  n  longer  term  than  two  years ; 

To  provide  and  maintain  a  navy ; 

To  make  rules  for  the  government  and  regulation  of  the  land  and 
naval  forces ; 

To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  execute  the  laws  of  the 
Union,  suppress  insurrections,  and  repel  invasions  ; 

To  provide  for  organizing,  arming  and  disciplining  the  militia,  and 
for  governing  such  part  of  them  as  may  be  employed  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  reserving  to  the  states  respectively  the  appointment  of  the 
officers,  and  the  authority  of  training  the  militia  according  to  the  disci- 
pline prescribed  by  Congress ; 

To  exercise  legislation  in  all  cases  whatsoever  over  such  district  (not 
exceeding  ten  miles  square)  as  may,  by  cession  of  particular  states,  and  the 
acceptance  of  Congress,  become  the  seat  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  and  to  exercise  Uke  authority  over  all  places  purchased  by  the 
consent  of  the  Legislature  of  the  state  in  which  the  same  shall  be,  for 
the  erection  of  forts,  magazines,  arsenals,  dock  yards,  and  other  needful 
buildings ;  and 

To  make  all  laws  which  shall  be  necessary  and  proper  for  carrying 
into  execution  the  foregoing  powers,  and  all  other  powers  vested  by  this 
Constitution  in  the  government  of  the  United  States,  or  in  any  depart- 
ment or  officer  thereof. 

Sec.  9.  The  migration  or  importation  of  such  persons  as  any  of  the 
states  now  existing  shall  think  proper  to  admit,  shall  not  be  prohibited 
by  the  Congress  prior  to  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight, 
but  a  tax  or  duty  may  be  imposed  on  such  importation,  not  exceeding  ten 
dollars  for  each  person. 

The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  shall  not  be  suspended, 
unless  when  in  cases  of  rebellion  or  invasion  the  public  safety  may 
require  it. 

No  bill  of  attainder  or  ex  post  facto  law  shall  be  passed. 

No  capitation  or  other  direct  tax  shall  be  laid,  unless  in  proportion 
to  the  census  or  enumeration  hereinbefore  directed  to  be  taken. 

No  tax  or  duty  shall  be  laid  on  articles  exported  from  any  state. 

No  preference  shall  be  given  by  any  regulation  of  commerce  or  rev- 
enue to  the  ports  of  one  state  over  those  of  another ;  nor  shall  vessels 
bound  to  or  from  one  state  be  obliged  to  enter,  clear,  or  pay  duties  in 
another. 

No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  Treasury,  but  in  consequence  of 
appropriations  made  by  law ;  and  a  regular  statement  and  account  of 
the  receipts  and  expeditures  of  all  public  money  shall  be  published  from 
time  to  time. 


196  CONSTITUTION   OF   THE  UNITED   STATES 


N 


No  title  of  nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the  United  States :  and  no 
person  holding  any  office  of  profit  or  trust  under  them,  shall,  without  the 
consent  of  the  Congress,  accept  of  any  present,  emolument,  office,  or  title 
of  any  kind  whatever,  irom  any  king,  prince,  or  foreign  state. 

Sec.  10.  No  state  shall  enter  into  any  treaty,  alliance,  or  confeder- 
ation ;  grant  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal ;  coin  money ;  emit  bills  of 
credit ;  make  anything  but  gold  and  silver  coin  a  tender  in  payment  of 
debts ;  pass  any  bill  of  attainder,  ex  post  facto  law,  or  law  impairing  the 
obligation  of  contracts,  or  grant  any  title  of  nobility. 

No  state  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  Congress,  lay  any  imposts 
or  duties  on  imports  or  exports,  except  what  may  be  absolutely  necessary 
for  executing  its  inspection  laws,  and  the  net  produce  of  all  duties  and 
imposts  laid  by  any  state  on  imports  or  exports,  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the 
Treasury  of  the  United  States  °,  and  all  such  laws  shall  be  subject  to  tha 
revision  and  control  of  the  Congress. 

No  state  shall,  without  the  consent  of  Congress,  lay  any  duty  on 
tonnage,  keep  troops  or  ships  of  war  in  time  of  peace,  enter  into  any 
agreement  or  compact  with  another  state,  or  with  a  foreign  power,  or 
engage  in  war,  unless  actually  invaded,  or  in  such  imminent  danger  as  will 
not  admit  of  delay. 

Article  II. 

Section  1.  The  Executive  power  shall  be  vested  in  a  President  of 
the  United  States  of  America.  He  shall  hold  his  office  during  the  term 
of  four  years,  and,  together  with  the  Vice-President  chosen  for  the  same 
term,  be  elected  as  follows : 

Each  state  shall  appoint,  in  such  manner  as  the  Legislature  thereof 
may  direct,  a  number  of  Electors,  equal  to  the  whole  number  of  Senators 
and  Representatives  to  which  the  state  may  be  entitled  in  the  Congress ; 
but  no  Senator  or  Representative,  or  person  holding  an  office  of  trust  or 
profit  under  the  United  States,  shall  be  appointed  an  Elector. 

[*The  Electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  states,  and  vote  by 
ballot  for  two  persons,  of  whom  one  at  least  shall  not  be  an  inhabitant  of 
the  same  state  with  themselves.  And  they  shall  make  a  list  of  all  the 
persons  voted  for,  and  of  the  number  of  votes  for  each  ;  which  list  they 
shall  sign  and  certify,  and  transmit,  sealed,  to  the  seat  of  the  government 
of  the  United  States,  directed  to  the  President  of  the  Senate.  The  Pres- 
ident of  the  Senate  shall,  in  the  presence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, open  all  the  certificates,  and  the  votes  shall  then  be  counted. 
The  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  shall  be  the  President, 
if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  Electors  appointed  ; 
and  if  there  be  more  than  one  who  have  such  majority,  and  have  an  equal 
number  of  votes,  then  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  immediately 
choose  by  ballot  one  of  them  for  President ;  and  if  no  person  have  a  ma- 
jority, then  from  the  five  highest  on  the  list  the  said  House  shall  in  like 
manner  choose  the  President.  But  in  choosing  the  President,  the  vote 
shall  be  taken  b}^  states,  the  representation  from  each  state  having  one 
vote  ;  a  quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist  of  a  member  or  members 
from  two-thirds  of  the  states,  and  a  majority  of  all  the  states  shall  be 
necessary  to  a  choice.     In  every  case,  after  the  choice  of  the  President, 

•  This  clause  between.brackets  has  been  superseded  and  annulled  by  the  Twelfth  amendment. 


AND    ITS   AMENDMENTS.  19T 

the  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  of  the  Electors  shall  be- 
the  Vice-President.  But  if  there  should  remain  two  or  more  who  have 
equal  votes,  the  Senate  shall  choose  from  them  by  ballot  the  Vice-Presi- 
dent.] 

The  Congress  may  determine  the  time  of  choosing  the  Electors,  and 
the  day  on  which  they  shall  give  their  votes  ;  which  day  shall  be  the  same 
throughout  the  United  States. 

No  person  except  a  natural  born  citizen,  or  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States  at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  eligible 
to  the  office  of  President ;  neither  shall  any  person  be  eligible  to  that 
office  who  shall  not  have  attained  the  age  of  thirty-five  years,  and  been 
fourteen  years  a  resident  within  the  United  States. 

In  case  of  the  removal  of  the  President  from  office,  or  of  his  death, 
resignation,  or  inability  to  discharge  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  said 
office,  the  same  shall  devolve  on  the  Vice-Puesident,  and  the  Congress- 
may  by  law  provide  for  the  case  of  removal,  death,  resignation,  or  inabil- 
ity, both  of  the  President  and  Vice-President,  declaring  what  officer  shall 
then  act  as  President,  and  such  officer  shall  act  accordingly,  until  the  dis- 
ability be  removed,  or  a  President  shall  be  elected. 

The  President  shall,  at  stated    times,  receive  for  his  services  a  com- 
pensation  which  shall  neither  be   increased  nor  diminished  during  the 
period  for  which  he  shall  have  been   elected,  and  he  shall  not  receive 
within  that  period  any  other  emolument  from  the  United  States  or  any  of 
them. 

Before  he  enters  on  the  execution  of  his  office,  he  shall  take  the  fol- 
lowing oath  or  affirmation : 

"  I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will  faithfully  execute  the 
office  of  President  of  the  United  States,  and  will,  to  the  best  of  my  ability, 
preserve,  protect,  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States." 

Sec.  2.  The  President  shall  be  commander  in  chief  of  the  army  and 
navy  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  militia  of  the  several  states,  when 
called  into  the  actual  service  of  the  United  States;  he  may  require  the 
opinion,  in  writing,  of  the  principal  officer  in  each  of  the  executive 
departments,  upon  any  subject  relating  to  the  duties  of  their  respective- 
offices,  and  he  shall  have  power  to  grant  reprieves  and  pardon  for  offenses 
against  the  United  States,  ex-cept  in  cases  of  impeachment. 

He  shall  have  power,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
Senate,  to  make  treaties,  provided  two-thirds  of  the  Senators  present  con- 
cur; and  he  shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the  advice  of  the  Senate, 
shall  appoint  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers  and  consuls,  judges  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  and  all  other  officers  of  the  United  States  whose 
appointments  are  not  herein  otherwise  provided  for,  and  which  shall  be 
established  by  law ;  but  the  Congress  may  by  law  vest  the  appointment 
of  such  inferior  officers  as  they  think  proper  in  the  President  alone,  in 
the  courts  of  law,  or  in  the  heads  of  departments. 

The  President  shall  have  power  to  fill  up  all  vacancies  that  may 
happen  during  the  recess  of  the  Senate,  by  granting  commissions  which, 
shall  expire  at  the  end  of  their  next  session. 

Sec.  3.  He  shall  from  time  to  time  give  to  the  Congress  information- 
of  the  state  of  the  Union,  and  recommend  to  their  consideration  such  mea- 
sures as  he  shall  judge  necessary  and  expedient ;  he  may  on  extraordinary 


198  CONSTITUTION   OF   THE   UNITED   STATES 

■occasions  convene  both  houses,  or  either  of  them,  and  in  case  of  disagree- 
ment between  them,  Avith  respect  to  the  time  of  adjournment,  he  may 
.adjourn  them  to  such  time  as  he  shall  think  proper ;  he  shall  receive 
ambassadors  and  other  public  ministers ;  he  shall  take  care  that  the  laws  be 
faithfully  executed,  and  shall  commission  all  the  of^cers  of  the  United 

■States. 

Sec.  4.  The  President,  Vice-President,  and  all  civil  officers  of  the 
United  States,  shall  be  removed  from  office  on  impeachment  for,  and  con- 
viction of,  treason,  bribery,  or  other  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors. 

Article  III. 

Section  I.  The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  be  vested 
in  one  Supreme  Court,  and  such  inferior  courts  as  the  Congress  may  from 
time  to  time  ordain  and  establish.  The  Judges,  both  of  the  Supreme  and 
inferior  courts,  shall  hold  their  offices  during  good  behavior,  and  shall,  at 
stated  times,  receive  for  their  services  a  compensation,  which  shall  not  be 
diminished  during  their  continuance  in  office. 

Sec.  2.  The  judicial  power  shall  extend  to  all  cases,  in  law  and 
equity,  arising  under  this  Constitution,  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  and 
treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under  their  authority ;  to  all  cases 
affecting  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers,  and  consuls ;  to  all  cases  of 
admiralty  and  maritime  jurisdiction  ;  to  controversies  to  which  the  United 
States  shall  be  a  party ;  to  controversies  between  two  or  more  states ; 
between  a  state  and  citizens  of  another  state  ;  between  citizens  of  differ- 
ent states  ;  between  citizens  of  the  same  state  claiming  lands  under  grants 
of  different  states,  and  between  a  state  or  the  citizens  thereof,  and  foreign 
states,  citizens,  or  subjects. 

In  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers,  and  consuls, 
and  those  in  which  a  state  shall  be  a  party,  the  Supreme  Court  shall  have 
original  jurisdiction. 

In  all  the  other  cases  before  mentioned,  the  Supreme  Court  shall 
have  appellate  jurisdiction,  both  as  to  law  and  fact,  with  such  exceptions 
and  under  such  regulations  as  the  Congress  shall  make. 

The  trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in  cases  of  impeachment,  shall  be  by 
jury ;  and  such  trial  shall  be  held  in  the  state  where  the  said  crimes  shali 
have  been  committed  ;  but  when  not  committed  within  any  state,  the 
trial  shall  be  at  such  place  or  places  as  the  Congress  may  by  law  have 
directed. 

Sec.  3.  Treason  against  the  United  States  shall  consist  only  in  levy- 
ing war  against  them,  or  in  adhering  to  their  enemies,  giving  them  aid 
and  comfort.  No  person  shall  be  convicted  of  treason  unless  on  the  tes- 
timony of  two  witnesses  to  the  same  overt  act,  or  on  confession  in  open 
court. 

The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  declare  the  punishment  of  treason, 
but  no  attainder  of  treason  shall  work  corruption  of  blood,  or  forfeiture, 
except  during  the  life  of  the  person  attainted. 

Article  IV. 

Section  1.  Full  faith  and  credit  shall  be  given  in  each  state  to  the 
public  acts,  records,  and  judicial  proceedings  of  every  other  state.     And 


AND   ITS    AMENDMENTS.  19^ 

tlie  Congress  may,  by  general  laws,  prescribe  the  manner  in  which  such 
acts,  records,  and  proceedings  shall  be  proved,  and  the  effect  thereof. 

Sec.  2.  The  citizens  of  each  state  shall  be  entitled  to  all  privileges- 
and  immunities  of  citizens  in  the  several  states. 

A  person  charged  in  any  state  with  treason,  felony,  or  other  crime^ 
who  shall  flee  from  justice  and  be  found  in  another  state,  shall,  on  demand 
of  the  executive  authority  of  the  state  from  which  he  fled,  be  delivered 
up,  to  be  removed  to  the  state  having  jurisdicl'on  of  the  crime. 

No  person  held  to  service  or  labor  in  one  state,  under  the  laws  thereof 
escaping  into  another,  shall,  in  consequence  of  any  law  or  regulation 
therein,  be  discharged  from  such  service  or  labor,  but  shall  be  delivered 
up  on  the  claim  of  the  party  to  whom  such  service  or  labor  may  be  due. 

Sec.  3.  New  states  may  be  admitted  by  the  Congress  into  this  Union  ^ 
but  no  new  state  shall  be  formed  or  erected  within  the  jurisdiction  of  any 
other  state  ;  nor  any  state  be  formed  by  the  junction  of  two  or  more  states,, 
or  parts  of  states,  without  the  consent  of  the  Legislatures  of  the  states, 
concerned,  as  well  as  of.  the  Congress. 

The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  dispose  of  and  make  all  needful 
rules  and  regulations  respecting  the  territor}'  or  other  property  belonging- 
to  the  United  States ;  and  nothing  in  this  Constitution  shall  be  so  construed 
as  to  prejudice  any  claims  of  the  United  States  or  of  any  particular  state. 

Sec.  4.  The  United  States  shall  guarantee  to  every  state  in  this. 
Union  a  republican  form  of  government,  and  shall  protect  each  of  them 
against  invasion,  and  on  application  of  the  Legislature,  or  of  the  Execu- 
tive (when  the  Legislature  can  not  be  convened),  against  domestic  vio- 
lence. 

Article  V. 

The  Congress,  whenever  two-thirds  of  both  houses  shall  deem  it 
necessary,  shall  propose  amendments  to  this  Constitution,  or,  on  the  ap- 
plication of  the  Legislatures  of  two-thirds  of  the  several  states,  shall  call 
a  convention  for  proposing  amendments,  which,  in  either  case,  shall  be 
valid  to  all  intents  and  purposes  as  part  of  this  Constitution,  when  rati- 
fied by  the  Legislatures  of  three  fourths  of  the  several  states,  or  by  con- 
ventions in  three-fourths  thereof,  as  the  one  or  the  other  mode  of  ratifi- 
cation may  be  proposed  by  the  Congress.  Provided  that  no  amendment 
which  may  be  made  prior  to  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
eiq-ht  shall  in  anv  manner  affect  the  first  and  fourth  clauses  in  the  ninth 
section  of  the  first  article ;  and  that  no  state,  without  its  consent,  shall 
be  deprived  of  its  equal  suffrage  in  the  Senate. 

Article  VI. 

All  debts  contracted  and  engagements  entered  into  before  the  adop- 
tion of  this  Constitution  shall  be  as  valid  against  the  United  States  under 
this  Constitution  as  under  the  Confederation. 

This  Constitution,  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States  which  shall  be 
made  in  pursuance  thereof,  and  all  treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made, 
under  the  authority  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  the  supreme  law  of  the 
land  ;  and  the  Judges  in  every  state  shall  be  bound  thereby,  anything  in 
the  Constitution  or  laws  of  any  state  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

The  Senators  and  Representatives  before  mentioned,  and  the  mem- 

7 


CONSTITUTION    OF   THE    UNITED    STATliU 


^ers  of  the  several  state  Legislatures,  and  all  executive  and  judicial  offi- 
<;ers,  both  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  several  states,  shall  be  bound 
b}^  oath  or  affirmation  to  support  this  Constitution  ;  but  no_  religious  test 
.«hall  ever  be  required  as  a  qualification  to  any  office  or  public  trust  under 
the  United  States. 

Article  VII. 

The  ratification  of  the  Conventions  of  nine  states  shall  be  sufficient 
for  the  establishment  of  this  Constitution  between  the  states  so  ratifying 
the  same. 

Done  in  convention  by  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  states  present,  the 
seventeenth  day  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven,  and  of  the  independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America  the  twelfth.  In  witness  whereof  we  have 
hereunto  subscribed  our  names. 

GEO.  WASHINGTON, 

President  a7id  Deputy  from  Virginia. 


Neiv  Hampshire. 
John  Langdon, 
Nicholas  Gilman. 

Massachusetts. 
Nathaniel  Gorham, 
RuFus  King. 

Connecticut. 
Wm.  Sam'l  Johnson, 
EoGER  Sherman. 

New  York. 
Alexander  Hamilton. 

New  Jersey. 
WiL.  Livingston, 
Wm.  Paterson, 
David  Brearley, 
JoNA.  Dayton. 

Pennsylvania. 
B.  Franklin, 
RoBT.  Morris, 
Thos.  Fitzsimons, 
James  Wilson, 
Thos.  Mifflin, 
Geo.  Clymer, 
Jared  Ingersoll, 
Gouv.  Morris. 


Delaware. 
Geo.  Read, 
John  Dickinson, 
Jaco.  Broom, 
Gunning  Bedford,  Jr., 
Richard  Bassett. 

Maryland. 
James  M' Henry, 
Danl.  Carroll, 
Dan.  of  St.  Thos.  Jenifer. 

Virginia. 
John  Blair, 
James  Madison,  Jr. 

North  Carolina. 
Wm.  Blount, 
Hu.  Williamson, 
Rich'd  Dobbs  Spaight. 

South  Carolina. 
J.  Rutledge, 
Charles  Pinckney, 
Chas.  Cotesworth  Pinckney, 
Pierce  Butler. 

Georgia. 
William  Few, 
Abr.  Baldwin. 

WILLIAM  JACKSON,  Secretary. 


AND   ITS   AJVIENDMENTS.  203 


Articles  in  Addition  to  and  Amendatory  of  the  Constitution 
OF  THE  United  States  of  America. 

Proposed  hy  Congress  and  ratified  hy  the  Legislatures  of  the  several  states, 
pursuant  to  the  fifth  article  of  the  original  Constitution. 

Article  I. 

Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  establishment  of  religion, 
or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof;  or  abridging  the  freedom  of 
speech,  or  of  the  press;  or  the  right  of  the  people  peaceably  to  assemble, 
and  to  petition  the  Government  for  a  redress  of  grievances. 

Article  II. 

A  well  regulated  militia  being  necessary  to  the  security  of  a  free 
state,  the  right  of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear  arms  shall  not  be  infringed. 

Article  III. 

No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace,  be  quartered  in  any  house  without 
the  consent  of  the  owner,  nor  in  time  of  war  but  in  a  manner  to  be  pre- 
scribed by  law. 

Article  IV. 

The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their  persons,  houses,  papers, 
and  effects  against  unreasonable  searches  and  seizures,  shall  not  be  vio- 
lated ;  and  no  warrants  shall  issue  but  upon  probable  cause,  supported  by 
oath  or  affirmation,  and  particularly  describing  the  place  to  be  searched 
and  the  persons  or  things  to  be  seized. 

Article  V. 

No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capital  or  otherwise  infamous 
crime,  unless  on  a  presentment  or  indictment  of  a  Grand  Jury,  except  in 
cases  arising  in  the  land  or  naval  forces,  or  in  the  militia  when  in  actual 
service  in  time  of  war  or  public  danger  ;  nor  shall  any  person  be  subject 
for  the  same  offense  to  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  of  life  or  limb  ;  nor  shall 
be  compelled  in  any  criminal  case  to  be  a  witness  against  himself,  nor  be 
deprived  of  life,  liberty,  or  property,  without  due  process  of  law ;  nor 
shall  private  .property  be  taken  for  public  use,  without  just  compensation. 

Article  VI. 

In  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the  accused  shall  enjoy  the  right  to  a 
speedy  and  public  trial,  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the  state  and  district 
wherein  the  crime  shall  have  been  committed,  which  district  shall  have 
been  previously  ascertained  by  law,  and  to  be  informed  of  the  nature  and 
cause  of  the  accusation  ;  to  be  confronted  with  the  witnesses  against  him ; 
to  have  compulsory  process  for  obtaining  witnesses  in  his  favor;  and  to 
have  the  assistance  of  counsel  for  his  defense. 

Article  VII. 

In  suits  at  common  law,  where  the  value  in  controversy  shall  exceed 
twenty  dollars,  the  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  be  preserved,  and  no  fact 


204  CONSTITUTION   OF   THE   UNITED   STATES 

tried  by  a  jury  shall  be  otherwise  re-examined  in  any  court  of  the  United 
States  than  according  to  the  rules  of  the  common  law. 

Article  VIII. 

Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor  excessive  fines  imposed, 
nor  cruel  and  unusual  punishments  inflicted. 

Article  IX. 

The  enumeration,  in  the  Constitution,  of  certain  rights,  shall  not  be 
construed  to  deny  or  disparage  others  retained  by  the  people. 

Article  X. 

The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States  by  the  Constitution, 
nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the  states,  are  reserved  to  the  states  respectively, 
or  to  the  people. 

Article  XI. 

The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  not  be  construed  to 
extend  to  any  suit  in  law  or  equity  commenced  or  prosecuted  against  one 
of  the  United  States  by  citizens  of  another  state,  or  by  citizens  or  sub- 
jects of  any  foreign  state. 

Article  XII. 

The  Electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  states  and  vote  by  ballot 
for  President  and  Vice-President,  one  of  whom,  at  least,  shall  not  be  an 
inhabitant  of  the  same  state  with   themselves ;  they  shall  name  in  their 
ballots  the  person  to  be  voted  for  as  president,  and  in  distinct  ballots  the 
person  voted  for  as  Vice-President,  and  they  shall  make  distinct  lists  of 
all  persons  voted  for  as  President,  and  of  all  persons  voted  for  as  Vice- 
President,  and  of  the  number  of  votes  for  each,  which  list  they  shall  sign 
and  certify,  and  transmit  sealed  to  the  seat  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  directed  to  the   President  of  the  Senate.      The  President  of  the 
Senate  shall,  in  presence  of  the   Senate   and  House   of  Representatives, 
open  all  the  certificates,  and  the  votes  shall  then  be  counted.     The  person 
having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  for  President  shall  be  the  President, 
if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  Electors  appointed  ; 
and  if  no  person  have   such  majority,  then   from  the  persons  having  the 
highest   number  not  exceeding  three   on   the  list  of  those  voted  for  as 
President,   the  House  of  Representatives   shall   choose  immediately,  by 
ballot,  the  President.     But  in  choosing  the  President,  the  votes  shall  be 
taken  by  States,  the  representation  from  each  state  having  one  vote;  a 
quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist  of  a  member  or  members  from  two- 
thirds  of  the  states,  and  a  majority  of  all  the  states  shall  be  necessary  to 
a  choice.     And  if  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  not  choose  a  Presi- 
dent whenever  the  right  of  choice  shall   devolve  upon  them,  before  the 
fourth  day  of  March  next  following,  then  the  Vice-President  shall  act  as 
President,  as  in  the  case  of  the  death  or  other  constitutional  disability  of 
the  President.     The  person  having  tlie  greatest  number  of  votes  as  Vice- 
President,  shall  be  the  Vice-President,   if  such   number  be  the  majority 
of  the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed,  and  if  no  person  have  a  major- 


AND  ITS  AMENDMENTS.  205 

ity^  then  from  the  two  highest  numbers  on  the  list,  the  Senate  shall  choose 
the  Vice-President ;  a  quorum  for  the  purpose  shall  consist  of  two-thirds 
of  the  whole  number  of  Senators,  and  a  majority  of  the  whole  number 
shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice.  But  no  person  constitutionally  ineligible 
to  the  office  of  President  shall  be  eligible  to  that  of  Vice-President  of  the 


United  States. 


Article  XIII. 


Section  1.  Neither  slavery  nor  involuntary  servitude,  except  as  a 
punishment  for  crime,  whereof  the  party  shall  have  been  duly  convicted, 
shall  exist  within  the  United  States,  or  any  place  subject  to  their  juris- 
diction. 

Sec.  2.  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce  this  article  by  appro- 
priate legislation. 

Article  XIV. 

Section  1.  All  persons  born  or  naturalized  in  the  United  States  and 
subject  to  the  jurisdiction  thereof,  are  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and 
of  the  state  wherein  they  reside.  No  state  shall  make  or  enforce  any  law 
which  shall  abridge  the  privileges  or  immunities  of  citizens  of  the  United 
States;  nor  shall  any  state  deprive  any  person  of  life,  liberty,  or  property, 
without  due  process  of  law,  nor  deny  to  any  person  within  its  jurisdiction 
the  equal  protection  of  the  laws. 

Sec.  2.  Representatives  shall  be  appointed  among  the  several  states 
according  to  their  respective  numbers,  counting  the  whole  number  of  per- 
sons in  each  state,  excluding  Indians  not  taxed ;  but  when  the  right  to 
vote  at  any  election  for  the  choice  of  Electors  for  President  and  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States,  Representatives  in  Congress,  the  execu- 
tive and  judicial  officers  of  a  state,  or  the  members  of  the  Legislature 
thereof,  is  denied  to  any  of  the  male  inhabitants  of  such  state,  being 
twenty-one  years  of  age  and  citizens  of  the  United  States,  or  in  any  way 
abridged  except  for  participation  in  rebellion  or  other  crimes,  the  basis  of 
representation  therein  shall  be  reduced  in  the  proportion  which  the  num- 
ber of  such  male  citizens  shall  bear  to  the  whole  number  of  male  citizens 
twenty-one  years  of  age  in  such  state. 

Sec.  3.  No  person  shall  be  a  Senator  or  Representative  in  Congress, 
or  Elector  of  President  and  Vice-President,  or  hold  any  office,  civil  or 
military,  under  the  United  States,  or  under  any  state,  who,  having  previ- 
ously taken  an  oath  as  a  Member  of  Congress,  or  as  an  officer  of  the 
United  States,  or  as  a  member  of  any  state  Legislature,  or  as  an  execu- 
tive or  judicial  officer  of  any  state  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  shall  have  engaged  in  insurrection  or  rebelhon  against  the 
same,  or  given  aid  or  comfort  to  the  enemies  thereof.  But  Congress  mav 
by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  each  house,  remove  such  disability. 

Sec.  4.  The  validity  of  the  public  debt  of  the  United  States  author- 
ized by  law,  including  debts  incurred  for  payment  of  pensions  and  boun- 
ties for  services  in  suppressing  insurrection  or  rebellion,  shall  not  be  ques- 
tioned. But  neither  the  United  States  nor  any  state  shall  pay  any  debt 
or  obligation  incurred  in  the  aid  of  insurrection  or  rebellion  against  the 
United  States,  or  any  loss  or  emancipation  of  any  slave,  but  such  debts, 
obligations,  and  claims  shall  be  held  illegal  and  void. 


20G 


CONSTITUTION   OF   THE   UNITED    STATES. 


Sec.  5.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce,  by  appropriate 
legislation,  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Article  XV. 

Section  1.  The  right  of  citizens  of  the  United  States  to  vote  shall 
not  be  denied  or  abridged  by  the  United  States,  or  by  any  state,  on 
account  of  race,  color,  or  previous  condition  of  servitude. 

Sec.  2.  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce  this  article  by  appro- 
priate legislation. 


ELECTORS  OF  PRESIDENT  AND  VICE-PRESIDENT. 

November  7,  1876. 


COUNTIES. 


Adams   , 

Alexander.., 

Bond 

Boone 

Brown 

Bureau 

Calhoun 

Carroll 

Ca.ss 

Champaign.. 

Christian 

Clarlc 

Clay  

Clinton 

Coles 

Cook 

Crawford 

Cumberland. 

DeKalb 

DeWitt 

Douglas 

DuPage 

Edgar 

Edwards 

Effingham... 

Fayrrte 

Foru 

Frpiklin 

Fulton 

Gallatin 

Greene 

Grundy  

Hamilton 

Hancock   

Hardin 

Henderson... 

Henry 

Iroquois 

Jackson 

Jasper 

Jetferson 

Jersey 

Jo  Daviess... 
Johnson  ...  . 

Kane 

Kankakee  ... 

Kendall 

Knox 

Lake 

La  .Salle 

Lawrence 

l.ee 


1-i 

5 

a;  0^ 

"  C^  -H 

C  CS 

u-S^ 

CD  c;-2 

c"2 

.3 

■Jlo 

*>—  s 

G.)  "  ^ 

<  o 

&^& 

2iiS 

—  "c 

■S* 

X    tf 

H"*" 

C,-' 

y:S- 

< 

COUNTIES. 


C  """*-> 

Sid 

c 

§53g 

«-gs 

S« 

o 

Tilden 
Hendrl 
Dcnioc 

si® 

eg 

~  o 

a 


4953 

1219 
1520 
1965 

944 
3719 

441 
2231 
1209 
4530 
2501 
1814 
1416 
1329 
2957 
36548 
1355 
1145 
3679 
1928 
1631 
2129 
2715 

970 
1145 
1881 
1601 

966 
4187 

703 
1695 
1996 

627 
3496 

330 
1315 
4177 
3768 
2040 


1346 
1345 
2907 
1367 
5398 
2627 
1869 
.5235 
2619 
6277 
1198 
3087 


6308 
1280 
1142 

363 
1495 
2218 

900 

918 
1618 
3103 
3287 
2197 
1541 
1989 
2822 
39240 
1643 
1407 
1413 
1174 
1357 
1276 
2883 

466 
2265 
2421 

742 
1.302 
4669 
1140 
3160 
1142 
1433 
4307 

611 
1015 
1928 
2578 
2071 


41  17i.... 


17 

43 

183 

145 


1667 
2166 
2276 

893 
2850 
1363 

524 
2632 
1647 
6001 
1329 
2080 


111 

74 

604 

207 

236 

112 

132 

102 

277 

38 

129 

65 

746 

94 

25 

161 

61 

43 

57 

204 

391 

89 

282 

1 

108 

770 


134 
1 

340 
249 
106 


647 


140 

61 
172 

26 
.309 
141 

55 
514 

27 
100 


2 
1 
2    11 


10 


Livingston i  3550 

Logan I  2788 

Macon 3120 

Macoupin 3567 


Madison. 

Marion 

Marshall 

Mason 

Massac 

McDonough.. 

McHenry 

McLean 

Menard 

Mercer 

Monroe 

Montgomery  . 

Morgan 

Moultrie 

Ogle 

Peoria 

Pope 

Perry 

Piatt 

Pike 

Pulaski 

Putnam 

Randolph 

Richland 

Rock  Island... 

Saline 

Sangamon  .... 

Schuyler 

Scott 

Shelby 

Stark 

St.  Clair 

Stephenson... 

Tazewell 

Union 

Vermilion 

Wabash 

Warren 

Washington.. 

Wayne 

White 

Whiteside 

Will 

Williamson... 
Winnebago... 
Woodford 


4554 
2009 
1553 
1566 
1231 
2952 
3465 
6363 
1115 
2209 

845 
2486 
3069 
1245 
3833 
4665 
1319 
1541 
1807 
8055 
1043 

646 
2357 
1410 
3912 

980 
4851 
1522 

910 
2069 
1140 
4708 
3198 
2850 

978 
4372 

650 
2795 
1911 
1570 
1297 
3851 
4770 
1672 
4505 
1733 


Total 1275958  257099  16951  130  157 


2134 
2595 
2782 
4076 
4730 
2444 
14.30 
1939 

793 
2811 
1874 
4410 
1657 
1428 
1651 
3013 
3174 
1672 
1921 
5443 

800 
1383 
1316 
4040 

772 

459 
2589 
1552 
2838 
1081 
584 
1804 
1269 
3553 

786 
5891 
2758 
3171 
2155 
3031 

936 
1984 
1671 
1751 
2066 
2131 
3999 
1644 
1568 
2105 


1170 

i 

37 

268 

16 

114 

39 

1 

209 
135 

1 

86 

3 

20 

347 

.  .  .  . 

34 

3 

51H 

8 

7 

10 
90 

3 

201 

109 

.... 

3 

28 

.... 

104 

« 

95 

5 

.... 

48 

.... 

117 

. 

35 

1 

4 

14 

2 

.... 

.... 

55 

■  •  •  . 

•  •  *  * 

27 

.... 

641 

>  >  >  > 

29 

.... 

115 

182 

.... 

.... 

341 

.... 

96 

99 

.... 

1 

26 

» 

44 

2 

a 

3 

288 

9 

207 

.... 

138 

.  ..  . 

1 

39 

482 

.... 

. .  • 

469 

4 

133 

s 

1 

677 

•  * . . 

41 

,  _ 

70 

13 

2 

237 

1 

4 

Practical   Rules  for  Every   Day   Use. 


Hoiv  to  find  the  gain  -or  loss  per  cent,  when  the  cost  and  selling  price 
tare  given. 

Rule. — Find  the  difference  between  the  cost  and  selling  price,  which 
will  be  the  gain  or  loss. 

Annex  two  ciphers  to  the  gain  or  loss,  and  divide  it  by  the  cost 
price  ;  the  result  will  be  the  gain  or  loss  per  cent. 

How  to  change  gold  into  currency. 

Rule. — Multiply  the  given  sum  of  gold  by  the  price  of  gold. 

How  to  change  currency  into  gold. 

Divide  the  amount  in  currency  by  the  price  of  gold. 

How  to  find  each  partner's  share  of  the  gain  or  loss  in  a  copartnership 
husiness. 

Rule. — Divide  the  whole  gain  or  loss  by  the  entire  stock,  the  quo- 
tient will  be  the  gain  or  loss  per  cent. 

Multipl}^  each  partner's  stock  by  this  per  cent.,  the  result  will  be 
each  one's  share  of  the  gain  or  loss. 

How  to  find  gross  and  net  weight  and  price  of  hogs. 

A  short  and  simple  method  for  finding  the  net  weight.,  or  price  of  hogs^ 
when  the  gross  weight  or  price  is  given,  and  vice  versa. 

Note.— It  is  generally  assumed  that  the  gross  weight  of  Hogs  diininislied  by  1-5  or  20  per  cent, 
of  itself  gives  the  net  weight,  and  the  net  weight  increased  by  K  or  25  per  cent,  of  itself  equals  the 
«;ross  weight. 

To  find  the  net  weight  or  gross  price. 

Multiply  the  given  number  by  .8  (tenths.) 

To  find  the  gross  tveight  or  net  price. 

Divide  the  given  number  by  .8  (tenths.) 

How  to  find  the  capacity  of  a  granary,  bin,  or  wagon-bed. 

Rule. — Multiply  (by  short  method)  the  nnmber  of  cubic  feet  by 
6308,  and  point  off  one  decimal  place — the  result  will  be  the  correct 
answer  in  bushels  and  tenths  of  a  bushel. 

For  only  an  approximate  ansiver,  multiply  the  cubic  feet  by  8,  and 
point  off  one  decimal  place. 

How  to  find  the  contents  of  a  corn-crib. 

Rule. — Multiply  the  number  of  cubic  feet  by  54,  short  method,  or 

(207) 


208  MISCELLANEOUS    INFORMATION. 

by  4^  ordinary  method,  and  point  off  one  decimal  place — the  result  wil> 
be  the  answer  in  bushels. 

Note.— Ill  estliiiatiiiK  corn  in  tlie  car,  the  quaUty  and  the  time  it  lias  been  cribbed  must  he  taken 
Into  consideration,  since  corn  will  shrink  considerahly  during  the  Winter  and  Spring.  This  rule  generally  holds 
good  for  corn  measured  at  the  time  it  is  cribbed,  provided  it  is  sound  andcleau. 

Hoiv  to  find  the  contents  of  a  cistern  or  tank. 

Rule. — Multiply  the  square  of  the  mean  diameter  by  the  depth  (ali 
m  feet)  and  this  product  by  5681  (short  method),  and  point  off  ONE 
decimal  place — the  result  will  be  the  contents  in  barrels  of  31-i  gallons. 

How  to  find  the  contents  of  a  barrel  or  cask. 

Rule. — Under  the  square  of  the  mean  diameter,  write  the  length, 
(all  in  inches)  in  reversed  order,  so  that  its  units  will  fall  under  the- 
tens  ;  multiply  by  short  method,  and  this  product  again  by  430  ;  point, 
off  one  decimal  place,  and  the  result  will  be  the  answer  in  wine  gallons. 

How  to  measure  >  boards. 

Rule. — Multiply  the  length  (in  feet)  by  the  width  (in  inches)  and 
divide  the  product  by  12 — the  result  will  be  the  contents  in  square  feet. 

How  to  measure  scantlings,  joists,  planks,  sills,  etc. 

Rule. — Multiply  the  width,  the  thickness,  and  the  length  together 
(the  width  and  thickness  in  inches,  and  the  length  in  feet),  and  divide- 
the  product  by  12 — the  result  will  be  square  feet. 

How  to  find  the  number  of  acres  in  a  body  of  land. 

Rule. — Multiply  the  length  by  the  width  (in  rods),  and  divide  the- 
product  by  160  (carrying  the  division  to  2  decimal  places  if  there  is  ar 
remainder)  ;  the  result  will  be  the  answer  in  acres  and  hundredths. 

When  the  opposite  sides  of  a  piece  of  land  are  of  unequal  length, 
add  them  together  and  take  one-half  for  the  mean  length  or  width. 

How  to  find  the  number  of  square  yards  in  a  floor  or  ivall. 

Rule. — Multiply  the  length  by  the  width  or  height  (in  feet),  and 
divide  the  product  by  9,  the  result  will  be  square  yards. 

How  to  find  the  number  of  bricks  required  in  a  building. 

Rule. — Multiply  the  number  of  cubic  feet  by  22.^. 

The  number  of  cubic  feet  is  found  by  multiplying  the  length,  height 
and  thickness  (in  feet)  together. 

Bricks  are  usually  made  8  inches  long,  4  inches  wide,  and  two  inches 
thick  ;  hence,  it  requires  27  bricks  to  make  a  cubic  foot  without  mortar, 
but  it  is  generally  assumed  that  the  mortar  fills  1-6  of  the  space. 

How  to  find  the  number  of  shingles  required  in  a  roof. 

Rule. — Multiply  the  number  of  square  feet  in  the  roof  by  8,  if  the 
shingles  are  exposed  4i  inches,  or  by  7  1-5  if  exposed  5  inches. 

To  find  the  number  of  square  feet,  multiply  the  length  of  the  roof  by 
twice  the  length  of  the  rafters. 


MISCELLANEOUS    INFORMATION.  209 

To  find  the  length  of  the  rafters,  at  one-fourth  pitch,  multiply  the 
width  of  the  building  by  .56  (hundredths) ;  at  one-third  pitch,  by  .6 
(tenths)  ;  at  two-fifths  pitch,  by  .64  (hundredths) ;  at  one-half 
pitch,  by  .71  (hundredths).  This  gives  the  length  of  the  rafters  from 
the  apex  to  the  end  of  the  wall,  and  whatever  they  are  to  project  must  be 
taken  into  consideration. 

Note.— By  Jf  or  J4  pitch  is  meant  tliat  the  apex  or  comb  of  the  roof  is  to  be  K  or  M  the  widtli  of  the 
•building  higher  than  the  walls  or  base  of  the  rafters. 

How  to  reckon  the  cost  of  hay. 

Rule. — Multiply  the  number  of  pounds  by  half  the  price  per  ton, 
and  remove  the  decimal  point  three  places  to  the  left. 

How  to  measure  grain. 

Rule. — Level  the  grain  ;  ascertain  the  space  it  occupies  in  cubic 
feet ;  multiply  the  number  of  cubic  feet  by  8,  and  point  off  one  place  to 
the  left. 

Note.— Exactness  requires  the  addition  to  every  three  hundred  bushels  of  one  extra  bushel. 

The  foregoing  rule  may  be  used  for  finding  the  number  of  gallons,  by 
multiplying  the  number  of  bushels  by  8. 

If  the  corn  in  the  box  is  in  the  ear,  divide  the  answer  by  2,  to  find 
the  number  of  bushels  of  shelled  corn,  because  it  requires  2  bushels  of  eai 
(Corn  to  make  1  of  shelled  corn. 

Rapid  rules  for  measuring  land  without  instruments. 

In  measuring  land,  the  first  thing  to  ascertain  is  the  contents  of  any 
■given  plot  in  square  j^ards  ;  then,  given  the  number  of  yards,  find  out  the 
number  of  rods  and  acres. 

The  most  ancient  and  simplest  measure  of  distance  is  a  step.  Now, 
«,n  ordinary-sized  man  can  train  himself  to  cover  one  yard  at  a  stride,  on 
the  average,  with  sufficient  accuracy  for  ordinary  purposes. 

To  make  use  of  this  means  of  measuring  distances,  it  is  essential  to 
walk  in  a  straight  line  ;  to  do  this,  fix  the  eye  on  two  objects  in  a  line 
•straight  ahead,  one  comparatively  near,  the  other  remote  ;  and,  in  walk- 
ing, keep  these  objects  constantly  in  line. 

Farmers  and  others  by  adopting  the  following  simple  and  ingenious  con- 
trivance., may  always  carry  with  them  the  scale  to  construct  a  correct  yard 
■measure. 

Take  a  foot  rule,  and  commencing  at  the  base  of  the  little  finger  of 
the  left  hand,  mark  the  quarters  of  the  foot  on  the  outer  borders  of  the 
left  arm,  pricking  in  the  marks  with  indelible  ink. 

To  find  hoiv  many  rods  in  length  will  make  an  acre.,  the  width  being  given. 
Rule. — Divide  160  by  the  width,  and  the  quotient  will  be  the  answer. 


210  MISCELLANEOUS    INFORMATION. 

How  to  find  the  number  of  acres  in  any  plot  of  land^  the  number  of  rod» 
being  given. 

Rule. — Divide  the  number  of  rods  by  8,  multiply  the  quotient  by  5^ 
and  remove  the  decimal  point  two  places  to  the  left. 

The  diameter  being  given,  to  find  the  circumference. 

Rule. — Multiply  the  diameter  by  3  1-7. 

Sow  to  find  the  diameter,  ivhen  the  circumference  is  given. 

Rule. — Divide  the  circumference  by  3  1-7. 

To  find  hotv  many  solid  feet  a  round  stick  of  timber  of  the  same  thick- 
ness throughout  tvill  contain  when  squared. 

Rule. — Square  half  the  diameter  in  inches,  multiply  by  2,  multiply 
by  the  length  in  feet,  and  divide  the  product  by  144. 

General  rule  for  measuring  timber,  to  find  the  solid  contents  in  feet. 

Rule. — Multiply  the  depth  in  inches  by  the  breadth  in  inches,  and 
then  multiply  by  the  length  in  feet,  and  divide  by  144. 

To  find  the  number  of  feet  of  timber  in  trees  with  the  bark  on. 

Rule. — Multiply  the  square  of  one-fifth  of  the  circumference  Id 
inches,  by  twice  the  length,  in  feet,  and  divide  by  144.  Deduct  1-10  to 
1-15  according  to  the  thickness  of  the  bark. 

Hotvard  s  neiv  rule  for  computing  interest. 

Rule. — The  reciprocal  of  the  rate  is  the  time  for  which  the  interest 
on  any  sum  of  money  will  be  shown  by  simply  removing  the  decimal 
point  two  places  to  the  left ;  for  ten  times  that  time,  remove  the  point 
one  place  to  the  left ;  for  1-10  of  the  same  time,  remove  the  point  three 
places  to  the  left. 

Increase  or  diminish  the  results  to  suit  the  time  given. 

Note.— The  reciprocal  of  the  rate  isfouiul  by  inverting  t lie  rate  ;  thus  3  per  cent,  per  month,  in- 
verted, becomes  >i  of  a  month,  or  10  days. 

When  the  rate  is  expressed  by  one  figure,  always  ^yrite  it  thus :  3-1,. 
three  ones. 

Rule  for  converting  English  into  American  currency. 

Multiply  the  pounds,  with  the  shillings  and  pence  stated  in  decimals,, 
by  400  plus  the  premium  in  fourths,  and  divide  the  product  by  90. 

U.  S.  GOVERNMENT  LAND  MEASURE. 

A  township — 36  sections  each  a  mile  square. 
A  section — 640  acres. 

A  quarter  section,  half  a  mile  square — 160  acres. 
An  eighth  section,  half  a  mile  long,  north  and  south,  and  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  wide — 80  acres. 

A  sixteenth  section,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  square — 40  acres. 


MISCELLANEOUS    INFORMATION.  211 

The  sections  are  all  numbered  1  to  36,  commencing  at  the  north-east 
corner. 

The  sections  are  divided  into  quarters,  which  are  named  by  the 
cardinal  points.  The  quarters  are  divided  in  the  same  way.  The  de- 
scription of  a  forty  acre  lot  would  read :  The  south  half  of  the  west  half  of 
the  south-west  quarter  of  section  1  in  township  24,  north  of  range  7  west, 
or  as  the  case  might  be;  and  sometimes  will  fall  short  and  sometimes 
overrun  the  number  of  acres  it  is  supposed  to  contain. 

The  nautical  mile  is  795  4-5  feet  longer  than  the  common  mile. 

SURVEYORS'  MEASURE. 

7  92-100  inches make  1  link. 

25  links "     1  rod. 

4  rods "     1  chain. 

80  chains "     1  mile. 

Note. — A  chain  is  100  links,  equal  to  4  rods  or  66  feet. 

Shoemakers  formerly  used  a  subdivision  of  the  inch  called  a  barley- 
corn ;  three  of  which  made  an  inch. 

Horses  are  measured  directly  over  the  fore  feet,  and  the  standard  of 
measure  is  four  inches — called  a  hand. 

In  Biblical  and  other  old  measurements,  the  term  span  is  sometimes 
used,  which  is  a  ler.gth  of  nine  inches. 

The  sacred  cubit  of  the  Jews  was  24.024  inches  in  length. 

The  common  cubit  of  the  Jews  was  21.704  inches  in  length. 

A  pace  is  equal  to  a  j^ard  or  36  inches. 

A  fathom  is  equal  to  6  feet. 

A  league  is  three  miles,  but  its  length  is  variable,  for  it  is  strictly 
speaking  a  nautical  term,  and  should  be  three  geographical  miles,  equal 
to  3.45  statute  miles,  but  when  used  on  land,  three  statute  miles  are  said 
to  be  a  league. 

In  cloth  measure  an  aune  is  equal   to  li  yards,  or  45  inches. 

An  Amsterdam  ell  is  equal  to  26.796  inches. 

A  Trieste  ell  is  equal  to  25.284  inches. 

A  Brabant  ell  is  equal  to  27.116  inches. 

HOW  TO  KEEP  ACCOUNTS. 

Every  farmer  and  mechanic,  whether  he  does  much  or  little  business, 
should  keep  a  record  of  his  transactions  in  a  clear  and  systematic  man- 
ner. For  the  benefit  of  those  who  have  not  had  the  opportunity  of  ac- 
quiring a  primary  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  book-keeping,  we  here 
present  a  simple  form  of  keeping  accounts  which  is  easil}'  comprehended, 
unci  well  adapted  to  record  the  business  transactions  of  farmers,  mechanics 
and  laborers. 


212 


MISCELLA]SlEOUS   INFORMATION. 


1875. 


A.  H.  JACKSON, 


Di. 


Cv. 


Jan.      10  To  7  bushels  Wheat at  $1.25 


(( 

17 

Feb. 

4 

(( 

4 

March 

8 

a 

8 

a 

13 

(C 

27 

April 

a 

9 
9 

May 

a 

6 
24 

July 

4 

By  shoeing  span  of  Horses 

To  14  bushels  Oats at 

Too  lbs.  Butter at 

By  new   Harrow 

By  sharpening  2  Plows 

By  new  Double-Tree 

To  Cow  and  Calf. 

To  half  ton  of  Hay 

By  Cash - - -  -  - 

By  repairing  Corn-Planter. 

To  one  Sow  with  Pigs 

Bv  Cash,  to  balance  account 


$  .45 
.25 


18 

6 
1 


48 
6 


17 


75 


30 


00 
25 


50 


$88 


05 


12 


18 


25 
4 


35 


$88 


50 


00 
40 
25 


00 

75 

15 
05 


1875. 


CASSA   MASON, 


I>i- 


Ci 


March  21]% 

"      21 


i( 

23 

May 

1 

t< 

1 

June 

19 

(( 

26 

July 

10 

^l 

29 

Aug. 

12 

(( 

12 

Sept. 

1 

3  davs'  labor - at  $1.25 

To  2  Shoats at    3.00 

To  18  bushels  Corn at       .45 

By  1  month's  Labor 

To   Cash 

By  8  days'  Mowing at  $1.50 

To  50  lbs.  Flour - 

To  27  lbs.  Meat -..at$  .10 

By  9  days'  Harvesting at    2.00 

By  6  days'  Labor .- at    1.50 

To   Cash.... - -- 

To  Cash  to  balance  account 


$3 

75 

$6 

00 

8 

10 

25 

00 

10 

00 

12 

00 

2 

75 

2 

70 

18 

00 

9 

00 

20 

00 

18 

20 

$67 

$67 

75 

75 

INTEREST  TxVBLE. 

A   SIMPLE    RULE    FOr.    ACCURATELY    COMPUTINfJ     INTEREST     AT    ANV    GIVEN    I'Eli    CENT.     FOR    ANY 

Length  op   iimk. 
MultiDlvtlie  prirtcipdl  (amount  of  money  at  uitcrest)  by  the  time  reduced  to  days;  then  divide  this  proditct 
bythequoflarolKedhydividinK360(the  numl.er  of  days  in  the  interest  year)  by  the  p.r  cent,  ot  .nterest. 
a,nd  the  quotient  thus  obtained  will  lie  the  required  interest. 

ILLUSTRATION.  Solution. 

$462.50 
.48 

370000 
) 6)360  \     185000 

60 /$223. 0000(83.70 
180 

420 
420 

~00 


cent.,  by  45;  and  in  like  manner  for  any  other  per  cent 


MISCELLANEOUS  TABLE. 


12  units,  or  things,  1  Dozen. 
12  dozen,  1  Gross. 
20  things,  1  Score. 


196  pounds,  1  Barrel  of  Flour. 

200  pounds,  1  Barrel  of  Pork. 

56  pounds,  1  Firkin  of  Butter. 


24  sheets  of  i)aper.  1  Quire. 

20  quires  paper  1  Keani. 

4  ft.  wide,  4  ft.  high,  and  8  ft.  long. 


1  Cord  Wood. 


MISCELLANEOUS    INFORMATION.  213 

NAMES  OF  THE  STATES  OF  THE  UNION,  AND  THEIR  SIGNIFICATIONS, 

Virginia. — The  oldest  of  the  States,  was  so  called  in  honor  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  the  "Virgin  Queen,"  in  whose  reign  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  made 
his  first  attempt  to  colonize  that  region. 

Florida. — Ponce  de  Leon  landed  on  the  coast  of  Florida  on  Easter 
Sunday,  and  called  the  country  in  commemoration  of  the  day,  which  was 
the  Pasqua  Florida  of  the  Spaniards,  or  "  Feast  of  Flowers." 

Louisiana  Avas  called  after  Louis  the  Fourteenth,  who  at  one  time 
owned  that  section  of  the  country, 

Alabama  was  so  named  by  the  Indians,  and  signifies  "  Here  we  Rest." 

Mississippi  is  likewise  an  Indian  name,  meaning  "  Long  River." 

Arkansas,  from  Kansas,  the  Indian  word  for  "  smoky  water."  Its 
prefix  was  really  arc,  the  French  word  for  "  bow." 

The  Carolinas  were  originally  one  tract,  and  were  called  "Carolana," 
after  Charles  the  Ninth  of  France. 

G-eorgia  owes  its  name  to  George  the  Second  of  England,  who  first 
established  a  colony  there  in  1732. 

Tennessee  is  the  Indian  name  for  the  "  River  of  the  Bend,"  i.  e.,  the 
Mississippi  which  forms  its  western  boundary. 

Kentucky  is  the  Indian  name  for  "  at  the  head  of  the  river." 

Ohio  means  "  beautiful ;  "  Iowa,  "  drowsy  ones  ;  "  Minnesota,  "  cloudy 
water,"  and  Wisco7isi7i,  "  wild-rushing  channel." 

Illifwis  is  derived  from  the  Indian  word  illini,  men,  and  the  French 
suffix  ois,  together  signifying  "tribe  of  men." 

Michigan  was  called  by  the  name  given  the  lake,  fish-weir,  which  was 
so  styled  from  its  fancied  resemblance  to  a  fish  trap. 

Missouri  is  from  the  Indian  word  "  muddy,"  which  more  properly 
applies  to  the  river  that  flows  through  it. 

Oregon  owes  its  Indian  name  also  to  its  principal  river. 

Cortes  named  California. 

Massachusetts  is  the  Indian  for  "  The  country  around  the  great  hills." 

Connecticut,  from  the  Indian  Quon-ch-ta-Cut,  signifying  "Long 
River." 

Maryland,  after  Henrietta  Maria,  Queen  of  Charles  the  First,  of 
England. 

New  York  was  named  by  the  Duke  of  York. 

Pennsylvania  means  "  Penn's  woods,"  and  was  so  called  after  William 
Penn,  its  orignal  owner. 


214 


MISCELLANEOUS   INFORMATION. 


Dclaivare  after  Lord  De  La  Ware. 

Netv  Jersei/,  so  called  in  honor  of  Sir  George  Carteret,  who  was 
Governor  of  the  Island  of  Jersey,  in  the  British  Channel. 

Maine  was  called  after  the  province  of  Maine  in  France,  in  compli- 
ment of  Queen  Henrietta  of  England,  who  owned  that  province. 

Vermont,  from  the  French  word  Vert  Mont,  signifying  Green 
Mountain. 

New  Hampshire,  from  Hampshire  county  in  England.  It  was. 
formerly  called  Laconia. 

The  little  State  of  Rhode  Island  owes  its  name  to  the  Island  of 
Rhodes  in  the  Mediterranean,  which  domain  it  is  said  to  greatly 
resemble. 

Texas  is  the  American  word  for  the  Mexican  name  by  which  all  that 
section  of  the  country  was  called  before  it  was  ceded  to  the  United  States. 


POPULATION  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES. 


States  and  Territories. 


Alabama 

Arkansas 

California 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

jllinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New  Hampshire.. 

New.lPrsey 

New  York 

North  Carolina ... 

Ohio 

OrcBDU 

I'ciiiisylvaMia 

Kliode  Island 

Soutli  Carolina — 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Vermont 

VirRinia 

West  Vir(,'inia 

Wisconsin 


Arizona 

Colorada 

I)akol;i 

District  of  Columbia. 

Idaho   

Montana 

New  Mexico 

Ulali 

W»^hi  ngton 

Wyoming 


Total 
Population. 


Total  States 38,113,253 


996. 

484. 

560, 

537, 

125, 

187. 
1.184, 
2,539, 
1,680, 
1,191, 

364. 
1,321, 

726, 

626, 

780, 
1,457, 
1,184. 

439. 

827, 
1,721, 

122, 
42 

318. 

906. 
4,382. 
1,071, 
2,66,5. 
90, 
3,521, 

217. 

705 
1,258 

818 

330 
1,225, 

442 
1,054 


992 
471 
247 
454 
015 
748 
109 
891 
637 
792 
399 
Oil 
915 
915 
894 
351 
059 

06 
922 
295 
993 
491 
300 
096 
759 
361 
260 
923 
791 
353 
606 
520 
,579 
551 
,163 
014 

670 


9,658 
39,864 
14,181 

131.700 
14,999 

.  20,595 

91.874 

86,786 

23,955 

9,118 

Total  Territories. 442,730 

Total  United  States 38.555.983 


POPULATION  OF  FIFTY 
PRINCIPAL  CITIES. 


Cities. 


New  York,  N.  Y 

Philadelphia,  Pa 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y 

St.  Louis,  Mo 

Chicago.  Ill 

Baltimore,   Md 

Boston,  Mass 

Cincinnati.  Ohio 

New  Orleans,  La.  ... 
San  Francisco,  Cal... 

Buffalo,  N.  Y 

Washington.  D.  C... 

Newark.  N.  ,1 

Louisville,  Ky 

Cleveland.  Oliio 

Pittsburg.  Pa 

■Jersey  City,  N.  J  — 

Detroit,  Mich 

Milwaukee,  Wis 

Albany.  N.  Y 

Providence,  R.  I 

Rochester,  N.  Y 

Allegheny,  Pa 

Richmond,  Va 

New  Haven,  C'onn... 

Charleston.  S.  C 

Indianapolis,  Ind — 

Troy,  N.  Y 

Syracuse,  N.  Y 

Worcester,  Mass 

Lowell.  Mass 

Memphis,  Tenn 

Cambridge,  Mass 

Hartford.  Conn 

■Scranton.  Pa 

Reading,  Pa 

Paterson.  N.  J 

Kansas  City,  Mo 

Moiulo,  Ala 

Toledo.  Ohio 

Portland.  Me 

Columbus,  Ohio 

Wilmington,  Del 

Dayton,  Ohio 

Lawrence,  Mass 

Utica,  N.  Y 

Charlestown,  Mass. 

Savannali,  Ga 

Lynn.  Mass 

F'all  River,  Mass.... 


Aggregate 
Population. 


942.292 
674,022 
396,099 
310,864 
298. 97T 
267,354 
2,50,526 
216,239 
191,418 
149.473 
117,714 
109,199 
10,5,059 
100,753 
92.829 
86,076 
82,546 
79,577 
71,440 
69,422 
68.904 
62.386 
53.180 
51.038 
50, 840 
48,956 
48,244 
46,465 
43.051 
41,105 
40,928 
40.226 
39,634 
37,180 
35.092 
33,930 
33,579 
32,260 
32.034 
31,584 
31,418 
31,274 
30.841 
,30.47S 
28,921 
28,804 
28,323 
28,235 
28,233 
26,766 


MISCELLANEOUS    INFORMATION. 


21c 


POPULATION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


States  A^■D 
Territories. 


States. 

Alabama 

Arkansas 

(.'alifDiiiia 1 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massacliusetts.. 

Michigan* 

Minnesota 

Jlississijipi 

Missouri 

Nebraslia 

Nevada 1 

New  Hampshire. 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. . 

Ohio 

Oregon 

*  Last  Census 


Area  in 
s<iuare 

Miles. 


198 
981 
674 
V20 
268 
000 
410 
809 
045 
318 
bOO 
346 
776 
184 
800 
451 
531 
156 
350 
9P5 
090 
280 
320 
000 
704 
964 
244 


PnptTLATIOX. 


1870. 


996,992 

484,471 

560,247 

537,454 

125,015 

187,748 

1,184,109 

2.539,891 

1,680.637 

1,191.792 

364,399 

1,321,011 

726,915 

626,915 

780,894 

1,457,351 

1,184,059 

439,706 

827,922 

1,721,295 

123,993 

42,491 

318.300 

906,096 

4,382.759 

1.071,361 

2,665.260 

90,923 


1875. 


1,3.50,.544 
528,349 


857,039 


1,651,912 

1,334.031 

598,429 


246,280 
52,540 


1,026,502 
4,705,208 


Miles 
R.  R. 

1872. 


1,671 

25 

1,013 

820 

227 

466 

2,108 

5,904 

3,529 

3.160 

1,760 

1,123 

539 

871 

820 

1,606 

2,235 

1,612 

990 

2,580 

828 

593 

790 

1,265 

4,470 

1,190 

3,740 

lo9 


of  Michigan  taken  in  1874. 


Statk.s  and 
Tkrritoriks. 


States. 
Pennsylvania... 
Rhode  Island... 
•South  Carolina. 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Vermont 

Virginia 

West  Virginia... 
Wisconsin 


Total  States. 


Territories. 

Arizoiui 

Colorado 

Dakota 

Dist.'Of  Columbia. 

Idaho 

Montana 

New  Mexico 

Utah 

Washington 

Wyoming 


Total  Territories. 


Area  in 

square 
Miles. 


46.000 
1,306 
29,385 
45,600 
237,.504 
10,212 
40,904 
23,000 
53,924 


1,950,171 


113,916 

104,500 

147,490 

60 

90,932 

143.776 

121,201 

80.056 

69,944 

93,107 


POPULATIOIV. 


1870. 


3,521, 
217, 
705, 

1,258, 
818. 
330. 

1,225- 
442, 

1,054, 


791 
353 
606 
520 
579 
551 
163 
014 
670 


38,113,253 


9.658 
39,864 
14,181 
131,700 
14,999 
20,595 
91.874 
86,786 
23,955 

9,118 


965,032       442.730 


1875. 


258,239 
925,145 


1,236,729 


Miles 
R.  R. 

1872. 


5,113 
136 

1,201 

1,520 
865 
675. 

1,490 
485 

1.725 


59,587 


392; 


375 
■"498 
1,265  ■ 


Aggregate  of  U.  S..  2,915,203  38,555,983 60,852- 

*  Included  in  the  Railroad  Mileage  of  Maryland. 


PRINCIPAL  COUNTRIES  OF  THE  WORLD 

l^OPULATION   AND   ArEA. 


Countries. 


China 

British  Empire 

Russia 

United  States  with  Alaska 

France 

Austria  and  Hungary 

Japan 

(ireat  Britain  and  Ireland 

German  Empire 

Italy 

Spain 

Brazil 

Turkey 

Mexico 

Sweden  and  Norway 

Persia 

Belgium 

Bavaria 

Portugal 

Holland 

jM  ew  Grenada 

Chili 

Switzerland 

Peru 

Bolivia 

Argentine  Republic 

Wurtenit)iirg 

Denmark 

Venezuela 

Baden 

Greece 

Guatemala 

Ecuador 

Paraguay 

Hesse 

Liberia 

San  Salvador 

Hayti 

Nicaragua 

Uruguay 

Honduras 

San  Domingo 

Costa  Rica 

Hawaii 


Population. 


446, 

226, 

81, 

38, 

36, 

35, 

34, 

31, 

29, 

27, 

16, 

10, 

16, 

9, 

5, 

5, 

5, 

4, 

3, 

3, 

3, 

o 

2! 

2, 
2, 
1, 
1, 
1, 
I, 
1, 
1 
1 
1 
1 


500.000 
817,108 
925,400 
925,600 
469,800 
904,400 
785,300 
817,100 
906,092 
439,921 
642,000 
000.000 
463,000 
173,000 
921,500 
000,000 
021,300 
861,400 
995,200 
688,  .300 
000.000 
000,000 
669,100 
500,000 
000,000 
812,000 
818.500 
784.700 
500.000 
.461,400 
457,900 
180,000 
,300,000 
000,000 
823,138 
718,000 
600.000 
572,000 
350,000 
300,000 
350,000 
136,000 
165.000 
62.950 


Date  of 
Census. 


1871 
1871 
1871 
1870 
1866 
1869 
1871 
1871 
1871 
1871 
1867 


1869 
1870 
1870 
1869 
1871 
1868 
1870 
1870 
1869 
1870 
1871 

'1869 
1871 
1870 

'1871 
1870 
1871 

"1871 

'1871 
1871 

■1871 
1871 
1871 

'1876 


Area  in 
Square 

Miles. 


3,741,846 

4,677,432 

8,003,778 

2,603,884 

204.091 

240.348 

149,399 

121.315 

160,207 

118.847 

195,775 

3,253.029 

672,621 

761,526 

292.871 

635,964 

11,373 

29,292 

34,494 

12,680 

357.157 

132,616 

15,992 

471,838 

497,321 

871,848 

7,533 

14,753 

368,238 

5,912 

19,353 

40,879 

218,928 

63,787 

2,969 

9,576 

7,335 

10,205 

58,171 

66,722 

47,092 

17,827 

21,505 

7,633 


Inhabitants 
to  Square 

Mile. 


119.3 

48.6 

10.2 

7.78 

178.7 

149.4 

232.8 

262.3 

187. 

230.9 

85. 

3.07 
24.4 


20. 
7.8 
441.5 
165.9 
115.8 
290.9 
8.4 
15.1 
166.9 
5.3 
4. 
2.1 
241.4 
120.9 
4.2 
247. 
75.3 
28.9 
5.9 
15.6 
277. 
74.9 
81.8 
56. 
6. 
6.5 
7.4 
7.6 
7.7 
80. 


Capitals. 


Pekln , 

London 

St.  Petersburg. 
Washington  ... 

Paris 

Vienna 

Yeddo 

London , 

Berlin 

Rome 

Madrid 

Rio  Janeiro 

Constantinople 

Mexico 

Stockholm 

Teheran 

Brussels 

Munich 

Lisbon 

Hague 

Bogota 

Santiago 

Berne 

Lima 

Chuquisaca 

Buenos  Ay  res.. 

Stuttgart 

Copenhagen.... 

Caraceas  

Carlsruhe 

Athens 

Guatemala 

Quito 

Asuncion 

Darmstadt 

Monrovia 

Sal  Salvador  . . . 
Port  au  Prince 

Managua 

Monte  Video... 

Comayagna 

San  Domingo... 

San  Jose 

Honolulu 


Population. 


1,648,800  ■ 

3.251.800 

667,000 

109.199 

1,825,300 

83.3.900 

1,5.54,900 

3,251,800 

825.400 

244.484 

332,000 

420.000 

1,075,000 

210.300 

136,900 

120,000 

314,100 

169,500 

224,063 

90,100 

45,000 

115,400 

36,000  • 

160,100 

25,000 

177.800 

91,600 

162,042 

47,000 

36,600 

43.400 

40,000 

70,000 

48.000 

30.000 

3,000 

15,000 

20,000' 

10,000- 

44,500 

12,000 

20,000- 

2,000' 


.216 


MISCELLANEOUS   INFORMATION 


POPULATION    OF    ILLINOIS, 
By  Counties. 


COUNTIES. 


.Adams 

Alexander 

Bond -- 

Boone 

Brown 

Bureau 

Calhoun 

•Carroll 

■Cass 

Champaign.. 

■Christian 

Clark 

Clay. 

-Clinton 

■Coles 

'Cook 

•Crawford 

Cumberland  . 

De  Kalb 

De   Witt 

Douglas 

Du  Page 

Edgar 

Edwards 

Effingham 

Fayette 

Ford 

Franklin 

Fulton 

Gallatin 

•Greene 

•Grundy 

Hamilton 

Hancock 

Hardin 

Henderson .. 

Henry 

Iroquois 

Jackson 

Jasper 

Jefferson 

Jersey 

Jo  Daviess... 

Johnson  

Kane 

Kankakee 

Kendall 

Knox 

Lake 

La  Salle 

Lawrence 

L,ee  - 

Livingston  .. 
iLogau  


AGGREGATE. 


1870. 


56362 
10564 
I3152 
12942 
12205 

32415 

6562 

16705 

II5S0 

32737 
20363 
18719 

I5S75 
16285 

25235 
349966 

13SS9 
12223 
23265 
14768 

13484 
166S5 
21450 

15653 

19638 

9103 

12652 

3S29I 
III34 

20277 

14938 
I30I4 

35935 
5113 
125S2 
35506 
257S2 

19634 
11234 

17S64 

15054 
27820 
1124S 
39091 
24352 
12399 

3952 

21014 

60792 

12533 
27171 

31471 
23053 


1860.  !  1850.    1840.    1830.    1830 


41323 
4707 
9815 

II67S 

9938 
26426 

5144 
II733 
II325 
14629 
10492 
14987 
9336 
1 094 1 
14203 
144954 

II551 

8311 
I90S6 
10820 

7140 
I4701 
16925 

5454 

78 16 

11189 

1979 
9393 

3333S 

8055 

16093 

10379 

9915 

29061 

3759 

9501 

20660 

12325 

95S9 

8364 

12965 

12051 

27325 

9342 

30062 

15412 

13074 
2S663 

1S257 

48332 

9214 

17651 
11637 
14272 


26508 
2484 
6144 
7624 
7198 
8841 
3231 
4586 

7253 
2649 
3203 

9532 
4289 

5139 
9335 

43385 

7135 
3718 
7540 
5002 


9290 
10692 
3524 
3799 
8075 


5681 

22508 

5448 

12429 

3023 

6362 

14652 

2887 

4612 

3807 

4149 

5862 

3220 

8109 

7354 
18604 

4114 
16703 


7730 

13279 
14226 

17815 
6121 

5-292 

1553 
5128 


14476 

3313 
5060 

1705 
4183 
3067 
1741 
1023 
2981 

1475 

1878 

7453 
3228 

3718 

9616 

10201 

4422 


1697 
3247 


3535 
8225 
3070 
1675 
6328 


3682 
13142 
10760 

11951 


3945 
9946 

1378 


1260 
1695 
3566 
1472 
5762 

4535 
6t8o 
3626 
6501 


7060 
2634 

9348 
7092 

2035 

759 

2333 


21S6 
1390 
3124 


1090 


3940 

755 
2330 


3117 


4071 
1649 


2704 


4083 
1841 
7405 
7674 


2616 
4S3 


41 


1828 
2555 


2111 
1596 


274 


3668 


MISCELLANEOUS   INFORMATION. 


217 


POPULATION  OF   ILLINOIS— Concluded. 


COUNTIES. 


Macon 

Macoupin 

Madison 

Marion 

Marshall 

Mason 

Massac 

McDonough. 

Mc  Henry 

McLean 

Menard 

Mercer 


Monroe 

Montgomery- 
Morgan 

Moultrie 

Ogle 

Peoria 

Perry 

Piatt 

Pike -- 

Pope 

Pulaslvi 

Putnam 

Randolph 

Richland 

Rock  Island 

Saline 

Sangamon  .. 

Schuyler 

Scott 

Shelby 

Stark'. 


St.  Clair 

Stephenson.. 

Tazewell 

Union 

Vermilion 

Wabash 

Warren 

Washington. 

Wayne 

White 

Whitesides  .. 

Will 

Williamson - 
Winnebago. 
Woodford . . 


AGGREGATK. 


1870. 


Total. 


26481 
32726 

44131 
20622 
16950 
16184 
9581 
26509 
23762 
53988 

11735 
18769 

12982 

253M 
28463 

10385 
27492 

47540 
13723 
10953 
30708 

11437 

875^ 

6280 

20859 

12803 

29783 
12714 

46352 
17419 
10530 

25476 
10751 

51068 
30608 
27903 
16518 
30388 
8841 
23174 
17599 
19758 
16846 

27503 
43013 
17329 
29301 
18956 


2539891 


1860. 


13738 
24602 
31251 
12739 
13437 
IO931 
6213 
20069 
22089 
28772 

9584 
15042 

12832 

13979 
22II2 

6385 
22888 
36601 

9552 

6127 
27249 

6742 

3943 

5587 
17205 

97H 
21005 

9331 
32274 
14684 

9069 
14613 

9004 

37694 
25112 
21470 
11181 
19800 

7313 
18336 
13731 
12223 
12403 

18737 
29321 
12205 
24491 
13282 


1711951 


1850. 


3988 

12355 

20441 

6720 

5180 

5921 

4092 

7616 

14978 

IO163 

6349 
5246 

7679 

6277 

16064 

3234 
10020 

17547 
5278 
1606 

18819 

3975 
2265 

3924 

1 1079 

4012 

6937 
5588 
19228 
10573 
7914 
7807 
3710 

20180 
1 1666 
12052 

7615 

1 1492 

4690 

8176 

6953 
6825 
8925 
5361 

16703 
7216 

11773 
4415 


851470 


1840. 


3039 
7926 

14433 
4742 
1849 


5308 
2578 
6565 
4431 
2352 

4481 

4490 

19547 


3479 
6153 
3222 


11728 
4094 


2131 
7944 


2610 


1830. 


I4716 
6972 
6215 
6659 
1573 

1363I 
2800 
7221 
5524 
9303 
4240 

6739 
4810 

5133 
7919 

2514 
10167 

4457 
4609 


476183 


1122 
1990 
6221 
2125 


{b) 


26 

2000 

2953 
12714 


id 
1215 


2396 
3316 


^1310 
4429 


12960 
32959 


2972 


7078 


1830. 


4716 

3239 
5836 
2710 
308 
1675 
2553 
6091 


1574JL5 


13550 


*2r 
1516' 


2610 


3492 


*5 
5248 


2362: 


1517 
1114 

4828 


=^49 
55162 


218 


MISCELLANEOUS   INFORMATION. 


STATE  LAWS 

Relating  to  Rates  of  Interest  and  Penalties  for  Usury. 


States  and  Territories. 


Alabama 

.Arizona 

Arkansas 

California 

Colorado 

Connecticut 

Dakota 

Delaware 

District  of  Columbia  .. 

Florida 

Georgia 

Idaho 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi .... 

Missouri 

Montana 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New  Hampshire 

New  Jersey 

New  Mexico 

New  York 

North  Carolina 

Ohio 

Ontario,  Canada 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania 

Quebec,  Canada 

Rhode  Island 

South  Carolina 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Utah 

Vermont 

Virginia 

Washington  Territory  , 

West  Virginia 

Wisconsin 

Wyoming 


Legal    1 

Rate    al- 

Rate   of 

lowed  by 

Interest. 

Contract. 

per  cent 

per  cent. 

8 

8 

lO 

Any  rate. 

6 

lO 

lO 

Any  rate. 

lO 

Any  rate. 

7 

7 

7 

12 

6 

6 

6 

lO 

8 

Any  rate. 

7 

12 

lO 

24 

6 

lO 

6 

lO 

6 

lO 

8 

12 

6 

8 

5 

8 

6 

Any  rate. 

6 

6 

6 

Any  rate. 

7 

lO 

7 

12 

6 

lO 

6 

lO 

lO 

Any  rate 

lO 

12 

lO 

Any  rate 

6 

6 

7 

7 

6 

Any  rate 

7 

7 

6 

8 

6 

8 

6 

Any  rate 

lO 

12 

6 

Any  rate 

6 

Any  rate 

6 

Any  rate 

7 

Any  rate. 

6 

lO 

8 

12 

lO 

Any  rate 

6 

6 

6 

6* 

lO 

Any  rate. 

6 

6* 

7 

lO 

12 

Any  rate. 

Penalties  for  Usury. 


Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 
Forfeiture  of  principal  and  interest. 


Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interest. 
Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 
Forfeiture  of  principal. 
Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Fine  and  imprisonment. 

Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  ex.  of  in.  above  12  per  cent. 

Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  ex.  of  in.  above  7  per  cent. 
No  Usury  Law  in  this  State. 
Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interest. 
Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  thrice  the  excess  and  costs. 
Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  contract. 
Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 
Forfeiture  of  excess  above  6  per  cent. 


Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interest. 
Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interest. 
Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interest 
Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 


*  Except  in  cases  defined  by  statutes  of  the  State. 


MISCELLANEOUS   INFORMATION. 


219 


STATE   LAWS 

Relating  to  Limitations  of  Actions  :  Showing  Limit  of  Time  in  which 
Action  may  be  Brought  on  the  following  : 


States  and  Tbreitories. 


Alabama 

Arkansas 

California,... 

Colorado 

Connecticut. 
Dakota 


Delaware 

District  ot   Columbia  , 

Florida 

Georgia 

Idaho 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa , 


Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Montana 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New  Hampshire 

New  Jersey 

New  Mexico 

New  York 

North  Carolina 

Ohio 

Ontario  (U.  Canada). 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania 

-Quebec  (L.  Canada). 

Rhode   Island 

South  Carolina 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Utah 

Vermont 

Virginia 


Washington  Territory. 

West  Virginia 

Wisconsin 


Wyoming. 


Sealed  and 

Assault 

Open 

Notes. 

Judg- 

witnessed 

slander, 

Accts. 

ments. 

Instru- 

&c. 

ments. 

Years. 

Years. 

Years. 

Years. 

Years. 

I 

3 

6 

20 

10 

I 

3 

5 

lO 

10 

I 

2 

4 

5 

5 

I 

6 

6 

3 

3 

3 

6 

6 

20 

17 

2 

6 

6 

20 

20 

I 

3 

6 

20 

20 

I 

3 

3 

12 

12 

2 

4 

.5 

20 

20 

I 

4 

6 

7 

20 

2 

2 

4 

5 

5 

I 

5 

lO 

20 

10 

2 

6 

20 

2o 

20 

2 

S 

lO 

20 

10 

I 

3 

5 

5 

IS 

I 

2 

15 

15 

IS 

I 

3 

5 

10 

20 

2 

6 

20 

20 

20 

I 

3 

3 

12 

12 

2 

6 

20 

20 

20 

2 

6 

6 

6 

10 

2 

6 

6 

10 

6 

I 

3 

6 

7 

7 

2 

5 

10 

20 

10 

2 

5 

10 

10 

10 

I 

4 

5 

5 

10 

2 

2 

4 

5 

4 

2 

6 

6 

20 

20 

2 

6 

6 

20 

16 

I 

6 

10 

10 

10 

2 

6 

6 

20 

20 

3 

3 

3 

10 

lO 

I 

6 

rs 

15 

IS 

2 

6 

6 

20 

20 

2 

6 

6 

10 

20 

I 

6 

6 

20 

20 

I 

5 

5 

30 

30 

I 

6 

6 

20 

20 

2 

6 

6 

20 

20 

I 

6 

6 

10 

6 

I 

2 

4 

10 

S     ■ 

I 

2 

4 

5 

7 

2 

6 

4 

8 

8 

^ 

5 

5 

10 

20 

2 

3 

6 

6 

6 

I 

5 

10 

10 

10       1 

2 

6 

6 

20 

20 

I 

6 

IS 

15 

15 

PRODUCTIONS  OF  AGRICULTURE,  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,  BY  COUNTIES.— 1870. 


JOUNTIES. 
Total  


IinpiuveU 

Latul.       WoocU'iid 


Number. 
19. 329. 952 


NuinlJL-i . 
.5.061.578 


other  nil -I 
improved 


Xu  I  liber. 
1.491. .331 


Spring 
Wheat. 


Winter 
Wheat. 


iiushels.      Bushels. 
10.133.207!l9  99.5.198 


Rye. 


bushels. 
2  456.578 


luUiaii 
Corn. 


Hushels. 
129.921.395 


Oars. 


JUishels. 
12.780.851 


Adams 287,926 

Alexander 13,836 

Bond 145,045 

Boone 137.307 

Brown 57,062 

Bureau 398,611 

(Jalhouii   37,684 

Carroll 186,864 

Cass 92.902 

Champaign 419,368 

Christian 241,472 

Clark 118.594 

Clay 146,922 

Clinton 150,177 

Coles 208.337 

Cook 348.824 

Crawford 105, 505 

Cumberland 75,342 

DeKalb 334,502 

DeWitt 168,539 

Douglas 147,633 

DuPage 164,874 

Edgar .^65,458 

Kdwards ,58.912 

Effingham 120,343 

Fayette 187, 1 96 

Ford 141,228 

Franltlin 80,749 

Fulton 228,132 

Gallatin 49,572 

Greene 175,408 

Grundv... 193,999 

Hamilton 88,996 

Hancock 311.517 

Hardin 28.117 

Henderson 140,954 

Henry   265,904 

Iroquois...   322,510 

Jackson   78,548 

Jasper      90,867 

Jetferson 118,951 

Jersey     94,147 

JoUaviess 156,517 

•Johnson 57,820 

Kane 240,120 

Kankakee 312,18-^ 

Kendall 164.004 

Knox 330.829 

r^ake 207,77n 

LaSalle 533,724 

Lawrence 87,82b 

Lee 322.21^ 

Livingston 377, 50,5 

Logan 321, 70i) 

Macon 205,25S 

Macoupin 231.05iJ 

Madison 257.032 

Marion 173.081 

Marshall 166,057 

Mason 209, 4  5^ 

Massac 25.151 

McDonough 261.635 

McHenry 230,5tb 

McLean 494.97b 

Menard 134.17b 

Mercer 222805. 

Monroe 92.810 

Montgomery 276,682 

Morgan 293,45(i 

Moultrie 144,220 

Ogle 316.883 

Peoria 170,72(t 

Perry 93.754 

Piatt 94.454 

Pike 233  785 

Pope 55.980 

Pulaski 19.319 

Putnam 37.271 

Randolph 140.764 

Richland 75.07& 

Rock  Island 1.55.214 

Saline 72,309 

Sangamon 421. 748 

Schuyler 96,195 

Scott 85,331 

Shelby 310.179 

Stark 138,129 

St.Clair 231.117 

Stephenson 254.857 

Tazewell 229. 126 

Union 7.5.832 

Vermilion 360.251 

Wabash 54.063 

AVarrcn 266.187 

Washington 177  592 

Wayne  147.352 

White .  92.398 

Whitcsides '  289.809 

AVill I  419,442 

Williamson 128.448 

Winnebago 2  H.373 

V/oodford 22.5,504 


112.576 
17.761 
42,613 
29,886 
35,491 
41,866 
63,443 
29.793 
33.493 
16,789 
19.803 

102,201 
80,612 
48,868 
45,214 
19,635 
78,350 
40,334 
17,722 
29,548 
11,897 
17,243 
66,803 
57,585 
56.330 
93.460 
2,996 
3,994 

123.823 
68,7.50 
93.242 
6,256 
93,878 
43.385 
44,771 
34,705 
12,620 
22.478 
87.642 
67.023 
94,888 
51,42'i 
82.07t 
3 
34,646 
10,978 
14,244 
41,56(; 
21,072 
48,117 
72,738 
12,071 
12.462 
17,391 
18,153 
81,224 
89,450 
61,575 

r8,26i 

.si,  73  Si 
33,39t 
52,54-, 
53,29K 
40,361 
34.931 
45.97'; 
83.369 
47,804 
t)0.217 
24.783 
43.643 
48.666 
68.470 
5.978 

128.953 
87.754 
12.51b 
17,184 

162.274 
50,618 
31.239 
70.393 
51,085 
62,477 
44,633 
74.908 
12.375 
76.591 
43.167 
45.268 
83  606 
53.078 
37.558 
27  294 
5.5.8.52 

146.794 
78.167 
21.823 
24.261 

116.949 
37,238 
25.217 


19,3701 


16,191 


1,915 

2,658 

25.608 

15,803 

2,754 

33,302 

6,604 

58,502 

19,173 

5,420 

5,225 

8,722 

3,274 

17,337 

27,185 

5,604 

6,551 

17.633 

7,316 

3.851 

14,382 

830 

26,206 

16.786 

63,976 

86,710 

4,076 

2.565 

29,653 

4,505 

3,343 

18,480 

107 

14,243 

31,459 

63.498 

5.991 

12,250 

778 

1.363 

4.5,779 

79,141 

399 

10,598 

2.283 

2.5.155 

24,399 

2.356 

3.273 

7,409 

41,788 

408 

9, 1 1 5 

7,343 

13,675 

4,142 

2,976 

31,013 

30 

14,035 

57,998 

49,087 

13,9.52 

22,588 

666 

8.495 

1.376 

1.3.112 

14.913 

2,516 

220 

13,897 

9,302 


4.174 
1.170 
2  025 

20,755 
809 

19,932 

21,294 
1,610 
9,314 
2.783 
2.016 

13.701 

14,846 
5,300 

31,122 
509 

14,583 
1.931 

10,486 
869 

37.310 
6.335 
1.618 

1.5.237 

23,135 


700 

241,042 

13,276 

465.236 

75 

418,073 

12,165 

102.577 

18,360 


1,894 

500 

2,651 

144,296 

60 

550 

398,059 

106,493 

7,683 

106,096 

13,283 


77 


42,571 

365 

193,669 


21,700 

129 

181,378 

13 

161,112 

462,379 

57,160 

890 


282,758 


188,826 
103.466 
90.681 
267,764 
168.914 
271.181 

■450'.  793 

120.206 

198.056 

55,23b 

160 

550 


106.129 
73.261 


273,871 
401,790 
211.801 
36,15:i 
289,291 


59 

18,196 

17,128 

497,038 

92,361 


26.382 
130 


28,137 
450 

'  243. .54  i 

200 

89,304 

56,221 

lb 

15.526 

124.630 

2,550 

527,394 

132,417 

"1 86;  290 
266 


457.455 
195,286 
176 
408.606 
178,139 


947.616 

42,658 

368.625 

599 

117,502 

724 

221,298 

260 

127,054 

123,091 

504,041 

19.5.118 

85,737 

610.888 

154.485 

4,904 

212,924 

84,697 

190 

11,695 

65,461 

693 

247,360 

122.703 

195,716 

351,310 

1,008 

111,324 

22.3.930 

8.3,093 

577,400 

150 

92.347 

232,7.50 

32.306 

69,062 

445 

10.480 

329.036 

87.808 

100.55^ 

558,367 

555 

92,191 

325 

480 

1,249 

7.654 

221 

2.193 

264,134 

2,260 

1,339 

40,96H 

196,613 

861,398 

1,207,181 

173,65:; 

900 

125,628 

72,316 

36,14ti 

270 

10,955 

45.793 

13,203 

651,767 

744.891 

357,523 

196,436 

5,580 

31.843 

350,44(j 

39.762 

1057,497 

70,457 

44,922 

796 

1,031,022 

150,268 

2,279 

83.011 

247,658 

165.721 

266.105 

452,015 

1,'562  621 

2. 1 1 8 

72.410 

180.231 

249.558 

202.201 

5.712 

672,486 

164,689 

184,321 

264 

1,996 
170,787 

2.468 
108,307 


20,989 

30 

6,240 

35,871 

4,742 

43,811 

186 

25,721 

2.772 

45,752 

10,722 

7,308 

3,221 

1,619 

8,825 

20.171 

15,497 

14,798 

21,018 

11  540 

9,017 

7,532 

37,508 

528 

19,759 

25,328 

11,577 

5,195 

131,711 

512 

415 

4,931. 

11.672 

133,533 

865 

96,430 

35,766 

23,25iJ 

524 

9,16.T 

5,934 


7.185 

2,46b 

23.618 

12,93c 

5,16:- 

113.547 

5.871 

48.30b 

1,121 

14,82!- 

26,16:: 

37.232 

29,22:i 

2.404 

3.68.^ 

1'4,511 

36,135 

49,18X 

54-1 

52.401 

29,26  ; 

39.82-4 

4.28:- 

40.77f 

1,42." 

3,29e 

.5,53." 

6.670 

157,50-1 

99.50-J 

l.Olt 

9.24b 

25.30:; 

2.309 

22-.> 

7.701 

:3,235 

3.401 

20,003 

568 

23,073 

20.841 

930 

23.686 

30.534 

1.008 

135.362 

59.027 

1.737 

52,476 


72.212 

2,576 

8,665 

418 

31.658 

8.030 

6.228 

137,985 

20.426 


1,452,905 

244,220 

1,064,0.52 

466,985 

337.769 

3.030.404 

234,041 

1,:367  965 

1,146,980 

3.924.720 

1,88:5,336 

614,582 

1,019,994 

813.257 

2,13:3.111 

570,427 

581.964 

40:J,075 

1.023.849 

1.311.635 

1,680,225 

331,981 

2,107,615 

352,371 

620.247 

962,525 

565,671 

65:j.209 

1,508,763 

509,491 

1,051.313 

295,971 

735, 25J 

1,510,401 

172.651 

1,712,901 

2,541,68:1 

799,811- 

611,951 

461,345 

887,981 

519,120 

1,286,326 

34:3,29b 

674,33:1 

637.39! 

681.26'r 

2,708,3U 

517,35::; 

3,077.02b 

656. 3ti: 

1,656.97b 

1.182.691 

4,221, 64( 

2.214.46b 

1.051.544 

2.127,.549 

1.034.057 

1.182,90:^ 

2,648.721 

13:3,12b 

1.362.491 

1,145.00S 

3.723.375 

1,973  88' 

2,054.96',: 

543,71b 

1., 527, 898 

;3, 198, 835 

1,753.141 

1,787,066 

969,224 

384.44b 

1,029.725 

1,399.18b 

31.5.95b 

195,73.': 

334,259 

510.081- 

482.594 

1,459.653 

.531.51b 

4,388.763 

440,975 

752.771 

2.082.578 

1,149  878 

1,42:3.121 

1.615,679 

2,062,053 

679,753 

2,818.027 

421,361 

2,982,853 

836.115 

1,179,291 

870,521 

2,162,943 

1,131.458 

655,710 

1,237.406 

2.154  185 


759,074 
21,627 
461,097 
579,127 
■  70,852 
987,426 
26.231 
775.10c 
168.784 
721.375 
383.821 
212. 62& 
269.945 
446.324 
31.5-954 
1,584.225 
136,^:55 
171,880 
1,087,074 
216,756 
225,074 
860.809 
290,679 
129,152 
386,07:} 
497,395 
154,58* 
222,426 
261,390 
27,164 
64.029 
269.332 
203.464 
579,599 
26.991 
229.286 
668.367 
430,746 
149,931 
149,214 
285,949 
71,770 
874,016 
74,525 
785,608 
772,408 
468,890 
787,952 
699,069 
1,509,642 
131,386 
903,197 
659.:30(> 
490,226 
454.648. 
459,417 
475,252 
389.446 
362,604 
272,660 
22,097 
280,717 
910.397 
911.127 
235.091 
452.8891 
152,251 
668,424 
198,724 
263,992 
141,540 
334,892 
338,760 
1:3(1,610 
161.419 
67,886 
16,511 
86,519 
414.487 
204.634 
276.575 
69.793 
397.718 
119.359 
13.462 
637.812 
316.726 
476,851 
960,620 
50.5.841 
124.4  73 
436.051 
110,793 
601.054 
533.398 
■  404,482 
119.653 
880  838 
1,868  682 
180.986 
868,903 
744,581 


PLEASANT  GROVE  IP. 


HISTORY  OE  COLES    COUNTY. 


HISTORY  is  the  camera  througli  which  we  view  the  events  of  countries 
and  people.  It  records  the  noble  deeds  of  the  soldier  and  the  states- 
man, and  stands  the  proud  monument  of  a  country's  greatness.  It  is  history, 
sacred  though  it  be,  that  tells  us  of  the  glory  of  Eden,  and  the  purity  and 
happiness  of  the  first  pair  in  its  Elysian  fields,  and  likewise  of  their  trans- 
gression and  fall.  And  through  the  sixty  centuries  that  have  passed  since  the 
world's  dawn,  it  is  history  that  presents  to  us,  whether  in  types,  in  hieroglyph- 
ics or  in  tradition,  all  that  we  know  of  men  and  things  past.  The  events 
which  constitute  the  annals  of  a  country  are  matters  of  at  least  some  local 
interest,  and  be  that  country  ever  so  "beautiless,  barren  and  bleak,"  it  con- 
tains something  of  sufficient  importance  to  be  engraved  upon  the  pages  of 
history.  How  much  more  important,  then,  that  the  fertile  region  of  which  we 
propose  to  treat  in  these  pages  should  become  a  matter  of  record,  and  form  a 
part  of  the  history  of  a  great  State  and  a  great  country. 

A  history  of  Coles  County  is  a  part  of  the  history  of  America.  Every 
portion  of  a  thing  goes  to  make  up  and  becomes  a  part  of  the  whole.  The 
population  of  this  county  constitutes  a  part  of  the  forty  millions  of  American 
citizens  who  people  this  country,  and  their  absolute  wealth  and  prosperity  make 
a  part  of  our  national  wealth  and  material  greatness.  The  intelligence  of  its 
people  form  a  part  of  our  intelligence  as  a  nation.  The  patriotism  and  self- 
sacrificing  devotion  of  its  sons,  the  gallantry  and  prowess  of  its  soldiers  on  a 
hundred  battlefields,  are  no  mean  part  of  the  pride  and  glory  of  this  great 
American  nation. 

The  age  of  Coles  County  (as  such)  is  two  years  less  than  half  a  century, 
but  the  date  of  its  settlement  extends  back  nearly  a  decade  beyond. its  organi- 
zation as  a  county.  Within  that  time,  the  events  that  have  transpired  and  the 
scenes  that  have  been  enacted  upon  its  soil,  will  be  the  subject-matter  of  these 
pages.  Taking  it  from  the  time  of  its  occupancy  by  the  Indians,  we  will 
endeavor  to  trace  its  progress  from  that  wilderness  state  to  the  present  period 
of  its  wealth  and  prosperity.  Its  growth  has  been  rapid  and  wonderful  beyond 
the  wildest  dreams  of  the  pioneers  who  first  set  foot  within  its  borders. 

The  present  territory  of  the  county  was  formerly  a  part  of  the  State  of 
A^irginia,  and  ceded  by  her  to  the  United  States  in  1784,  and  was  called  the 
Northwest  Territory.     Virginia  Avas  the  home  of  the  "  Father  of  his  Country," 


224  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

and  prides  herself  still  on  being  the  mother  of  the  nation's  best  Presidents ;  so 
Coles  County  comes  of  no  ignoble  ancestry.  In  1778,  Virginia  organized 
what  is  now  Illinois  into  one  county,  which,  some  years  later,  received  the  name 
of  St.  Clair,  from  the  then  Governor  of  the  Northwest  Territory.  In  1809, 
Illinois  was  organized  into  a  separate  Territory,  and  was  composed  at  the  time 
of  two  counties — St.  Clair  and  Randolph.  After  this,  Madison  was  set  off 
from  St.  Clair,  and  Crawford  was  afterward  set  off  from  Madison.  When 
Illinois  was  received  into  the  sisterhood  of  States,  in  1818,  there  were  but 
fifteen  counties,  of  which  Crawford  was  one.  This  county  was  named  for  Hon. 
William  H.  Crawford,  who  was  reputed  an  honest  man,  and  a  safe  custodian  of 
public  money ;  for  under  the  administration  of  Madison  and  Monroe  he  was 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  also  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  in  the 
Adams  and  Jackson  campaign  of  1824.  During  the  year  1819,  Clark  County 
was  set  off  from  Crawford.  It  then  embraced  a  large  extent  of  territory  run- 
ning up  the  valley  of  the  Wabash,  and  far  beyond,  even  to  the  Canada  line, 
or  British  possessions.  Clark  County  was  named  in  honor  of  Gen.  George 
Rogers  Clarke,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  a  pioneer  warrior  of  considerable 
celebrity.  In  1779,  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  before  the  organization 
of  Illinois  into  a  separate  Territory,  he  organized  an  army  in  Virginia,  and 
marched  it  across  the  Alleghany  Mountains  to  the  Ohio  River.  A  few  years 
later,  the  world  rung  with  the  mighty  achievement  of  Napoleon  crossing  the 
Alps  with  a  great  army,  but  to  our  mind,  the  deed  no  more  than  equaled  that 
of  Clarke  in  crossing  the  Alleghanies  and  traversing  a  wilderness  with  his  little 
band  of  soldiers,  beset  and  harassed  by  hostile  savages.  He  had  never  seen  a 
steamboat  nor  heard  of  a  railway-train,  but  he  understood  war  and  the  trans- 
portation of  an  army.  He  built  rafts,  and  on  them  shipped  his  soldiers  down 
the  Ohio  to  the  spot  where  Shawneetown  now  stands,  and  then  by  forced 
marches  through  swamps  and  marshes  filled  with  water,  often  knee-deep  to  his 
men,  he  moved  them  across  the  country  to  Kaskaskia  and  captured  that 
important  post  from  the  British.     But  all  this  belongs  to  State  history. 

HISTORICAL    AND    DESCRIPTIVE. 

Coles  County  was  set  off  from  Clark  in  1830.  It  then  embraced  in  its 
territory  what  is  now  Cumberland  and  Douglas  Counties.  Upon  its  organiza- 
tion, it  was  christened  Coles,  in  honor  of  Edward  Coles,  the  second  Governor  of 
the  State,  and  elected  to  that  position  in  1822.  As  a  general  rule,  it  is  not 
safe  to  name  a  child  or  country  for  any  man  while  he  is  yet  living,  though  he 
be  a  very  Solomon,  for  we  know  not  how  soon  he  may  fall.  There  is  no  secu- 
rity for  a  good  reputation  but  in  the  tomb.  This  side  of  that  "bourn"  the 
proudest  name,  the  most  exalted  reputation  may  totter  and  fall  to  pieces.  In 
this  respect,  however.  Coles  County's  namesake  died  with  a  name  untarnished. 
Edward  Coles  was  a  man  eminently  fit  to  give  a  name  to  any  country.  He 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  rich,  and  a  large  slave-owner,  and  when  he  emigrated 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  225 

to  Illinois  he  brought  his  slaves  with  him.  A  man  who  loved  liberty,  its  fires 
lighted  up  his  soul,  and  its  benign  influence  dictated  his  action  and  inspired 
him  with  pure  purposes  and  prompted  him  to  noble  deeds.  Of  all  other  men, 
he  demanded  respect  for  his  rights,  and  to  the  rights  and  personal  liberty  of  all 
other  men  he  accorded  the  same  profound  respect.  On  reaching  Illinois  and 
becoming  a  citizen  of  the  State,  he  set  his  slaves  all  free,  and,  in  addition,  gave 
each  head  of  a  family  among  them  160  acres  of  land.  Such  was  the  laAv  at  that 
time,  that  a  man  setting  a  slave  free  in  Illinois,  must  give  a  bond  that  it  should 
never  become  a  public  charge.  To  this  very  unsavory  requirement  of  the  law. 
Coles  failed  to  yield  obedience,  for  which  little  delinquency  his  case  was  adju- 
dicated by  the  courts,  and  he  was  fined  |2,000.  This  fine  he  was  never  required 
to  pay,  and  the  cause  which  gave  rise  to  it  will  never  give  rise  to  another  of  a 
similar  character  in  Illinois,  in  the  civilized  ages  to  come. 

Coles  County,  at  the  time  of  its  organization,  was  some  twenty-eight  miles 
east  and  west,  and  about  fifty  miles  north  and  south,  but  at  that  time,  as  already 
noted,  it  included  Douglas  and  Cumberland  Counties.  At  present,  it  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Douglas  County,  on  the  west  by  Shelby  and  Moultrie  Coun- 
ties, on  the  south  by  Cumberland,  and  on  the  east  by  Clark  and  Edgar  Coun- 
ties. It  embraces  twenty-four  sections  of  Township  eleven  north,  and  all  of 
Townships  12  and  13,  and  eighteen  sections  of  Township  14  north,  in 
Ranges  7,  8,  0,  10  and  11  east,  and  a  part  of  Range  14  west.  Range  11 
east  in  this  county  is  fractional,  being  only  three-fourths  of  a  mile  wide.  In 
the  southeast  part  of  the  county  there  is  a  "jog  "  in  the  east  line  of  three  sec- 
tions wide  east  and  west,  in  Range  14  west,  and  seven  sections  long  north  and 
and  south,  in  Townships  11  and  12  north.  When  Coles  County  was  set  off 
from  Clark,  the  latter  was  unwilling  to  give  up  that  portion  of  its  territory 
and  inhabitants  to  a  new  county.  The  reason  of  this  is  found  in  the  fact  that 
it  embraced  the  best  portion  of  that  county,  and  a  settlement  of  energetic  and 
intelligent  people.  In  the  north  line  of  the  county,  there  is  also  a  "jog"  of 
two  miles  north,  in  Ranges  11  east  and  14  west.  This  was  made  to  retain 
the  village  of  Oakland  in  this  county,  when  Douglas  County  was  created.  That 
village  was  then  regarded  as  having  great  room  for  outgrowth  and  development. 
This  county  was  unwilling  to  give  up  that  portion  of  its  territory,  and  the  peo- 
ple of  that  village  were  unwilling  to  be  given  over  to  a  new  county  organiza- 
tion. Coles  County  is  situated  in  latitude  40  north  and  in  longitude  11 
west  from  Washington,  and  embraces  about  five  hundred  square  miles.  Its 
general  surface  is  undulating ;  not  so  level  as  to  be  regarded  flat,  nor  so  broken 
as  to  be  considered  mountainous  or  even  hilly.  It  forms  a  beautiful  plateau  or 
table-land,  and  is  about  eight  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Gulf  of  Mex- 
ico. It  is  largely  prairie,  and  constitutes  a  part  of  what  is  known  as  the  Grand 
Prairie.  This  prairie  is  perhaps  as  large  in  extent,  as  rich  in  soil  and  as 
magnificent,  originally,  in  nature's  waving  fields  as  anv  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley. 


226  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

In  the  topography  of  the  county,  the  prairies  form  rather  a  notable  feature. 
The  oriofin  of  these  great  plains  has  been  a  source  of  much  speculation.  One 
theory  is  that  the  soil  resulted  from  the  decomposition  of  vegetable  matter  un- 
der water,  and  that  the  attending  conditions  were  incompatible  with  the  growth  of 
timber.  According  to  this  view,  prairies  are  at  present  in  process  of  forming 
along  the  shores  of  lakes  and  rivers.  During  river  freshets,  the  heaviest  parti- 
cles settle  nearest  the  channel,  and  here,  by  repeated  deposits,  the  banks  first 
became  elevated  above  the  floods.  These  natural  levees  becoming  sufiiciently 
high,  are  overgrown  with  timber,  and  inclose  large  areas  of  bottom  lands  back 
from  the  river,  by  which  they  are  frequently  inundated.  The  waters  on  these 
flats,  when  the  flood  subsides,  are  cut  ofl"  from  the  river  and  form  sloughs,  fre- 
quently of  great  extent.  Their  shallow  and  stagnant  Avaters  are  first  invaded 
bv  mosses  and  other  aquatic  plants  which  grow  under  the  surface  and  contain 
in  their  tissues  lime,  alumina  and  silica,  the  constituents  of  clay.  They 
also  subsist  immense  numbers  of  small  moll usks  and  other  diminutive  creatures, 
and  the  constant  decomposition  of  both  vegetables  and  animals  forms  a  stratum 
of  clay  corresponding  Avith  that  which  underlies  the  finished  prairies.  As  the 
marshy  bottoms  are,  by  this  means,  built  up  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  the 
mosses  are  then  intermixed  with  coarse  grasses,  which  become  more  and  more 
abundant  as  the  depth  diminishes.  These  reedy  plants,  now  rising  above  the 
surfiice,  absorb  and  decompose  the  carbonic-acid  gas  of  the  atmosphere,  and  con- 
vert it  into  woody  matter,  Avhich  at  first  forms  a  clayey  mold,  and  afterward 
the  black  mold  of  the  prairie."* 

As  we  have  said,  the  prairies  form  a  notable  feature  in  the  topography  oi 
the  county,  the  soil  in  them  being  invariably  deep,  rich  and  productive.  The 
original  prairie  grass  grew  very  rank,  often  higher  than  a  man's  head. 
As  a  rule,  the  prairies  occupy  the  high  land  and  the  timber  the  low  land, 
though  there  are  some  exceptions  to  this.  Timber  abounds  in  the  county,  but 
is  mostly  confined  to  the  valleys  of  the  water-courses.  The  varieties  consist  of 
all  the  kinds  of  oak,  hickory,  Avalnut,  elm,  maple  or  sugar  tree,  cottonwood, 
hackberry  and  perhaps  some  others.  There  are  still  some  very  fine  sugar 
orchards  in  the  valley  of  the  Embarrass  River.  Speaking  of  these  sugar 
orchards  and  the  excellent  timber  of  the  county  calls  to  mind  a  stanza  from  the 
compositions  of  a  local  poet  of  Northern  Illinois  on  a  similar  subject : 

"  The  timber  here  is  very  good — 

The  forest  dense  of  sturdy  wood  ; 

The  maple-tree  its  sweets  affords, 

And  walnut,  it  is  sawn  in  boards  ; 

The  giant  oak  the  asman  hails — 

Its  massive  trunk  is  torn  to  rails  ; 

And  game  is  plenty  in  the  State, 

Which  makes  the  hunter's  chances  great. 

The  prairie  wolf  infests  the  land. 

And  the  wildcats  all  bristling  stand." 

*Davidson'8  History  oJ  Illinois. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  227 

As  fine  poetical  thought,  the  above  effusion  is  of  rather  limited  merit,  but 
as  descriptive  of  this  country  fifty  yeai's  ago,  the  picture  it  presents  is  a  very 
true  one.  jNIany  years  ago,  in  the  settling-up  of  this  part  of  the  country,  tim- 
ber was  regarded  as  quite  an  object.  Every  land-owner  Avas^f  the  opinion  he 
must  have  a  piece  of  timber-land.  It  was  believed  that  the  settlement  and  im- 
provement of  the  country  would  render  it  eventually  scarce.  At  one  time,  tim- 
ber-land sold  more  readily,  and  for  a  higher  price  than  prairie.  Such,  how- 
ever, is  not  now  the  case,  and  a  hulf-century  of  experience  finds  still  an  abun- 
dance of  timber  for  all  practical  purposes.. 

Beautiful  lakes,  high  mountains  and  large  rivers,  are  not  characteristic  of 
Coles  County.  But  two  streams  entitled  to  the  name  of  river,  enter  its  borders, 
viz.,  tlie  Embarrass  and  the  Kaskaskia.  The  latter  is  better  known  in  this 
section  of  the  country  as  Okaw,  but  nearer  its  mouth  it  is  called  Kaskaskia 
altogether.  The  Embarrass,  or  Ambraw,  as  it  is  almost  universally  pi'onounced, 
is  a  beautiful  stream.  It  rises  in  Champaign  County,  flows  through  Douglas 
and  this  county  from  north  to  south,  and  makes  a  tributary  of  the  Wabash.  It 
is  the  dividing  line  between  Morgan  and  Oakland  Townships,  Charleston  and 
Ashraore,  and  Pleasant  Grove  and  Hutton  Townships.  Before  the  days  of  rail- 
ways and  lightning  news-carriers,  this  river  was  navigable,  for  an  early  statute 
of  Illinois  so  declared  it  to  be.  During  the  time  the  law  was  in  force,  numer- 
ous vessels  were  built  on  this  river,  at  a  point  near  what  is  noAv  known  as 
Blakeman's  Mill,  and  Avhich  went  by  the  high-sounding  name  of  the  "  boat- 
yard." Some  of  these  vessels  Avent  doAvn  and  out  of  the  Embarrass,  and  down 
the  Wabash,  Ohio  and  Mississippi  to  New  Orleans,  and  others  foundered  in  the 
"  Dark  Bend,"  a  spot  Avhere  the  sun  never  shines,  except  at  high  noon.  These 
vessels  were  called  flatboats,  and  were  usually  loaded  with  the  surplus  products 
of  the  country,  consisting  of  such  articles  as  would  be  of  small  loss  if  they  never 
reached  a  market.  This  stream  abounds  in  fine  varieties  of  fish,  viz.,  bass,  cat, 
buffalo,  pike  and  many  others.  The  Okaw  meanders  through  the  township  of 
Okaw,  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  county.  It  is  a  dull,  sluggish,  running 
stream.  The  water  is  muddy,  has  not  sufficient  action  to  clear  and  purify 
itself  of  "  wiggle-tails,"  and  other  such  "  vermin."  Under  the  law,  it,  too,  was 
a  navigable  river  for  shallow  water-craft,  and  is  a  tributary  of  the  "  Father  of 
Waters."  There  are  two  other  streams  Avhicli  have  their  source  in  this  county, 
both  of  which  are  too  small  to  be  called  rivers,  and  rather  large  to  be  styled 
creeks.  Tlieyare  the  little  Wabash  and  the  Kickapoo,  and  each  takes  its  name 
from  powerful  tribes  of  Indians  once  dwelling  in  this  region  of  country.  They 
begin  or  "head"  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  each  other,  but  the  Wabash 
runs  to  the  southwest  and  the  Kickapoo  to  the  cast.  There  is  also  a  small 
stream  in  Morgan  Township,  rejoicing  in  the  oily  appellation  of  Greasy  Creek, 
which  possesses  some  notoriety,  by  reason  of  the  peculiar  manner  it  acquired 
its  name.  In  the  pioneer  days,  hogs  were  "mast"  fatted  altogether,  and  in 
that  neighborhood  many  hogs  were  stolen  and  butchered.     It  was  the  custom 


228  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

of  the  people,  before  turning  their  hogs  on  the  "mast,"  to  give  them  certain 
ear-marks,  by  which  each  man  was  enabled  to  identify  his  own  hogs.  To  destroy 
the  evidence  of  ownership,  the  thieves  would  cut  off  the  heads  of  the  hogs 
stolen,  and  throWpthem  into  this  creek.  The  decomposition  made  the  water 
greasy,  hence  the  name  Greasy  Water  or  Greasy  Creek.  On  one  occasion,  these 
pioneer  pork-packers  were  overtaken  in  a  deep  ravine  in  the  woods  killing 
hogs.  When  discovered,  they  were  in  the  act  of  "  scalding"  a  lot,  but  their 
heads  hud  been  cut  off  as  usual.  When  asked  why  they  took  the  heads  off  at 
so  early  a  stage  of  the  proceedings,  they  answered  that  they  "  never  could  get  a 
good  scald  on  a  hog  while  his  head  Avas  on."  In  Ashmore  Township  is  a  creek 
that  bearing  the  perfumed  name  of  Pole  Cat,  so  called  from  the  great  numbers  of 
popular  feline  pet,  to  be  found  in  an  early  day,  in  its  immediate  vicinity.  This 
classic  stream,  like  Greasy  Creek,  also  has  its  legend.  The  following  story  is 
told  in  connection  with  the  origin  of  its  name  :  A  new-comer  to  the  neighbor- 
hood, encountered  one  of  these  little  monsters  on  the  banks  of  this  stream.  In 
the  combat  that  ensued,  he  learned  through  practical  demonstration  the  start- 
ling power  of  "  this  kind  of  a  cat  "  to  defend  itself  when  assailed  by  an  enemy. 
The  new-comer  was  so  overwhelmed  with  the  success  of  the  animal's  defense, 
that  he  buried  his  clothes  on  the  battle-ground,  and  returned  home  in  the  cos- 
tume of  the  Georgia  Major,  minus  the  spurs  and  the  paper  collar,  and  there- 
upon christened  the  stream  by  the  name  of  Pole  Cat.  In  the  township  of  Hut- 
ton  there  are  two  small  streams  called  respectively  Whetstone  and  Hurricane  ; 
in  Pleasant  Grove  are  also  two  little  streams,  Indian  and  Clear  Creeks,  and  in 
East  Oakland,  Brush  Creek. 

In  the  county  are  numerous  groves,  or  small  bodies  of  timber,  isolated  from 
the  main  timber.  What  circumstances  gave  rise  to  their  growth,  or  how  long 
they  have  been  growing,  is  not  within  the  knowledge  of  those  now  living. 
Dodge  Grove  is  in  Mattoon  Township,  about  two  miles  northwest  of  the  city, 
and  takes  its  name  from  this  circumstance :  In  the  early  days,  there  lived  a 
family  near  it,  of  the  name  of  Whitley,  and  they  owned  a  race-mare,  known  as 
the  "  Dodge  Filly."  On  a  notable  occasion  they  took  her  to  Springfield  to  the 
races.  These  races  took  place  twice  a  year,  called  the  spring  and  fall  meetings. 
They  staked  the  filly  on  a  race,  and  lost.  Being  loath  to  give  her  up,  they  run 
her  off  and  concealed  her  in  this  grove  for  three  weeks.  The  party  winning 
the  mare  came  in  search  of  her,  and  had  the  officers  of  the  law  to  scour  the 
country,  but  they  failed  to  find  her.  Thus  the  filly  dodged  capture,  and  the 
grove  captured  the  name  of  Dodge.  Dead  Man's  Grove  is  in  La  Fayette  Town- 
ship, on  the  north  branch  of  Kickapoo  Creek,  and  was  formly  called  Island 
Grove.  It  took  its  present  name  from  the  fact  that  a  man  Avas  found  dead 
in  the  grove  in  March,  1826,  supposed  to  have  frozen  to  death.  There  was 
snow  on  the  ground  at  the  time,  and,  when  found,  the  corpse  was  *'  sitting  at 
the  root  of  a  tree  with  a  bridle  thrown  over  the  shoulders."  The  man's  name 
was  Coffman,  and  he  lived  in  the  Sand  Creek  settlement.     He  was  carried  by 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  229 

Samuel  Kellogg  on  horse-back,  without  coffin  or  escort,  to  the  Parker  settle- 
ment, on  the  Embarrass,  for  inquest  and  burial.  Seven  miles  north  and  west 
of  Charleston,  in  Hickory  Township,  standing  out  in  the  open  prairie,  are 
what  is  called  the  Seven  Hickories.  They  acquired  that  name  because  formerly 
there  were  just  seven  hickory  trees  constituting  all  there  was  of  the  grove,  and 
what  seems  somewhat  singular  is,  that  hickory  is  a  species  of  timber  that  never 
grows  in  the  prairies.  The  original  trees  have  paid  the  debt  of  nature,  but  a 
numerous  progeny  still  survive.  In  Humbolt  Township  near  the  village  of  the 
same  name,  on  a  little  stream  called  Flat  Branch,  is  the  Blue-Grass  Grove.  It 
was  formerly  a  camping-place  of  the  Indians,  and  their  ponies  ate  out  the  wild 
grass,  when  the  blue-grass,  as  it  invariably  does  in  this  country,  sprang  up  spon- 
taneously in  its  place.  It  thus  became  the  first  blue-grass  "  patch  "  in  the 
county,  and  hence  the  name  of  Blue-Grass  Grove.  The  Dry  Grove  and  Buck 
Grove  are  near  neighbors,  and  are  about  four  miles  south  of  Mattoon.  The 
great  number  of  deer,  of  the  antlered  sex,  killed  by  the  pioneer  sportsmen 
gave  rise  to  the  name  of  the  Buck  Grove.  Dry  Grove  has  borne  that  name 
from  time  immemorial.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been  named  by  the  "first  man," 
and  that,  too,  in  a  dry  time,  otherwise  its  name  would  have  been  diff'erent,  and 
more  appropriate.  In  the  south  part  of  the  county,  in  the  town  of  Pleasant 
Grove,  is  a  prairie  called  Goose-Nest  Prairie.  The  inhabitants  have  always 
been  proud  of  the  title,  but  the  rest  of  the  world  seem  amused  at  the  novelty  of 
the  name,  and  the  people's  peculiar  pride  of  it.  About  the  year  1827,  a 
pioneer,  named  Josiah  Marshall,  was  looking  at  the  country,  and  coming  into 
this  prairie  from  the  summit  of  a  knoll  in  its  midst,  observing  on  one  hand  trees 
literally  dripping  with  wild  honey,  and  on  the  other,  nature's  waving  meadows, 
and  beneath  him  a  soil,  deep,  rich  and  productive,  and  probably  having  in  his 
mind's  eye  the  peculiar  richness  of  a  goose  egg,  in  an  ecstacy  of  delight 
exclaimed  in  an  uplifted  voice,  "  this  is  the  very  goose-nest."  It  has  since 
borne  the  name.  Just  west  of  this  prairie,  in  the  the  same  township,  is  a  point 
of  timber  known  as  "Muddy  Point,"  but  has  no  significance  in  history,  save 
the  peculiar  appropriateness  of  the  name.  In  the  east  part  of  the  county  is  a 
portion  of  a  prairie  called  Parker's  Prairie,  so-called  from  George  Parker,  its 
original  settler. 

^  EARLY    SETTLEMENTS. 

Prior  to  1824,  what  is  now  Coles  County  was  a  wilderness  waste,  unin- 
habited by  civilized  man.  If  any  pale-face  before  that  time  had  ever  come 
within  its  borders  as  an  actual  settler,  it  is  not  known  whence  he  came,  who  he 
was  or  whither  he  went.  The  red  man  of  the  forest  held  high  carnival  over 
the  land,  his  camp-fires  were  seen  in  the  distance,  and  it  was  his  war-whoop 
and  his  death-song  that  broke  the  stillness,  while  his  wigwam  was  the  only 
specimen  of  a  habitation  made  with  human  hands.  Old  Bruin  reigned  king  of 
the  wild  beasts  ;  the  panther  screamed,  the  wolf  howled,  and  the  gray-eyed  owl 
hooted  without  the  presence  of  civilized  man  to  "  molest  or  make  them  afraid." 


230  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

The  forest  was  undisturbed  except  by  the  bhizc  of  the  tomahawk,  and  the  soil 
untrodden,  save  by  the  wild  beast  and  the  savage  and  his  pony.     A  half-century 
or  more,  Avhite  people  have  witnessed  the  grand  march  of  civilization  over  this 
land,  and  to-day  scarce  a  trace  is  left  of  the  former  presence  of  the  aborigines 
of  the  country.     In  1824,  the  first  settlement  was  made  in  Coles  County,  by 
men  whom  God  made  white,  and  blessed  with  the  light  of  civilization.     Of  the 
first  emigrants,  but  few  remain.     Most  of  them  have  paid  nature's  last  great 
debt,  and  the  memories  of  those  remaining  are  so  impaired  by  age  that  but  few 
facts  can  be  obtained.     The  first  settlers  came  from  Crawford  County  on  the 
Wabash  River,   where  they  had  lived  many  years,  building  and  dwelling  in 
forts,  and  skirmishing  with  the  Indians.     As  pioneers,  they  possessed  an  exten- 
sive experience.     They   were   John  Parker   and  his  sons,   among  whom  were 
Daniel,  Benjamin,  Silas,  George  and  James  Parker  and  families,  and  Samuel 
Kellogg  and  his   Avife  Mary,  in  all  fourteen  souls,  the  latter  of  whom  alone  is 
livino-.     The  Parker's  were  formerly  from   Tennessee,  and  were  good  old-fash- 
ioned  people.     They   dressed  plain,  lived  rough  and  seemed  to  love  the  hard- 
ships and  to  delight  in  the  adventures  incident  to  the  settlement  of  a  new 
country.     The  soldier  who  leaves  his  home,  sunders  the  ties  of  affection  and 
bids  adieu  to  loved  ones,  to  do  battle  (or  his  country,  deserves  well  of  its  people. 
So,  too,  the  pioneer,  who  goes  out  from  the  home  of  his  childhood,  leaving 
behind  him  the  hallowed  associations  of  youthful  days,  and  the  cherished  objects 
of  love  and  aifection,  hewing  his  way  into  the  wilderness,  and  there  settles  down 
to  build  up  a  new  country,  and  open  a  highway  for  civilization,  is  also  worthy 
of  credit  among  his  fellow-countrymen. 

Benjamin  Parker  built  the  first  log  cabin,  and  thus  became  the  first  actual 
settler  in  Coles  County,  fifty-five  years  ago.     That  cabin  was  built  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  Embarrass  River,  just  opposite  the  place  where  Blakeman's  mill 
was  afterward  erected,  and  was  in  what  is  now  Hutton  Township.     It  was  a  rude 
affair,  and  a  fair  sample  of  pioneer  strength  and  awkwardness,  but  nevertheless 
turned  the  rain,  broke  the  force  of  the  sun's  burning  rays,  resisted  the  chilling 
blasts  of  winter,  and  kept  out  the  cold,  damp  air  of  night.     It  also  answered 
the  purpose  of  a  dwelling-house,  and  consisted  of  parlor,  dining-room,  kitchen 
and  bed-rooms  enough  to  sleep  fourteen  persons.     The  walls  were  of  unhewn 
logs,  and  floor  of  puncheons,  neither  hewn  nor  "  planed."     It  was  covered  with 
clapboards,  weighed  down  with  poles  in  lieu  of  being  nailed ;    the  chimney  was 
made  of  sticks  and  clay,  and  the  "  back  walls  "  and  "jambs  "  of  the  same  mate- 
rial, except  the  quantity  of  clay  was  increased.     The  liolp  to  "raise"  this 
cabin  came  from  Crawford  County,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles.     In  those  days,  a 
house-raising  was  regarded  as  a  "  big  thing  "   and  were  usually  accompanied 
with  a  quilting,   wool-picking  or  sewing   "  bee,"  to  furnish   an   excuse  for  the 
women  to  come  together  for  a  little  quiet  gossip,  though  not  perhaps,  as  at  the 
present  day,  to  talk  of  Mrs.  Jones'    new  bonnet,  or  Mrs.    Smith's  old  dress 
made  over,  or  the  way  Mrs.   Brown  had  her  back-kiiir   "  fixed   last   Sunday." 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  231 

Those  little  gatherings  were  occasions  for  much  good  eating  and  drinking,  the 
latter,  however,  being  indulged  in  by  the  men  only.  And  the  best  wrestler, 
the  furthest  jumper,  and  the  swiftest  runner  Avere  the  heroes,  and  the  best 
fighter  wore  oft'  the  belt,  for  at  that  early  period  fighting  was  always  included 
in  the  popular  amusements  of  the  day. 

John  Parker,  familiarly  known  as  "  High  Johnny  "  Parker,  and  the  pro- 
genitor of  all  the  Parkers  (of  this  early  settlement)  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revo- 
tionary  War — one  of  the  heroes  of  that  long  and  doubtful  struggle  that  finally 
resulted  in  the  independence  of  the  "  greatest  country  the  sun  shines  on." 
Samuel  Kellogg,  mentioned  as  one  of  this  little  colony,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Black  Hawk  campaign  of  1832,  and  has  since  died,  but,  as  already  stated,  his 
widow  is  still  living,  and  at  present  a  resident  of  Charleston.  But  of  the  pio- 
neers of  this  early  settlement  further  particulars  will  be  given  in  the  township 
histories. 

In  the  fall  of  1824,  Seth  Bates  and  his  sons,  David  and^John  Bates,  and 
his  stepsons,  Levi  and  Samuel  Doty,  came  to  the  county,  and  in  the  summer  of 
1825  made  a  settlement  on  Kickapoo  Creek,  in  the  present  town  of  La  Fayette, 
These  were  the  first  inhabitants  in  that  region,  and  the  settlement  was  made  on 
what  is  now  the  Doctor  Monroe  farm.  John  Bobbins  and  William  Wagner 
came  in  a  year  or  two  later.  The  former  put  up  a  mill  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  the  latter  started  a  tan-yard.  Samuel  Frost  came  the  next  year  after  Rob- 
bins  and  Wagner,  and  was  one  of  the  first  merchants  in  this  settlement,  as  noted 
elsewhere,  and  also  carried  the  first  mail  through  from  Paris  to  Vandalia.  In 
1826,  Van  Eastin  settled  in  this  neighborhood;  in  1828,  his  brother  John  M. 
Eastin  came,  and  their  father,  Charles  Eastin,  in  1830.  The  following  story 
is  told  of  the  Eastins,  as  illustrative  of  the  proverb  that  "  fine  feathers  make 
fine  birds,"  or  at  least  are  supposed  to  do  so.  John  Eastin,  just  prior  to  coming 
to  this  county,  had  married  Miss  Jennie  Reed.  The  first  Sunday  they  spent 
in  the  wilderness  of  Coles  County,  they  attended  church  rigged  out  in  their 
"  wedding  toggery,"  and  their  "  new  store  clothes  "  created  quite  a  sensation  in 
this  then  backwoods  settlement,  and  elicited  remarks  from  everybody.  The 
next  morning  before  breakfast,  six  men  came  to  see  him  to  borrow  money  for 
the  purpose  of  buying  land,  supposing  from  his  extravagant  style  of  dress,  that 
he  must  be  rich  and  have  money  to  loan,  when  he  really  had  but  $6  to  his  name- 
In  1828,  James  Phipps  settled  in  this  neighborhood.  As  early  as  1828  or  1829, 
James  Ashmore,  William  Ewing  and  William  Williams  came  in  and  settled 
on  the  south  side  of  Kickapoo. 

A  settlement  was  made  in  the  present  township  of  Ashmore  as  early  as 
1825.  The  first  white  people  in  this  section  were  the  Dudleys  and  La- 
ban  Burr,  all  bachelors,  thus  forming  a  kind  of  second  Eden,  as  Eden  was  be- 
fore its  quiet  was  disturbed  by  Mother  Eve.  To  trace  the  genealogy  of  the 
Dudleys,  it  would  be  necessary  to  go  back  to  Dudley  Castle,  Staffordshire,  En- 
gland, and  begin  with  Earl  Dudley,  in  the  fourteenth  century,  following  it  doAvn 


232  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

through  a  long  line  of  nobles,  of  whom  one  of  the  most  powerful  was  Robert 
Dudley,  Earl  of  Leicester,  and  figured  conspicuously  during  the  reign  of  Eliz- 
abeth, the  Virgin  Queen  of  England.  Their  published  genealogy  is  authentic, 
giving  the  descent  of  the  Dudleys  here  mentioned  from  this  noble  family.  The 
first  one  in  the  United  States  was  Thomas  Dudley,  Governor  of  "  Massachu- 
setts Bay  Colony."  Many  of  his  descendants  held  important  positions  in  colo- 
nial times,  and  are  to  be  found  in  almost  every  State  of  the  Union  at  the  present 
day.  Many  of  them  figured  prominently  in  our  struggle  for  independence, 
and  their  survivors  and  descendants  are  leading  citizens  of  the  country.  The 
original  settlers  in  this  section  were  James  and  Guilford  Dudley,  and  there  are 
still  sons  of  these  pioneers  living  in  the  township  of  Ashmorc,  and  are  more  par- 
ticularly mentioned  in  that  chapter.  James  Wells,  Christopher  Sousely,  Jo- 
seph Henry,  John  Mitchell,  William  Austin,  H.  J.  Ashmore  and  John  Carter 
were  also  early  settlers  in  this  section.  From  them  have  descended  some  of  the 
solid  and  substantial  men  of  the  county. 

The  first  settlement  was  made  on  "  Goose-Nest"  Prairie  in  1829.  Rev. 
Daniel  Barham  and  sons  John  and  Nathan,  and  Thomas  Barker,  put  up  the 
first  cabin  in  this  little  paradise,  in  the  spring  of  the  year  mentioned  above. 
This  settlement  Avas  in  what  is  now  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  and  embraced 
as  fine  a  body  of  land  as  may  be  found  in  Coles  County.  Michael  Taylor  and 
his  son  Elijah,  John  and  Patrick  Gordon,  and  Dow  Goodman,  came  in  the 
same  year,  and  found  shelter  in  the  same  nest.  Zeno  Campbell,  the  Balahes 
and  others,  also  came  during  this  year  and  entered  claims  on  "Goose-Nest" 
Prairie,  or  adjacent  thereto.  In  the  fall  of  1830,  John  J.  Adams,  Mark 
Baker  and  William  Wayne  settled  in  the  neighborhood.  The  Muddy  Point 
settlement  was  likewise  in  Pleasant  Grove  Township.  The  first  squatters  here 
were  Isaac  Francher  and  Buck  Houchin,  who  pitched  their  tents  in  this  local- 
ity in  1827.  Jack  Price  came  in  1828 ;  Joseph  Glenn,  Daniel  Edson  (not  the 
inventor  of  the  phonograph),  Daniel  Beals  and  his  sons,  in  1829,  and  William 
Dryden  and  Alfred  Balch  in  the  same  year.  In  the  fall  of  1830,  William 
Gammill  and  sons,  his  sons-in-law,  A.  Balch  and  Isaac  Odell  and  Abner  John- 
ston, came  in  and  settled  in  this  neighborhood. 

A  settlement  was  made  on  the  west  side  of  the  Embarrass  River,  south  of 
Greasy  Creek,  in  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Morgan  Township,  in 
1829-30.  Daniel  McAllister,  Benjamin  Clark  and  William  Shattun  were  the 
pioneers  of  this  settlement.  They  were  men  of  strong  arms  and  brave  hearts, 
well  calculated  to  brave  the  dangers  of  a  wilderness.  They  went  to  Big  Creek 
(Edgar  County)  to  mill,  and  sent  their  children  four  miles  to  school,  and  were 
thankful  for  even  such  conveniences  as  those."  The  widow  of  Benjamin  Clark 
was  the  last  survivor  of  these  pioneers  and  three  years  ago  (we  do  not  know 
whether  she  is  still  living)  was  a  hearty  and  hale  old  lady  for  her  time  of  life. 
She  spent  eight  weeks  among  the  wolves  and  panthers  during  the  winter  of  1830, 
with  six  small  children,  while  her  husband  had  gone  back  to  the  settlements 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUHTY.  233 

for  provisions.  There  are  few  ladies  of  the  present  day  but  would  shrink  from 
such  an  undertaking,  and  it  is  with  no  disparagement  to  the  sex  that  we  make 
the  observation.  Our  women  are  as  true  and  noble,  and  capable  of  as  great 
sacrifices  when  necessity  demands  them,  as  at  any  other  age  of  the  world,  even 
that  heroic  period  when  they  severed  from  their  heads  their  "golden  tresses" 
and  wove  them  into  bow-strings  for  their  fathers,  brothers  and  husbands  to 
defend  their  hearths  and  homes.  But  think  of  living  in  a  wilderness  for  two 
long,  weary  months  alone  with  half  a  dozen  helpless  children,  beyond  the  reach 
of  help.     The  bravest  woman  might  well  shrink  from  it. 

The  territory  now  embraced  in  Oakland  Township  contained  settlements  as 
early  as  1829.  In  this  year  Samuel  Ashmore  settled  in  this  region.  Soon 
after  his  settlement,  his  sons  H.  J.  and  W.  C.  Ashmore  came  to  the  neighbor- 
hood. Samuel  Hogue  and  James  Black,  sons-in-law  of  Samuel  Ashmore,  set- 
tled here  also  about  the  same  time  as  those  above  mentioned.  Where  Oakland 
village  now  stands,  settlements  were  made  by  Enoch  Sears,  Eli  Sargent,  Asa 
Redden  and  others.  David  Winkler  and  the  Hoskinses  settled  on  Brushy 
Fork.  At  the  time  of  these  settlements,  the  aborigines  of  the  country  were  in 
possession  of  it,  and  had  a  village  or  trading-post  in  this  vicinity.  They  were 
friendly,  however,  and  lived  with  their  pale-face  neighbors  in  peace  and  har- 
mony. In  1831,  Stanton  Pemberton  and  his  sons  came  to  the  Ashmore  settle- 
ment. A  mill  was  built  here  at  an  early  day  by  a  man  named  Stevens,  and  a 
few  years  later  another  was  built  by  Redden. 

The  first  settlement  made  in  what  is  now  Charleston  Township  was  in  1826. 
In  that  year,  Enoch  Glassco  and  sons,  and  J.  Y.  Brown,  came  to  the  county 
and  settled  about  a  mile  north  of  the  present  city  of  Charleston.  In  1827,  the 
Parkers  came  from  the  Embarrass  River  Settlement  and  located  on  what  is 
now  Anderson's  Addition  to  Charleston.  About  the  same  time,  Hiram 
Steepleton  and  Isaac  Lewis  were  added  to  the  settlement.  In  1829,  Michael 
Cossell,  Jr.,  came  to  the  place,  and  the  next  year  his  father,  and  brothers  Isaac 
and  Solomon  Cossell  came  in  and  made  settlements.  In  the  same  year,  Charles 
Morton  and  family  settled  in  the  little  community.  He  was  an  energetic  and 
enterprising  man.  He  settled  on  what  is  now  the  Decker  farm,  and  built  a 
horse-mill,  upon  which  many  a  pioneer  ground  the  meal  for  his  "  corn- 
dodgers." Mr.  Morton  is  mentioned  in  another  chapter  of  this  work  as  the 
first  merchant,  and  one  of  the  prominent  business  men  of  the  county.  Jesse 
Veach  also  settled  in  the  present  town  of  Charleston.  He  came  first  to  Illinois 
in  1824,  and  to  Coles  County  in  1825.  After  this,  he  returned  to  Crawford 
County,  where  he  "  took  unto  himself  a  wife,"  and,  in  1831,.  came  back  to 
Coles  County,  where  he  still  lives,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  a  well-spent  life. 

John  Hutton  came  to  Illinois  in  1816,  and,  in  1824-25,  settled  in  what  is 
now  Hutton  Township.  Says  Capt.  Adams,  in  his  Centennial  Address,  he 
"made  a  hand  building  the  first  cabin,  heard  the  first  prayer  made  and  the  first 
sermon  preached,  and  mourned  at  the  first  funeral  in  the  present  territory  of 


234  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

the  county."  In  1826,  a  settlement  was  made  by  the  Parkers  on  what  was 
known  as  Parker's  Prairie,  and  which  lies  partly  in  liutton  Township.  George 
Parker  and  his  sons  Joseph,  Daniel  and  Jephthah  were  the  first  in  this  immedi- 
ate neighborhood,  and  from  them  this  beautiful  prairie  received  its  name. 
Joseph  Parker  killed  a  large  bear,  in  1828,  near  Buyess  Berkley's,  and  many 
other  members  of  the  Bruin  ftimily  were  slaughtered  in  an  early  day  by  the 
pioneers.  Tn  the  fall  of  1826,  there  was  a  settlement  made  at  a  place  called 
'*  Dog  Town,"  which  was  also  in  the  present  town  of  Hutton.  James  Nees 
was  the  first  settler  in  this  section,  but  was  very  soon  joined  by  Charles  Miller 
and  William  Cook.  Joshua  Painter,  Hugh  Doyle,  James  Ashby  and  John  C. 
Davis  soon  after  made  settlements  in  the  same  neighborhood.  Anthony  Cox, 
William  Waldruff  and  Joel  Connelly  settled,  also,  in  what  is  now  Hutton,  in 
1828,  and  Daniel  Evinger  soon  after.  The  latter  put  up  a  carding-machine  on 
what  was  known  as  the  John  Flenner  farm. 

About  1826,  a  settlement  was  made  at  Wabash  Point,  in  the  present  town- 
ship of  Paradise.  The  first  white  settler  was  Daniel  Drake.  In  1827,  Thomas 
Hart  and  his  sons  settled  in  this  neighborhood,  and  in  July,  1828,  Silas  and 
Adam  Hart  and  others  of  the  same  name  came  to  the  settlement,  so  that  if 
there  was  any  part  of  the  country  that  had  a  heart,  it  was  this  Wabash 
Point  settlement.  These  people  were  a  law  unto  themselves,  and  tolerated 
no  lawlessness  in  their  midst.  When  one  committed  a  misdemeanor,  Judge 
Lynch  came  to  the  front  and  gave  to  the  culprit  but  a  short  shrift.  In 
illustration  of  his  peremptory  manner  in  disposing  of  the  cases  upon  his 
docket,  the  following  instance  is  given :  On  a  certain  occasion,  a  man 
living  in  the  settlement  was  caught  in  the  act  of  appropriating  to  himself 
another's  cowhide  and  potatoes.  A  court  was  at  once  organized,  with 
Thomas  Hart,  Jr.,  as  Judge.  Silas  Hart  was  appointed  attorney  for  the 
defendant,  and  William  Higgins  and  others,  jurors.  The  trial  resulted  in  a 
verdict  of  guilty,  and  the  punishment  fixed  at  twenty -nine  lashes  and  banish- 
ment from  the  settlement.  After  the  lashes  had  been  administered,  the 
defendant  was  shown  a  star,  in  the  direction  of  his  "  Old  Kentucky  Home," 
and  bade  to  follow  it,  as  did  the  Avise  men  of  the  East.  He  waited  not 
for  the  advice  to  be  repeated,  nor  stood  upon  the  order  of  his  going ;  he 
went. 

In  1826,  Charles  Sawyer  made  a  settlement  in  the  southern  part  of  what 
is  now  Mattoon  Township.  His  family  came  on  the  next  spring ;  but  a  short 
time  previous  to  their  arrival,  a  man  named  Nash  came  to  the  settlement  and 
occupied  Sawyer's  house.  He  injured  himself  one  day,  "carrying  a  log,  to 
make  a  bee-gum,"  from  the  efiects  of  which  he  died.  This  was  the  first  death 
in  the  Wabash  Settlement,  which  Avas  principally  in  what  is  now  Paradise 
ToAvnship,  as  already  stated,  but  extended  into  Mattoon  Township.  John 
Sawyer  was  another  of  the  pioneers  of  this  settlement.  These  are  said  to  have 
been  without  bread  in  their  families  as  much  as  three  weeks  at  a  time.      They 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  235 

went  five  miles  beyond  Springfield  to  mill,  and  blazed  the  trees  on  the  route, 
in  order  to  find  their  way  back  home,  and  swam  the  Okaw  River  into  the  bar- 
gain. 

About  1833,  a  settlement  was  made  in  the  present  town  of  Okaw.  John 
Whitney  and  four  sons,  William  Bridgman  and  Jesse  Fuller  were  the  first  squat- 
ters in  this  section.  Henry  and  Hawkins  Fuller  and  Nathaniel  Dixon  came  in 
1835.  The  year  previous,  however,  the  settlement  was  increased  by  the  arrival 
of  P.  M.  Ellis,  the  Elders  and  Fred.  Price,  these  people  used  to  splice  teams 
and  go  a  day's  journey  to  a  horse-mill.  In  wet  weather,  they  would  go  to  San- 
gamon River,  near  Decatur,  or  to  Parker's  Mill,  on  the  Embarrass  River. 

EARLY  FACTS  AND  FEATURES. 

Thus  we  have  taken  a  brief  glance  at  a  few  of  the  first  permanent  settle- 
ments made  in  Coles  County.  We  have  passed  over  the  settling  of  the 
county  in  thi«  brief  manner,  in  order  to  avoid,  as  much  as  possible,  repetition. 
In  the  township  histories,  which  follow,  the  settlement  of  each  will  be  taken 
up  and  considered  separately,  and  everything  of  interest  will  be  fully  and  faith- 
fully given,  while  in  this  chapter,  matters  pertaining  more  particularly  to  the 
county  at  large  will  be  noticed. 

The  pioneers  of  a  country  are  always  subjected  to  many  inconveniences, 
and  live  a  hard  and  rough  life.  When  immigrating  to  a  new  country,  one 
leaves  behind  all  the  comforts  and  luxuries  of  civilization,  to  endure  hunger 
and  cold,  and  most  of  all,  to  brave  the  dangers  of  a  wilderness.  At  the  time 
of  settling  this  country,  it  was  inhabited  by  wild  beasts,  and  wild  men  but  little 
less  savage  than  the  wild  beasts  themselves.  They  came  here  poor,  and  for 
years  the  struggle  with  poverty  was  a  hard  one.  Think  of  a  family  without 
bread  for  three  weeks,  and  living  on  wild  meat,  potatoes  and  parched  corn  !  As 
we  look  around  us  to-day,  at  the  waving  fields  of  "golden  grain,  ripening  for 
the  harvest,"  the  droves  of  cattle  grazing  on  the  rich  pastures,  and  the  almost 
innumerable  car-loads  of  grain  and  stock  shi})ped  to  distant  points,  it  is  hard  to 
realize  what  it  was  fifty  years  ago,  and  what  the  pioneers  of  that  day  under- 
went to  produce  this  grand  transformation.  In  the  Centennial  Address  of  Capt. 
Adams,  already  referred  to,  he  says  :  "  The  early  settlers  were  generally  poor, 
and  livsd  on  Congress  land.  Considerable  improvements  were  often  made  on 
land  before  it  was  entered.  The  custom  not  to  enter  each  other  out  was  the 
local  law  of  the  neighborhood.  It  sometimes  occurred  that  entries  were  made 
of  lands  by  others  than  the  actual  occupants.  This  invariably  stirred  up  the 
righteous  indignation  of  the  settlement,  and  a  meeting  would  be  called,  resolu- 
tions adopted  and  a  plan  of  operation  laid  out.  They  at  once  went  to  work, 
tore  down  the  house  on  the  land  and  hauled  it  ofi",  filled  up  the  well,  gathered 
the  crop,  pulled  up  the  fruit-trees  and  garden  stuff",  and  removed  the  fences  and 
other  improvements.  And  then,  if  the  party  entering  another  out  made  a  fuss 
about  it   h'?  had  lo  climb  a  jack-oak  or  ride  a  rail." 


236  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

Not  only  were  the  people  hard  run  to  live,  to  "  keep  soul  and  body  together," 
but  when  we  consider  the  tools  and  implements  they  had  to  work  with,  we  won- 
der in  our  minds  how  they  managed  to  live  at  all.  The  old  "bar  share"  and 
"Gary"  plows  would  be  objects  of  great  curiosity  to  the  present  generation,  in 
this  age  of  magnificent  plows — plows  that  will  almost  turn  the  soil,  if  put  in 
the  field,  without  team  or  driver.  An  old  farmer  told  us  the  other  day,  that 
for  years  after  he  settled  in  the  neighborhood,  there  was  but  one  wagon  in  the 
settlement,  and  one  grindstone  "and  upon  the  latter,"  said  he,  "we  used  to 
grind  our  Gary  plows  when  they  become  too  dull  to  plow  well."  And  yet  we 
complain  of  hard  times  I  Why,  we  don't  know  the  meaning  of  the  word, 
as  compared  to  these  early  settlers,  who  broke  down  the  barriers  between 
the  wilderness  and  civilization.  Again,  quoting  from  Capt.  Adams,  "  They 
hauled  hay  eight  miles  in  winter  on  hand-sleds,  sold  their  horse-collars  to 
buy  bread  for  their  children  ;  rocked  their  babies  in  sugar-troughs,  and  stood 
guard   over  them  to  keep  the  wolves   off,  and  fed  them   on  venison   and  wild 

honey." 

Nor  is  the  credit  all  due  to  the  "lords  of  creation,"  in  the  privations 
endured  in  these  early  days.  Noble  women  lent  their  presence  to  "  gild  the 
gloom"  of  wilderness  life,  and  cheerfully  shared  the  toils  and  cares  met  with 
in  their  new  homes.  Figuratively  they  put  their  hands  to  the  plow,  and,  in 
cases  of  emergency,  did  not  hesitate  to  do  so  literally.  They  drove  oxen, 
assisted  in  planting,  cultivating  and  harvesting  the  crops,  besides  attending  to 
their  household  duties  ;  and  these  last  were  much  more  onerous  than  at  the 
present  day.  Then  they  included  the  spinning  and  weaving  into  cloth,  flax,  cotton, 
and  wool.  The  wool  was  carded  into  rolls  at  the  carding  mill  or  machine,  spun 
into  yarn  on  the  "big  wheel  "  by  the  wives  and  daughters,  woven  into  cloth  and 
manufactured  into  garments  by  the  same  busy  hands,  for  the  family  wear.  If  a 
lady  was  so  fortunate  as  to  possess  a  calico  dress,  she  was  the  envy  of  her 
"set,"  just  as  the  "lady  of  the  period,"  who  robes  in  satin  and  a  "love  of  a 
bonnet,"  is  the  envy  of  her  less  fortunate  sisters  at  the  present  day.  But  the 
half-century  that  has  passed  has  made  many  changes,  and  brought  us  many 
improvements.  We  have  grown  much  older  in  many  respects,  if  not  wiser, 
and  become  more  extravagant  in  our  desires  and  more  luxurious  in  our  tastes. 
We  cannot  think  of  living  on  what  our  fathers  lived  on  fifty  years  ago.  Our 
very  appetites  have  changed.  The  "corn-dodgers"  and  fried  bacon  our  parents 
were  glad  to  get,  if  set  before  us  at  the  present  day,  would  cause  us  to  elevate 
our  "Grecian  noses"  to  an  angle  of  ninety  degress.  But  this  is  as  it  should 
be.  We  live  in  an  age  of  improvement,  and  it  is  but  just  that  all  should  move  ou 
together.  It  is  not  in  a  spirit  of  grumbling  or  dissatisfaction  that  we  have  fallen 
into  a  moralizing  mood,  but  by  way  of  contrasting  the  past  and  present,  and  of 
showing  the  grand  march  of  improvement  for  the  past  fifty  years.  When  we 
look  back  over  the  years  that  are  gone,  at  the  changes  and  improvements  wrought 
in  the  land,  we  are  almost  ready  to  attribute  it  to  the  power  of  Aladdin's  won- 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  237 

derful  lamp.     As  a  cap-sheaf  to  the  reflections  we  have  been  indulging  in,  we 

give  the  following  gem  from  the  "poet  laureate"  of  Coles  County  : 

"The  old  log  cabin  with  its  puncheon  floor — - 
The  old  log  cabin  with  its  clapboard  door ! 
Shall  we  ever  forget  its  moss-grown  roof, 
The  old  rattling  loom  with  its  warp  and  woof? 
The  old  stick  chimney  of  '  cat  and  clay,' 
The  old  hearthstone  where  we  used  to  pray  ? 
No!   we'll  not  forget  the  old  wool-wheel. 
Nor  the  hank  on  the  old  count-reel ; 
We'll  not  forget  how  we  used  to  eat 
The  sweet  honey-comb  with  the  fat  deer-meat ; 
We'll  not  forget  how  we  used  to  bake, 
That  best  of  bread,  the  old  Johnny-cake!  " 

INDIAN    HISTORY. 

When  the  first  white  people  came  to  Coles  County,  there  were  plenty  of 
Indians  in  this  portion  of  Illinois.  They  were  the  Pottawatomies,  Kickapoos 
and  Winnebagoes.  From  Davidson  and  Stuve's  History  of  Illinois,  which  con- 
tains the  most  complete  history  of  the  aborigines  inhabiting  this  country,  that 
we  have  ever  read,  we  make  a  few  extracts  with  reference  to  the  tribes  that 
once  occupied  this  section  of  the  State :  "  The  early  traditions  of  the  Winne- 
bagoes fixes  their  ancient  seat  on  the  west  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  north  of 
Green  Bay.  They  believed  that  their  ancestors  Avere  created  by  the  Great 
Spirit,  on  the  lands  constituting  their  ancient  territory,  and  that  their  title  of  it 
was  a  gift  from  their  Creator.  The  Algonquins  named  them  after  the  bay  on 
which  they  lived,  Ween-ni-ba-gogs,  which  subsequently  became  anglicized  in  the 
form  of  Winnebagoes.  They  were  persons  of  good  stature,  manly  bearing,  had 
the  characteristic  black  circular  hair  of  their  race,  and  were  generally  more 
uncouth  in  their  habits  than  the  surrounding  tribes.  Their  language  was  a  deep 
guttural,  difficult  to  learn,  and  shows  that  they  belonged  to  the  great  Dacotah 
stock  of  the  West.  Anciently,  they  were  divided  into  clans  distinguished  by 
the  bird,  bear,  fish  and  other  family  totems.  How  long  they  resided  at  Green 
Bay  is   not  known.  *  *  *  *  Coming   down  to    the   era   of 

authentic  history.  Carver,  in  1766,  found  them  on  the  Fox  River,  evidently 
wandering  from  their  ancient  place  of  habitation,  and  approaching  Southern 
Wisconsin  and  the  northern  part  of  Illinois  and  Iowa,  where  portions  of  the 
tribe  subsequently   settled,  while  others  wandered  further  south.  *  * 

*  *  *       In  the  war  of  1812,  they  remained  the  allies  of  England,  and 

assisted  in  the  defeat  of  Col.  Croghan,  at  Mackinaw,  Col.  Dudley  at  the  rapids 
of  the  Maumee,  and  Gen.  Winchester,  at  the  River  Raisin.  In  the  Winnebago 
war  of  1827,  they  defiantly  placed  themselves  in  antagonism  to  the  authority 
of  the  General  Government,  by  assaulting  a  steamboat  on  the  Mississippi, 
engaged  in  furnishing  supplies  to  the  military  post  on  the  St.  Peters. 

"  The  Kickapoos,  in  1763,  occupied  the  country  southwest  of  the   southern 
extremity  of  Lake  Michigan.     They  subsequently  moved  southward,  and   at   a 


238  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

more  recent  date,  dwelt  in  portions  of  the  tcnitory  on  the  ^Mackinaw  and  Sanga- 
mon Rivers,  and  had  a  village  on  Kickapoo  Creek,  and  at  Elkhart  Grove.  They 
Avere  more  civilized,  industrious,  energetic  and  cleanly  than  the  neighboring 
tribes,  and,  it  may  also  be  added,  more  implacable  in  their  hatred  of  the  Ameri- 
cans. They  were  among  the  first  to  commence  battle,  and  the  last  to  submit 
and  enter  into  treaties.  Unappeasable  enmity  led  them  into  the  field  against 
Gens.  Harmer,  St.  Clair  and  Wayne,  and  they  were  first  in  all  the  bloody 
charges  at  Tippecanoe.  They  were  prominent  among  the  Northern  nations, 
wdiich,  for  more  than  a  century,  waged  an  exterminating  war  against  the  Illinois 
Confederacy.  *  *  *  *  When  removed  from  Illinois,  they  still  retained 
their  old  animosities  against  the  Americans,  and  went  to  Texas,  then  a  province 
of  Mexico,  to  get  beyond  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States.  They  claimed 
relationship  with  the  Pottawatomies,  and  perhaps  with  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  and 
Shawn  ees. 

'•  The  Pottawatomies  are  represented  on  early  French  maps  as  inhabiting 
the  country  east  of  tlie  southern  extremity  of  Lake  Michigan.  At  the  mouth 
of  the  St.  Joseph,  falling  into  this  part  of  the  lake,  the  Jesuits  had  a  mission- 
ary station,  which,  according  to  Marest,  was  in  a  flourishing  condition  as  early 
as  1712.  Here,  an  unmeasured  distance  from  civilization,  for  more  than  half  a 
century,  the  devoted  missionaries  labored  for  their  spiritual  weltare.  These 
years  of  toil  and  self-denial  were,  however,  little  appreciated  ;  for,  in  Pontiac's 
war,  th^y  proved  themselves  to  be  among  the  most  vindictive  of  his  adherents. 
Disguising  their  object  under  the  mask  of  friendship,  they  approached  the 
small  military  post  located  on  the  same  river,  and,  having  obtained  ingress,  in 
a  few  minutes  butchered  the  whole  of  the  garrison  except  three  men.  From 
this  locality,  a  portion  of  the  tribe  passed  around  the  southern  extremity  of  the 
lake  into  Northeastern  Illinois.  Time  and  a  change  of  residence  seem  not  to 
have  modified  their  ferocious  character.  Partly  as  the  result  of  British  intrigue, 
and  partly  to  gratify  their  thirst  for  blood,  they  perpetrated,  in  1812,  at  Chi- 
cao"0,  the  most  atrocious  massacre  in  the  annals  of  the  Northwest.  After  their 
removal  from  Illinois,  they  found  their  way  to  the  Indian  Territory,  and,  in 
1850,  numbered  1,500  souls." 

The  foregoing  extracts  give  a  pretty  authentic  history  of  the  tribes  that 
claimed  this  county  fifty  years  ago  as  a  part  of  their  hunting-grounds.  There 
is  much  in  the  nature  of  the  Indian  to  loathe  and  abhor,  and  there  is,  too, 
much  to  pity  and  deplore.  They  claimed  this  great  country,  originally,  by 
right  of  possession,  if  not  of  discovery,  and  it  was  no  more  than  human  nature 
that  they  should  maintain  their  right  to  it  to  the  last  extremity.  From  a  lack 
of  civilization,  they  committed  acts  of  barbarity  shocking  in  the  extreme,  but, 
to  a  certain  extent,  excusable  througli  ignorance  of  the  "higher  law"  of 
humanity  ;  and  even  their  deeds  of  cruelty,  barbarians  though  they  were,  were 
often  equaled  by  their  more  civilized  but  little  less  barbarous  white  neighbors. 
In  an  early  day,  we  are  told,  they  had  a  trading-post  near  where  the  village  of 


CHARLESTON 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  211 

Camargo  now  stands.  In  was  established  by  two  French  Canadians,  we  believe, 
named  Vesor  and  Bullbery.  They  also  had  a  cemetery,  or  burying-ground  in 
this  vicinity,  and,  once  a  year,  a  grand  powwow  was  held  within  its  precincts. 
They  were  friendly  toward  the  whites  then  sparsely  scattered  through  the 
country,  and,  in  their  limited  and  ignorant  Avay,  religious.  Says  Capt.  Adams 
in  the  address  several  times  referred  to  in  these  pages  :  "  Their  ideas  of  heaven 
and  hell  they  represented  on  dressed  deerskins.  On  one  side  was  painted  a 
huge  fire,  and  toward  it  some  Indians  going  with  bottles  in  their  hands.  This 
was  a  representation  of  hell,  or  the  bad  hunting-ground.  On  the  other  side 
were  painted  beautiful  woods,  abounding  with  deer,  looking  pleasant,  and 
Indians  going  that  way,  dressed  finely  and  seemingly  happy.  This  was  heaven, 
or  good  hunting-ground."  The  following  legend  belonged  to  the  Pottawato- 
mies,  and  formed  the  basis  of  their  theology  and  origin  :  "They  believe  in  two 
Great  Spirits — Kitchemenedo,  the  good  or  benevolent  spirit,  and  Matche- 
monedo,  the  evil  spirit.  Some  have  doubts  which  is  the  most  powerful ;  but 
the  great  part  believe  that  the  first  is — that  he  made  the  world  and  called  all 
things  into  being,  and  that  the  other  ought  to  be  despised.  When  Kitche- 
monedo  first  made  the  world,  he  peopled  it  with  a  class  of  beings  who  only 
looked  like  men;  but  they  were  perverse,  ungrateful,  wicked  dogs,  who  never 
raised  their  eyes  from  the  ground  to  thank  him  for  anything.  Seeing  this, 
the  Great  Spirit  plunged  them,  with  the  world  itself,  into  a  great  lake  and 
drowned  them.  He  then  withdrew  it  from  the  water  and  made  a  single  man,  a 
very  handsome  young  man,  who,  as  he  was  lonesome,  appeared  sad.  Kitche- 
menedo took  pity  on  him  and  sent  a  sister  to  cheer  him  in  his  loneliness.  After 
many  years,  the  young  man  had  a  dream  which  he  told  to  his  sister.  '  Five 
young  men,'  said  he,  '  will  come  to  your  lodge-door  to-night  to  visit  you.  The 
Great  Spirit  f )rbids  you  to  answer  or  even  to  look  up  and  smile  at  the  first 
four ;  but  when  the  fifth  comes,  you  may  speak  and  laugh  and  show  that  you 
are  pleased.'  She  acted  accordingly.  The  first  of  the  five  strangers  that 
called  was  Usama,  or  tobacco,  and,  having  been  repulsed,  he  fell  down  and 
died;  the  second,  Wapako,  or  a  pumpkin,  shared  the  same  fate;  the  third,  Esh- 
kossimin,  or  melon,  and  the  fourth,  Kokees,  or  the  bean,  met  the  same  fate; 
but  when  Tamin,  or  Montamin,  which  is  maize,  presented  himself,  she  opened 
the  skin  tapestry  door  of  her  lodge,  laughed  very  heartily,  and  gave  him  a 
friendly  reception.  They  were  immediately  married,  and  from  this  union  the 
Indians  sprang.  Tamin  forthwith  buried  the  four  unsuccessful  suitors,  and 
from  their  graves  there  grew  tobacco,  melons  of  all  sorts,  and  beans  ;  and  in 
this  manner  the  Great  Spirit  provided  that  the  race  which  he  had  made  should 
have  something  to  offer  him  as  a  gift  in  their  feasts  and  ceremonies,  and  also 
something  to  put  in  their  akeeks,  or  kettles,  along  with  their  meat."  * 

Davidson,  in    his    history    of  Illinois,  speaking  of  the   psychology  of  the 
Indians,  says :     "  Prominent  among  these  was    the  idea  that   every   natural 

»  Schoolcraft. 


242  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

phenomenon  was  the  special  manifestation  of  the  Great  Spirit.  In  the  rautter- 
ings  of  the  thunder-cloud,  in  the  angry  roar  of  the  cataract,  or  the  sound  of  the 
billows  which  beat  upon  the  shores  of  his  lake-girt  forests,  he  heard  the  voice 
of  the  Great  Spirit.  The  lightning's  flash,  the  mystic  radiance  of  the  stars, 
were  to  him  familiar  displays  of  a  spirit-essence  which  upheld  and  governed  all 
things,  even  the  minute  destinies  of  men  ;  while  the  Indian  attributed  these  to 
the  Great  Spirit,  an  antagonistical  deity  Avas  created  in  his  theology,  whom  he 
regarded  as  the  potent  power  of  malignancy.  By  this  dualty  of  deities,  he 
was  careful  to  guard  his  good  and  merciful  God  from  all  imputations  of  evil 
by  attributing  all  the  bad  intentions  and  acts  which  afflict  the  human  family  to 
the  Great  Bad  Spirit."  ' 

The  Indians,  it  is  said,  never  killed  a  wolf.  Old  pioneers  say  that  they 
held  that  the  wolf,  like  the  Indian,  made  its  living  by  hunting,  and,  therefore, 
it  would  be  wrong  and  cowardly  to  kill  it.  Even  their  dogs  would  not  molest 
a  wolf,  and  the  ravenous  little  savages  would  follow  a  band  of  Indians  for  hours 
to  pick  up  any  dead  or  wounded  game  left  by  them  along  their  route.  Mr. 
Brown,  of  Ashmore,  relates  a  circumstance  that  occurred  near  his  father's,  of 
an  Indian  who,  in  a  frenzy  of  religious  excitement,  shot  and  killed  a  warrior. 
He  was,  by  the  tribe,  considered  crazy,  and  taken  to  a  grove  near  by  and  tied 
to  a  tree  (rather  a  novel  insane  asylum,  and  as  it  proved  an  ineffectual  one),  from 
which  the  Indian  succeeded  in  making  his  escape.  The  incident  is  more 
particularly  referred  to  in  the  history  of  Ashmore  Township. 

Coles  County  claims  its  Indian  battle-grounds.  Though  she  can  make  no 
pretensions  to  any  such  memorable  battles  as  Tippecanoe  or  the  River  Raisin, 
there  is  a  tradition  (but  somewhat  dim  and  misty)  of  two  battles  with  the 
Indians  fought  on  the  "  sacred  soil"  of  Coles  County,  at  or  very  near  the  same 
place.  As  the  story  goes,  the  first  occurred  in  1815,  between  a  corps  of 
Government  surveyors,  protected  by  a  sufficient  guard  of  armed  men,  and  a 
large  band  of  Indians.  The  whites  were  encamped  on  the  Embarrass  Hills,  a 
little  distance  west  of  Blakeman's  Mill,  and,  in  addition  to  being  well  armed, 
were  protected  with  artillery.  The  Indians,  in  their  usual  style  of  battle-array, 
attacked  them  upon  the  flank,  and  with  blood-curdling  war-whoops  threw  the 
engineers  and  their  guard  (for  a  time)  into  confusion.  They  soon  rallied,  how- 
ever, and  ascertaining  the  enemy's  position,  formed  their  line  of  battle  and 
opened  upon  them  with  their  artillery.  A  general  engagement  followed,  which 
continued  some  time  with  great  severity,  finally  resulting  in  the  defeat  of  the 
Indians,  with  considerable  slaughter.  This  is  the  prevailing  tradition,  but  how 
much  of  it  is  true,  we  are  unable  to  say. 

The  other  battle  referred  to  occurred  in  1818,  between  the  "Illinois 
Rangers,"  under  command  of  Gen.  Whiteside,  a  pioneer  Indian  fighter,  who 
figured  conspicuously  in  his  day  in  the  Indian  wars  of  Illinois,  and  a  large 
band  of  Kickapoos,  Pottawatomies,  and  Winnebagoes.  The  Indians  had  col- 
lected in  force  in  the  Upper  Embarrass  country,  and  proceeding  to  the  Kas- 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  243 

kaskia  settlement,  committed  many  depredations  among  the  scattered  settlers. 
Among  other  things,  they  stole  and  drove  off  a  large  number  of  horses  and 
cattle.  Gen.  Whiteside,  then  in  command  of  the  Illinois  Kangers,  as  they 
were  called,  followed  their  trail  to  the  site  of  the  Blakeman  Mill,  where 
it  crossed  the  Embarrass  River.  Near  this  point,  the  Rangers  came  up  with 
the  Indians,  and  at  once  prepared  to  give  them  battle.  Skirmishers  were 
thrown  out,  and  a  line  of  battle  formed.  A  charge  was  ordered,  and  a  shout 
from  the  Rangers  was  answered  by  one  from  the  savages,  and  the  neio-h- 
boring  hills  soon  echoed  with  the  roar  of  battle.  For  some  time  the  fight 
raged  fiercely,  but  the  Indians  were  defeated  and  the  captured  property  re- 
taken. How  many  were  engaged  on  both  sides,  and  the  losses  sustained 
by  each,  are  not  known.  Like  the  account  given  of  the  battle  with  the  Gov- 
ernment surveyors,  it  is  traditional.  The  trees  in  the  neighborhood,  however, 
show  signs  of  war,  we  have  been  told,  and  the  scars  made  upon  them  with 
fire-arms  have  been  seen  by  many  living  witnesses.  But  these  little  "  scrim- 
mages "  between  the  white  and  red  races  on  the  soil  of  Illmois  are  long  past, 
and  in  a  few  years  more  there  will  be  none  left  who  remember  the  red  man's 
wigwam  within  the  borders  of  the  State. 

ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    COUNTY. 

It  has  been  said  by  a  late  writer  that  "  the  native  American  mind  tends  as 
naturally  to  self-government  as  the  duck  takes  to  the  water."  The  organiza- 
tion of  new  counties  into  corporate  bodies  with  legal  existence,  while  yet  there 
are  but  a  few  hundred  voters  within  their  limits,  is  proof  positive  of  the  trite 
remark.  In  1830,  the  population  of  this  part  of  the  country  had  increased 
to  such  an  extent  (for  a  wilderness)  that  the  people  began  to  think  of  forming 
a  new  county.  What  is  now  Coles  County  was  then  a  part  of  Clark,  as  we 
have  already  stated,  and  Darwin,  the  county  seat,  was  remote  from  the  settle- 
ments of  this  region.  In  the  year  above  mentioned  (1830),  a  petition  to  the 
Legislature  to  have  Coles  set  off  from  Clark  County,  was  circulated  by  Joseph 
Henry,  George  Hanson  and  Andrew  Caldwell.  During  the  session  of  1830-31 
the  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  creating  the  new  county,  which  em- 
braced in  its  limits,  as  mentioned  in  the  beginning  of  this  history,  the  pres- 
ent counties  of  Coles,  Cumberland  and  Douglas.  The  following  is  the  act 
of  organization  : 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  General  As- 
sembly, That  all  that  tract  of  country  within  the  following  bounds,  to  wit :  Beginnino' at  the 
northeast  corner  of  Section  Four,  in  Township  Sixteen  north,  in  Range  Fourteen  west  of  the 
second  principal  meridian;  thence  west  on  the  line  dividing  Townships  Sixteen  and  Seventeen, 
to  the  eastern  boundary  of  Range  Six,  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian ;  thence  south  on 
said  line  the  line  dividing  Ranges  Six  and  Seven,  the  eastern  boundaries  of  Macon  and  Shelby 
Counties,  to  the  southwest  corner  of  Clark  County,  Township  Nine  north,  Rano-e  Six  ;  thence 
east  on  the  line  dividing  Townships  Eight  and  Nine,  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Section  Thirty- 
one,  the  east  boundary  of  fractional  Range  Eleven  east;  thence  north  on  said  line,  which  is  the 
division  between  fractional  Range  Eleven  and  Range  Fourteen,  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Section 


244  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

Nineteen,  in  said  Range  Eleven,  in  Township  Twelve  north  ;  thence  to  the  northeast  corner  of 
Section  Twenty-one,  in  said  Township  Twelve,  and  Range  F'ourteen ;  thence  north  on  sectional 
lines,  the  center  of  said  range,  to  the  place  of  beginning,  shall  form  a  new  county,  to  be  called 
Coles. 

Sec.  2.  For  the  purpose  of  fixing  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  of  said  county,  the  follow" 
ing  persons  are  appointed  Commissioners,  viz.:  William  Bowen,  of  Vermilion  County,  Jesse 
Essarey,  of  Clark  County,  and  Joshua  Barber,  of  Crawford  County;  which  Commissioners,  or 
fl  majority  of  them,  shall  meet  at  the  house  of  Charles  Eastin,  in  said  county,  on  the  fourth  Mon- 
drty  in  January  next,  or  within  five  days  thereafter,  and  being  duly  sworn  before  some  Justice 
of  the  Peace  of  the  State,  faithfully  and  impartially  to  take  into  view  the  convenience  of  the 
people,  the  situation  of  the  present  settlement,  with  a  strict  view  to  the  population  and  settle- 
ments which  will  hereafter  be  made  and  the  eligibility  of  the  place;  shall  proceed  to  explore 
and  carefully  examine  the  country,  determine  on  and  designate  the  place  for  the  permanent  seat 
of  justice  of  the  same  :  provided,  the  proprietor  or  proprietors  of  the  land  shall  give  and  con- 
vey by  deed  of  general  warranty,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  public  buildings,  a  quantity  of 
land,  in  a  square  form,  or  not  more  than  twice  as  long  as  wide,  not  less  than  twenty  acres.  But 
should  the  proprietor  or  proprietors  of  the  land  refuse  or  neglect  to  make  the  donation  afore- 
said, then  and  in  that  case  the  said  Commissioners  shall  fix  said  county  seat  (having  in  view  the 
interest  of  the  county)  upon  the  land  of  some  person  who  will  make  the  donation  aforesaid.  If 
the  Commissioners  shall  be  of  the  opinion  and  decide  that  the  proper  place  for  said  seat  of  jus- 
tice is  or  ought  to  be  on  land  belonging  to  Government,  they  shall  so  report,  and  the  County 
Commissioners  shall  purchase  one-half  quarter-section,  the  tract  set  forth,  in  their  name,  for 
the  use  of  the  county.  The  Commissioners  appointed  to  locate  the  seat  of  justice  shall,  so  soon 
as  they  decide  on  the  place,  make  a  clear  report  to  the  Commissioners'  Court  of  the  county,  and 
the  same  shall  be  recorded  at  length  in  their  record-book.  The  land  donated  or  purchased  shall 
be  laid  out  into  lots,  and  sold  by  the  Commissioners  of  the  county  to  the  best  advantage,  and  the 
proceeds  applied  to  the  erection  of  public  buildings,  and  such  other  purposes  as  the  Commission- 
ers shall  direct;  and  good  and  sufficient  deeds  shall  be  made  for  the  lots  sold. 

Sec.  3.  An  election  shall  be  held  at  the  several  places  of  holding  elections  as  now  laid  off 
by  Clark  County,  in  said  Coles  County,  on  the  Saturday  preceding  the  first  Monday  in  February 
next,  for  one  Sheriff,  one  Coroner,  and  three  County  Commissioners,  for  said  county,  who  shall 
hold  their  offices  until  the  next  general  election  in  1832,  and  until  their  successors  be  qualified. 
And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  said  coiinty,  and  if  there  be  none, 
then  the  Recorder  or  Judge  of  Probate,  to  give  at  least  fifteen  days'  notice  previous  to  said  elec- 
tion, and  who  shall  appoint  the  judges  and  clerks  of  said  election,  who  shall  be  legal  voters  ;  and 
the  returns  of  said  election  shall  be  made  to  the  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  Recorder  or  Judge 
of  I'mbate,  as  the  case  may  be,  and  by  him,  in  the  presence  of  one  or  more  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
opened,  and  they  jointly  shall  give  to  the  persons  elected  Commissioilers,  certificates;  and  that 
of  the  Sheriff  and  Coroner  to  forward  to  the  Governor ;  which  election  in  all  other  respects  be 
conformable  to  law. 

Sec.  4.  All  courts  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Charles  Eastin  in  said  county,  and  con- 
tinue to  be  held  there  until  public  buildings  shall  be  erected  for  the  purpose,  unless  changed  to 
another  place  by  order  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  who  shall  make  the  same  a  matter 
of  record. 

SKr.  5.  The  Commissioners  appointed  to  locate  the  county  seat,  shall  be  allowed  $2  per  day 
each,  for  every  day  necessarily  employed  in  locating  the  same,  to  be  paid  by  said  county. 

Approved,  December  25,  1830. 

This  act  gave  to  Coles  County  a  legal  being,  and  steps  were  at  once  taken 
to  put  the  machinery  of  existence  into  operation.  According  to  the  provision 
of  the  act  creating  it  a  county,  an  election  was  held  in  February,  18-31,  at 
Ashmore's,  the  only  voting  place  in  the  county,  and  about  sixty  votes  were  cast. 
At  this  election,   George    Hanson,  Andrew  Caldwell  and   Isaac  Lewis  were 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  245 

elected  County  Commissioners,  and  constituted  a  County  Court  for  the  transac- 
tion of  county  business  ;  a  system  which  continued  in  force  until  the  adoption 
of  a  new  State  Constitution  in  1848.  The  Commissioners  mentioned  in  the 
foregoing  act  to  locate  the  seat  of  justice,  viz.,  Bowen,  Essarey  and  Barber, 
met,  and  after  a  thorough  investigation  of  all  eligible  points  suggested,  decided 
on  the  present  site  of  Charleston.  Charles  Morton  and  and  Benjamin  Parker 
owned  the  land,  and  each  donated  twenty  acres  for  town  purposes,  as  provided 
in  the  act  of  organization.  In  February,  1831,  the  survey  was  made  by  Thomas 
Sconce,  first  County  Surveyor,  and  in  April  of  the  same  year,  the  first  sale  of 
lots  was  made.  The  Commissioners  gave  the  name  of  Charleston  to  the  county 
seat,  in  honor  of  Charles  Morton,  one  of  the  men  who  donated  twenty  acres  of 
land  to  the  county.  Feeling  under  some  obligations  to  Mr.  Morton  for  the 
assistance  he  rendered  them  while  engaged  in  locating  the  town,  they  told  his 
wife  that  they  had  determined  to  call  the  place  Mortonville,  when  she  offered 
an  amendment  to  their  proposition,  sa;ying  that  if  they  desired  to  compliment 
her  husband  in  that  way,  to  add  the  last  syllable  of  Morton  to  Charles,  and  call 
their  town  Charleston.  They  accepted  her  suggestion,  and  thus  the  capital  of 
the  county  received  its  name. 

During  the  year  1831,  the  first  Court  House  of  Coles  County  was  erected^ 
down  on  the  "  town  branch,"  as  the  murky  little  stream  is  called.  It  was  built 
of  hewed  logs,  covered  with  "clapboards,"  floored  with  sawdust  and  provided 
with  wood  benches  for  seats.  This  served  as  a  temple  of  justice  until  1835, 
when  the  brick  building,  still  in  use,  was  erected.  Originally,  it  was  an  old- 
style  edifice,  of  the  pattern  still  to  be  seen  in  many  of  the  counties  of  Illinois^ 
but  has  been  modernized,  remodeled  and  transformed  into  quite  an  imposing 
structure,  with  an  altogether  attractive  appearance.  It  stands  in  the  center  of 
a  handsome  square,  thickly  planted  with  maple-trees,  and  surrounded  by  a  sub- 
stantial iron  fence.  In  a  few  years  more,  when  the  trees  get  their  growth,  the 
public  square  of  Charleston  will  be  a  beautiful  spot,  and  an  ornament  to  the 
city. 

The  first  Jail  was  a  little  log  cabin,  in  the  south  part  of  the  town,  which,  in 
an  early  day,  perhaps,  served  the  purpose  of  a  prison  ;  but  in  this  enlightened 
age-,  when  crime  has  become  a  science,  and  criminals  a  band  of  professional  ex- 
perts, would  prove  but  a  frail  barrier  between  them  and  liberty.  The  present 
Jail  is  in  the  Court  House  buildino;. 

The  first  Circuit  Court  was  held  at  the  house  of  Col.  Flenner,  three  miles 
west  of  Charleston.  Hon.  William  Wilson  was  the  presiding  Judge.  This 
session  of  Court  is  thus  described  :  "  The  Judge  sat  on  a  log,  the  lawyers  on 
rotten  chunks,  and  the  parties  engaged  in  litigation  swung  to  the  bushes." 
James  P.  Jones  was  Circuit  Clerk,  and  was  appointed  by  Judge  Wilson  at  this 
session.  Jones  was  a  resident  of  Clark  County,  and  his  appointment  to  the 
office  of  Circuit  Clerk  excited  the  just  indignation  of  the  Coles  County  people. 
They  felt  themselves  competent  to  fill  any  office  in  their  county,  and  well  qualified 


246  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

to  receive  the  salary  pertaining  to  it ;  and  to  have  an  outsider  step  in  and  relieve 
them  of  the  responsibility  of  trying  the  experiment  was  a  blow  to  their  pride  not  to 
be  forgiven.  The  first  records  of  the  Circuit  Court  are  non  sunt  inventa,  and 
hence,  few  particulars  of  the  sessions  for  two  or  three  of  the  first  years  can  be 
obtained  now.  The  first  record-book  in  the  Circuit  Clerk's  office  begins  with 
the  April  term,  1835,   Hon.  Justin  Harlan  presiding. 

As  we  have  said,  George  Hanson,  Andrew  Caldwell  and  Isaac  Lewis  were 
elected  the '  first  County  Commissioners.  They  held  the  first  session  of  their 
Court  in  1831,  at  the  house  of  Charles  Eastin,  in  the  Kickapoo  settlement,  and 
appointed  Nathan  Ellington  Clerk,  who  thus  became  the  first  County  Clerk  of 
Coles  County.  In  1832,  Isaac  Lewis,  Andrew  Clarke  and  James  S.  Martin 
were  elected  Commissioners,  and,  in  1831,  were  succeeded  by  Stephen  Stone, 
Nathaniel  Parker  and  Eben  Alexander,  who,  in  turn,  were  succeeded  in  1836, 
by  A.  N.  Fuller,  Alex.  Miller  and  James  S.  Martin,  and  they  by  F.  L.  Moore, 
H.  J.  Ashmore  and  James  M.  Ward  in  1838.  The  records  here  show  a  change 
in  electing  the  Commissioners  ;  electing  one  each  year,  instead  of  three  every 
two  years,  and  that  in  1840,  John  Wright  succeeded  Ashmore ;  James  Gill  in 
1841,  succeeded  Moore,  and  William  Collom  succeeded  Moore  in  1842.  In 
1843,  Isaac  Gruell  and  H.  J.  Ashomre  succeeded  Wright  and  Gill.  In  1844, 
John  Cutler  succeeded  Ashmore,  F.  L.  Moore  succeeded  Collom  in  1845,  John 
M.  Logan  succeeded  Gruell  in  1846,  and  F.  G.  Frue  succeeded  Cutler  in 
1847. 

The  Constitution  of  1848  provided  that  the  County  Court  should  consist  of 
a  County  Judge  and  two  Associate  Justices.  Under  this  new  regime,  W.  W. 
Bishop  was  the  first  County  Judge,  and  John  M.  Logan  and  H.  J.  Ashmore 
were  chosen  the  first  Associate  Justices.  This  branch  of  the  Court  continued, 
with  frequent  changes  of  officers,  until  the  adoption  of  township  organization, 
which  went  into  effect  in  the  spring  of  1860,  as  will  be  noticed  under  another 
head.  As  a  matter  of  history,  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  reader,  we  append  a 
list  of  the  different  officers  from  the  organization  of  the  county,  the  date  of 
their  election  and  the  terms  of  their  official  service,  as  compiled  by  Capt. 
Adams,  and  published  in  his  Centennial  Address.  The  list  was  prepared  with 
great  care,  is  said,  by  those  well  posted,  to  be  substantially  correct,  and  presents 
a  valuable  record  to  all  who  are  interested  in  such  matters,  or  have  occasion  to 
refer  to  it.     The  list  is  as  follows  : 

Sheriff. — At  the  February  election  of  1831,  Ambrose  Yocum  was  elected 
the  first  Sheriff  of  the  county,  and  re-elected  in  1832,  but  died  before  his  term 
expired.  William  Jeffries  was  elected  in  1834,  and  held  two  terms,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Albert  Compton  in  1838,  who  continued  in  office  until  1846. 
L.  R.  Ilutchason  was  then  elected,  and  served  two  terms,  and  was  succeeded  in 
1850  by"  Richard  Stoddert ;  he  was  succeeded  by  Thomas  Lytle  in  1852  ;  Lytle, 
by  John  R.  Jeffries  in  1854,  and  he  by  H.  B.  Worley  in  1856.  Worley  was 
succeeded  by  M.  Jones,  in    1858  ;  he  by  I.   H.  Johnston  in  1860 ;  John  H. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  247 

O'Hair  succeeded  Johnston  in  1862,  and  James  B.  Hickox  succeeded  him  in 
1864,  and,  in  turn,  was  succeeded  by  G.  M.  Mitchell  in  1866,  when  C.  C. 
Starkweather  was  elected  in  1868,  followed  in  1870  by  A.  M.  Brown,  who  was 
succeeded  in  1872  by  Owen  Wiley,  and  Wiley  by  George  Moore  in  1874  ; 
James  M.  Ashraore  succeeded  Moore  in  1876,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  John 
E.  Brooks  in  1878,  the  present  incumbent. 

Probate  Judge. — James  P.  Jones  was  the  first  Probate  Judge.  At  the 
time  of  the  organization  of  Coles  County,  this  office  was  filled  by  appointment 
of  the  Governor.  In  1834,  Jones  was  succeeded  by  John  F.  Smyth,  and  in 
the  same  year,  Smyth  was  succeeded  by  S.  M.  Dunbar ;  he  by  William  Collom 
in  1835  ;  Collom  by  Reuben  Canterbury  in  1837  ;  he  by  John  W.  Trower. 
Robert  S.  Mills  succeeded  Trower  in  1843 ;  W.  W.  Bishop  succeeded  him  in 
1847,  and  filled  the  office  until  1857,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Gideon 
Edwards,  who  died  in  office  in  1864.  J.  P.  Cooper  was  appointed  to  fill  the 
vacancy,  and,  in  1865,  McHenry  Brooks  was  elected,  and  was  succeeded  in 
1869  by  A.  M.  Peterson,  who  was  followed  by  W.  E.  Adams  in  1873;  and, in 
1877,  J.  R.  Cunningham,  the  present  Judge,  was  elected. 

County  Clerk. — As  before  stated,  Nathan  Ellington  was  the  first  County 
Clerk,  and  filled  the  office  until  1839,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Loran  D. 
Ellis,  who  soon  after  fled  the  country,  and  Ellington  was  appointed  to  fill  the 
vacancy.  Ellington  was  followed,  in  1840,  by  Enos  Stutsman,  who  resigned 
his  office,  and  Samuel  Huffman  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Tn  1853, 
James  McCrory  succeeded  Huffman,  and  held  the  office  until  1861,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Jacob  I.  Brown.  Brown  was  succeeded  by  W.  E.  Adams  in 
1865;  Adams  by  Richard  Stoddert  in  1873,  and  he,  in  1877,  by  the  present 
Clerk,  W.  R.  Highland. 

Coroner. —  Robert  A.  Miller  was  the  first  Coroner,  and,  in  1836,  was 
succeeded  by  Ichabod  Radly,  who  canvassed  the  entire  county  on  foot  for  the 
office.  (He  deserved  it.)  Preston  R.  Mount  followed  Radly  in  1838 ;  A.  G. 
Mitchell  followed  Mount  in  1842,  and  William  Harr  followed  Mitchell  in  1844. 
Stephen  Stone  was  elected  in  1846,  and  was  succeeded  by  James  W.  Morgan 
in  1858,  and  he  by  S.  F.  Crawford  in  1860 ;  he,  in  1861,  by  Dr.  Samuel  Van 
Meter,  who  was  succeeded  by  D.  P.  Lee  in  1862,  and  he  by  A.  G.  Mitchell  in 
1864 ;  Mitchell  by  0.  D.  Hawkins  in  1868  ;  he  by  Joel  W.  Hall  in  1870  ; 
Hall  by  D.  H.  Barnett  in  1872,  and  he  by  Lewis  True  in  1874. 

Circuit  Clerk. — James  P.  Jones,  as  stated,  was  the  first  Circuit  Clerk,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Nathan  Ellington,  who  held  the  office  until  his  death  in  1855, 
when  his  son,  James  D.  Ellington,  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy.  In  1856, 
George  W.  Teel  was  elected,  holding  the  office  two  terms,  and,  in  1864,  was 
succeeded  by  H.  C.  Wortham,  and  he  by  W.  N.  McDonald  in  1872.  He  died 
in  December  following  his  election,  and  A.  H.  Chapman  was  appointed  Clerk 
p-o  tempore,  and  was  succeeded  in  June,  1873,  by  E.  E.  Clark,  who  was  suc- 
ceeded, in  1877,  by  the  present  incumbent,  W.  E.  Robinson. 


248  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

Recorder. — James  P.  Jones  was  the  first  Recorder  of  Coles  County.  He 
was  succeeded  in  the  office,  in  1834,  by  John  F.  Smyth,  and  he  Ly  S.  M.  Dun- 
bar in  December  of  the  same  year.  Nathan  Ellington  received  the  office  in 
1835 ;  John  W.  Trower  in  1843  ;  Ellington  again  in  1846,  and  Enos  Stuts- 
man in  1847,  who  held  the  office  until  the  adoption  of  the  new  Constitution  of 
1848,  when  the  office  of  Recorder  was  consolidated  with  that  of  Circuit  Clerk. 
Treasurer. — A.  G.  Mitchell  was  the  first  County  Treasurer,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Richard  Sto.ldert  in  1843,  who  held  the  office  until  1849,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Thomas  Ly  tie,  and  he  by  Jacob  I.  Brown  in  1 851 ;  Brown 
by  D.  C.  Ambler  in  1855 ;  he  by  A.  Y.  Ballard  in  1857  ;  he  by  Abram 
Highland  in  1859 ;  he  by  D.  H.  Tremble  in  1863 ;  he  by  H.  M.  Ashmore  in 
1869  ;  he  by  George  Moore  in  1871 ;  he  by  W.  B.  Galbreath  in  1873,  and  he 
by  J.  F.  Goar  in  1877,  the  present  Treasurer  of  the  county. 

Surveyor. — The  first  Surveyor  of  the  county  was  Thomas  Sconce,  who  was 
succeeded  by  Joseph  Fowler  in  1835  ;  he  by  Sconce  again  in  1839.  Lewis  R. 
Hutchason  was  elected  in  1843,  and  was  succeeded  by  Thomas  Lytle  in  1847  ; 
he  by  John  Meadows  in  1852 ;  he  by  William  A.  Brun  in  1855  ;  he  by  Lewis 
B.  Richardson  in  1859  ;  he  by  Thomas  Lytle  again  in  1861 ;  he  by  James  S. 
Yeargin  in  1864  ;  he  by  George  A.  Brown  in  1867  ;  he  by  John  H.  Clark  in 
1869,  and  he  by  the  present  incumbent,  John  L.  Aubert,  in  1875. 

School  Commissioner. — Charles  Morton  was  the  first  School  Commissioner 
of  the  county,  and  held  the  office  until  1841,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  James 
Alexander,  and,  in  1845,  he  was  succeeded  by  James  B.  Harris ;  he  by  H. 
Mann  in  1849 ;  he  by  Gideon  Edwards  in  1851 ;  he  by  James  A.  Mitchell, 
and  he  by  W.  H.  K.  Pile  in  1861  ;  he  by  Elzy  Blake  in  1865  ;  he  by  Rev.  S. 
J.  Boveli  in  1869 ;  he  by  Rev.  Allen  Hill  in  1873,  and  he  by  Prof.  T.  J.  Lee 
in  1877,  who  is  now  in  office. 

State's  Attorney. — In  1860,  J.  R.  Cunningham  was  chosen  State's  At- 
torney for  the  judicial  circuit  of  which  Coles  County  was  a  part.  This 
position  he  held  for  four  years.  The  new  Constitution,  adopted  in  1870,  gave 
to  each  county  an  attorney.  The  first  appointment  under  this  new  order  of 
things,  was  Col.  A.  P.  Dunbar,  who  was  succeeded  by  J.  W.  Craig.  Robert 
M.  Gray  is  the  present  State's  Attorney. 

Legislators. — The  first  Representative  of  Coles  County  in  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  State  was  Dr.  John  Carrico,  in  the  session  of  1832.  In  1834, 
James  T.  Cunningham  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  from  this  county.  He 
also  served  in  the  sessions  of  1837  and  1840  ;  was  a  candidate  for  the  Consti- 
tutional Convention  in  1848,  and  was  the  choice  of  his  party  for  Congress  in 
the  campaign  of  1860.  He  came  from  Kentucky  to  Coles  County  in  1830, 
and  was  a  man  of  good  judgment,  liberal  views,  and  skilled  in  the  details  of 
finance.  In  the  sessions  of  the  Legislature  of  1836-37,  and  in  1844,  and  in 
1855,  Col.  A.  P.  Dunbar  represented  the  county,  and  served  with  Lincoln  and 
Douglas.     He  gave  to  Douglas  the  name  of  Little  Giant ;  introduced  the  bill 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  249 

for  moving  the  capital  from  Vandalia  to  Springfield ;  also  a  bill  allowing  fees 
to  jurors,  which  position  had  before  been  honorary;  also  a  resolution  asking 
Congress  to  reduce  the  postage  on  mail  matter,*  and  Illinois  thus  became  the 
first  State  to  move  in  that  direction.  In  the  General  Assemblies  of  1838  and 
1842,  Hon.  0.  B.  Ficklin  represented  the  county.  He  is  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
but  in  an  early  day  settled  in  Wabash  County,  and  afterward  in  Coles.  He 
was  appointed,  by  the  Legislature,  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  this  Circuit,  and, 
in  his  ofiicial  capacity,  once  prosecuted  a  colored  woman  here  for  murder.  She 
was  poor,  and  the  other  attorneys  in  attendance  volunteered  to  defend  her. 
Mr.  Ficklin  closed  the  case  in  a  vigorous  speech,  and  after  he  sat  down,  the 
woman  observed,  that  she  "  believed  in  her  soul  dat  Massa  Ficklin  had  done 
her  as  much  harm  as  good  in  his  speech."  Mr.  Ficklin  has  served  several 
terms  in  Congress,  and  for  a  long  term  of  years  as  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic 
National  Conventions,  and  is  at  present,  together  with  Hon.  H.  A.  Neal,  a 
man  of  fine  ability,  member  of  the  State  Legislature. 

In  1838,  Dr.  B.  Monroe  was  elected  State  Senator.  He  was  from  Ken- 
tucky, and  came  to  this  county  in  1833,  and  possessed  fine  business  qualifica- 
tions. In  the  sessions  of  the  Legislatures  of  1836t  and  1846,  U.  F.  Snider 
represented  Coles  County.  He  was  born  in  Elizabethtown,  Ky.,  and  came  to 
Charleston  in  1838,  where  he  lived  until  1860,  when  he  went  to  Chicago. 
Under  the  administration  of  Gov.  Duncan,  he  was  Attorney  General  of  the 
State.  As  a  lawyer,  he  was  eminent  in  his  profession,  and  as  a  public  speaker 
had  few  if  any  peers  in  the  Western  country.  Joseph  Fowler  in  1842,  W.  D. 
Watson  in  1852,  W.  W.  Craddock  in  1858,*^  Dr.  John  Monroe  in  1862,  Col.  J. 
M.  True  in  1866,  and  Hon.  G.  W.  Parker  in  1868,  have  all,  honorably  to 
themselves,  represented  Coles  County  in  the  Legislature  of  the  State.  In  1870, 
Hon.  James  A.  Cunningham  and  Hon.  A.  Jeffries  were  the  representatives; 
were  wise  law-makers  and  watchful  guardians  of  the  rights  of  the  people.  In 
1874,  Hon.  C.  B.  Steele  and  Hon.  James  A.  Connolly  represented  the  county, 
and  were  able  legislators.  In  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  of  1864 
and  1866,  Hon.  H.  P.  Bromwell,  now  of  Denver,  Colo.,  but  for  many  years 
a  resident  of  Coles  County,  represented  this  Congressional  District.  He  was 
a  man  of  brilliant  talents  and  a  lawyer  of  fine  ability.  Dr.  Thomas  P.  Trower 
and  Thomas  A.  Marshall  were  delegates  from  this  county  to  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1848.  Col.  Marshall  was  also  State  Senator  in  1858,  and 
during  his  term,  by  right  of  seniority,  was  Lieutenant  Governor. 

Thus,  we  have  noted  the  formation  of  the  county,  together  with  the  differ- 
ent branches  of  county  ofiices  and  government,  and  the  names  of  the  incum- 
bents of  these  offices  down  to  the  present  time,  with  a  brief  glance  at  the  county's 
law-makers  and  counselors.  Before  passing  from  this  part  of  our  work,  it  may 
be  of  some  interest  to  say  a  few  words  of  township  organization.     When  the 

*  Postage  on  letters  wag  twenty-five  cents,  jiayable  at  the  office  of  delivery, 
fin  1836,  he  was  living  in  Greenup  (now  Cumberland  County). 


250  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

county  was  formed,  it  was  divided  or  laid  off  into  a  number  of  civil  townships 
or  election  precincts.  The  names  and  boundaries  of  these  precincts  we  are  un- 
able to  give,  as  the  first  record  of  the  County  Commissioner's  Court  cannot  be 
found.  When  the  county  adopted  township  organization  in  1859,  the  fall  of 
which  year  the  vote  was  taken,  there  were  three  Commissioners,  viz.,  John 
Hutton,  John  Monroe  and  James  T.  Cunningham,  appointed  to  lay  off  the 
county  into  townships.  They  accordingly  divided  it  into  twelve  civil  town- 
ships, as  follows  :  Hutton,  Ashmore,  East  Oakland,  Morgan,  Seven  Hickory, 
Milton  (now  Humbolt),  North  Okaw,  Mattoon,  Paradise,  Pleasant  Grove, 
Charleston  and  La  Fayette,  their  boundaries  and  names  still  remaining  the  same 
to  the  present  time,  as  may  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  map  in  the  front  part  of 
this  work,  except  Milton,  the  name  of  which  has  been  changed  to  Humbolt. 
The  first  Board  of  Supervisors  were  John  Hutton,  Hutton  Township;  John  Hoots, 
North  Okaw ;  Joseph  Edman,  Pleasant  Grove ;  Milton  W.  Barnes,  Ashmore ; 
William  R.  Jones,  La  Fayette  ;  Richard  Stoddert,  Charleston  ;  James  Monroe, 
Mattoon ;  A.  R.  Sutherland,  Milton ;  Samuel  Rosebrough,  Seven  Hickory  : 
Nathan  Thomas,  Morgan  ;  George  W.  McConkey,  East  Oakland,  and  Adam 
W.  Hart,  Paradise.  The  Board  held  its  first  meeting  May  7,  1860,  and  or- 
ganized by  making  George  W.  McConkey  temporary  Chairman,  but,  afterward, 
James  Monroe  was  elected  permanent  President  of  the  Board.  The  county  is 
still  under  township  organization. 

MILLS,    STORES,    POST    OFFICES,    ETC. 

In  opening  up  a  new  country,  one  of  the  first  enterprises  inaugurated  for 
the  public  good  is  a  mill,  for  with  all  the  inventions  of  the  age  there  has  been 
no  discovery  as  yet  made  to  enable  the  human  family  to  get  along  without  eat- 
ing. We  have  it  upon  good  authority  that  in  the  early  times  people  were 
sometimes  without  bread  for  three  weeks  in  succession,  but  there  is  no  evidence 
that  they  were  destitute  of  all  other  kinds  of  provisions  at  the  same  time.  Mill 
facilities,  fifty  years  ago,  were  very  limited  in  this  section  of  the  country.  The 
first  mill  of  any  note  in  the  county  was  what  is  now  known  as  the  Blakeman 
Mill,  on  the  Embarrass  River,  and  was  built  in  1829  by  the  Parkers,  just  fifty 
years  ago.*  To  this  mill,  we  are  informed,  men  came  forty  and  fifty  miles  on 
horseback,  with  a  bushel  and  a  half  of  corn,  and  it  frequently  was  frost-bitten. 
"This  mill,"  said  an  old  gentleman.  "  run  all  the  year,  except  when  cows  came 
along  and  drank  the  river  dry."  It  may  have  been  this  thoughtless  act  on  the 
part  of  the  cattle  that  suggested  the  introduction  into  the  country  of  horse- 
mills.  They  were  a  dry-weather  mill,  and  during  the  dry  season  were  kept 
pretty  busy.  Charles  Morton  built  one  of  these  dry-weather  mills  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Charleston,  in  an  early  day,  which  was  of  benefit  to  a  large 
scope  of  country.  One  of  the  early  mills  was  built  on  Kickapoo  Creek,  by  a 
man  named  Robbins,  but  it  was  a  frail  structure,  and  could  only  grind  one  grist 

*It  wag  subsequently  moved  to  the  opposite  side  of  tlie  river  and  became  the  Blakeman  Mill. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  251 

of  a  bushel  and  a  half  of  corn  from  Monday  morning  to  Saturday  night.  A 
man  named  Stevens  built  a  mill  in  what  is  now  Oakland  Township,  very  early, 
and  soon  after,  Redden  built  one  in  the  same  neighborhood.  Redden's  mill  is  said 
to  have  been  a  curiosity  in  its  way,  in  this,  that  it  had  a  buckwheat  bolt  attached. 
Chadd  built  one  a  few  years  later,  on  a  new  plan,  but  without  a  buckwheat  bolt. 
If  the  stories  told  of  it  be  true,  it  was  a  very  remarkable  mill,  and  far  superior 
to  the  mills  of  the  present  day.  The  proprietor  boasted  that  on  a  certain  occa- 
sion he  ground  a  bushel  of  wheat  on  his  mill  and  bolted  it  on  Redden's  bolt,  and 
the  one  bushel  turned  out  one  hundred  pounds  of  superfine  flour,  and  two  and  a 
half  bushels  of  bran.  (It  may  have  been  that  the  mill  was  no  better  than  those 
of  the  present  day,  but  a  better  quality  of  wheat  was  grown  then.)  -But  these 
mills  were  a  "big  thing"  in  their  day,  as  well  as  a  useful  institution  of  the 
country. 

The  first  store  opened  in  the  county  was  by  Charles  Morton.  When  he 
came  to  the  county  in  1830,  he  brought  a  stock  of  goods  with  him,  and  opened 
them  out  in  a  small  pole  cabin,  near  the  present  city  of  Charleston,  and,  upon 
the  laying-out  of  the  town,  moved  within  its  corporate  limits.  He  established 
his  store  upon  one  of  the  eligible  corner  lots,  and  thus  the  mercantile  business 
was  begun,  not  only  in  the  county,  but  in  its  metropolis.  Other  stores  were 
opened  a  few  years  later  at  Kickapoo,  Hitesville  and  other  points  in  the 
county.  Morton  was  not  long  allowed  a  monopoly  of  the  mercantile  trade  of 
Charleston,  but  on  the  principle  that  "competition  is  the  life  of  trade,"  soon 
had  plenty  of  company.  Mr.  Morton  was  also  the  first  Postmaster  in  the 
county.  This  fact  is  disputed  by  some,  however,  who  claim  that  George  Han- 
son established  a  post  office  at  Wabash  Point  some  time  before  there  was  one  at 
Charleston.  Samuel  Frost  carried  the  first  mail  through  the  county.  The  route 
was  from  Paris  to  Yandalia,  then  the  capital  of  the  State. 

Tan-yards  were  among  the  enterprises  of  the  pioneer  days.  People  then 
were  not  ashamed  to  wear,  but  were  glad  to  get,  sfioes  of  home  manufacture. 
Many  of  the  pioneers  were  sufficiently  versed  in  the  lore  of  St.  Crispin 
to  make  shoes,  and  their  genius  Avas  called  into  question  at  the  approach  of 
winter.  To  satisfy  the  demand  for  "  shoe-leather,"  tanneries  w^ere  established 
where  the  peoples'  "cowhides  "  and  deerskins  were  made  into  leather.  One 
of  these  early  tanneries  was  established  by  William  Wagner  in  the  Kickapoo 
settlement.  Another  was  established  at  Charleston  by  David  Eastin,  which 
afterward  became  the  property  of  the  Stodderts,  and  was  operated  by  them  for 
years,  in  fact,  until  tan-yards  went  out  of  fashion.  Carding  machines  were  also 
included  among  the  early  industries  of  the  county.  As  we  have  stated  in  an- 
other page,  the  pioneer  ladies  manufactured  the  family  clothing.  Nearly  every 
family  raised  a  few  sheep.  The  w^ool  produced  by  these  useful  animals  was 
carded  into  rolls  by  these  machines,  when  they  were  taken  in  hand  by  the 
women,  spun  into  yarn  on  the  "  big  wheel,"  and  then  woven  into  cloth  on  the 
old  "  rattling  loom."     One   of  the   first  carding-machines  in   the  county   was 


252  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

established  or  built  by  John  Kennedy  in  Charleston  soon  after  it  was  laid  out 
as  a  town.  Daniel  Evinger  built  a  carding  machine  on  Parker's  Prairie,  about 
1828,  which  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  very  first  institution  of  the  kind  in 
the  county.  But  these  machines,  tan-yards  and  horse-mills  have  long  ago  be- 
come obsolete,  the  latter  have  been  superseded  by  fine  steam-mills,  the  tan-yards 
by    " brought-on  "  boots  and  shoes  and  the  jeans  and   "linsey-woolsey"  by 

store  goods. 

Among  the  first  blacksmiths  in  the  county  were  two  men  of  the  name  of 
Owens  and  Harman,  who  had  the  first  shop  in  Charleston.  John  Carter,  of 
Ashmore,  was  another  of  the  early  blacksmiths,  and  also  P.  K.  Honn,  who  for 
many  years  kept  a  shop  at  Hitesville.  (For  a  beautiful  tribute  to  this  class  of 
mechanics,  the  reader  is  referred  to  Longfellow's  poem  entitled  "The  Village  Black- 
smith.") Other  mechanics  and  trades-people  came  in,  the  settlements  flourished 
and  grew  prosperous  upon  the  products  of  their  own  enterprise.  In  this 
small  and  humble  way,  the  foundation  was  laid  for  the  power  and  greatness 
enjoyed  at  the  present  day. 

BIRTHS,    DEATHS    AND    MARRIAGES. 

As  to  who  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  present  territory  of  Coles 
County,  it  is  not  possible  to  state  definitely.  As  is  usually  the  case,  we  hear  of 
a  great  many  first  ones — so  many,  indeed,  that  it  is  hard  to  decide  to  whom  the 
honor  belongs.  The  child  of  Daniel  Drake,  whose  wife  has  been  mentioned  as,  at 
the  age  of  54  years,  giving  birth  to  a  child  about  1826-27,  was  probably  the  first 
birth  in  the  county.  Drake  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  settlement  at  Wa- 
bash Point.  Another  of  the  first  births  was  a  son  of  James  Nees,  born  in 
March,  1827,  in  the  settlement  now  known  by  the  poetical  name  of  Dog  Town. 
Probably  there  are  other  first  ones,  but  we  have  no  time  to  look  them  up.  Suf- 
fice it,  many  have  been  born  to  take  up  the  trials  and  troubles  of  earth. 

"  Angels  weep  when  a  babe  is  born, 
And  sing  when  an  old  man  dies." 

In  1824,  the  vear  that  the  first  settlement  was  made  in  Coles  County,  a 
Mrs.  Whitten  died  in  the  settlement  on  Parker's  Prairie, and  was  the  first  death 
of  a  white  person  in  the  county.  James  Nash,  who  settled  at  Wabash  Point 
in  1827,  and  soon  after  fatally  injured  himself  carrying  a  heavy  log  of  wood,  as 
noticed  on  another  page,  was  the  first  death  in  that  neighborhood.  Daniel  Drake 
and  Charles  Sawyer  cut  down  trees,  split  out  puncheons  and  of  them  made  the 
coffin  in  which  Nash  was  buried. 

Among  the  early  marriages  may  be  noted  that  of  James  Jeems  and  a  Miss 
Bates,  which  occurred  in  1827,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  wedding  sol- 
emnized in  the  present  territory  of  the  county.  Jeems  went  to  Darwin,  on  the 
Wabash  River,  then  the  county  seat  of  Clark  County,  for  the  marriage  license, 
as  did  also  Levi  Doty,  who  married  soon  after  to  a  Miss  Phipps.  Apropos  of 
weddings,  the  following  anecdote  is  not  inappropriate  to  the  subject.     We  wish 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTF.  253 

to  state,  however,  Ly  way  of  preface  to  the  story,  that  should  the  participants 
in  it  take  offense  at  having  their  old  jokes  resurrected  and  recorded  upon  the 
pages  of  hi.story,  we  warn  them  to  vent  their  rage  upon  Capt.  Adams.  He 
furnished  us  the  facts,  and  we  take  shelter  behind  his  elephantine  proportions. 
In  early  times,  there  lived  in  Charleston  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  nained  H.  C. 
Dunbar,  and  a  well-known  business  man  —  Richard  Stoddert.  These  two 
worthy  individuals  were  in  the  habit  of  playing  practical  jokes  on  each  other, 
and  rather  serious  ones  sometimes,  as  the  sequel  Avill  show.  One  bleak,  dreary 
day,  ill  the  month  of  Marcii — as  disagreeable  as  March  days  can  sometimes  be 
— Mr.  Stoddert  told  'Squire  Dunbar  that  a  friend  of  his  in  the  north  part  of 
the  county,  some  eighteen  or  twenty  miles  from  town,  was  to  be  married  on 
that  day,  and  had  requested  him  (Stoddert)  to  send  Dunbar  up  to  perform  the 
ceremony.  Dunbar,  nothing  doubting,  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  up  to  the 
designated  place  to  tie  the  knot,  but  upon  arriving,  discovered  that  it  was  one 
of  Stoddert's  jokes.  lie  said  nothing,  but,  indulged  internally,  perhaps,  in  a 
few  pages  of  profane  history,  returned  home  through  the  March  blasts,  taking 
it  all  good-naturedly,  and  l)idod  liis  time  to  pay  off  Stoddert  in  his  own  coin. 
An  opportunity  was  soon  prcsenfed.  It  was  a  custom  at  that  day,  at  parties 
and  gatherings  of  young  people,  by  way  of  giving  zest  to  the  evening's  enter- 
tainment, to  get  up  a  sham  wedding  of  some  couple  who  had  been  "  keeping 
company,"  or  were  particularly  sweet  on  each  other,  and  have  a  sham  ceremony 
performed  with  all  due  solemnity  by  some  sham  official  or  sham  clergyman. 
Soon  after  Dunbar's  "fruitless  trip  "  above  mentioned,  one  of  these  social  par- 
ties came  off  in  Charleston,  and,  with  the  design  of  retaliating  upon  Stoddert, 
Dunbar  went  to  the  County  Clerk's  office  and  procured  a  marriage  license  for 
Stoddert  and  a  certain  young  lady,  with  whom  he  had  been  keeping  company 
for  some  time.  Armed  with  this  document,  he  repaired  to  the  party,  and  so 
engineered  matters  as  to  get  up  the  usual  sham  wedding  between  Stoddert  and 
his  sweetheart.  As  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  he  was,  of  course,  called  on  to  per- 
form the  (supposed)  sham  ceremony.  Confronting  the  pair  with  all  the  solem- 
nity he  would  have  used  had  it  been  a  pre-arranged  wedding  "for  keeps," 
he  asked  the  usual  questions  required  by  law,  and  was  answered  satisfactorily, 
winding  up  by  informing  them  that,  as  they  were  aware,  he  was  an  officer, 
authorized  by  law  to  perform  the  marriage  ceremony,  and  asked  if  it  was  their 
"  desire  to  be  united  in  holy  wedlock."  They  answered  in  the  affirmative,  and, 
holding  the  license  in  his  hand  (which  they  supposed  was  but  a  piece  of  blank 
paper,  used  for  the  sake  of  appearance),  he  went  through  the  marriage  ceremony 
in  full,  received  the  responses,  and  solemnly  pronounced  them  "  man  and  wife," 
turned  away  and  made  out  the  certificate  with  the  usual  witnesses,  went  over  to 
the  Clerk's  office,  made  a  return  of  the  license  and  had  the  certificate  recorded 
that  night,  without  a  hint  to  the  pair  of  the  genuineness  of  the  proceedings. 
The  next  day,  however,  the  matter  leaked  out,  and  so  many  of  Stoddert's 
friends  joked  him  about  being  maiiied  in  the  novel  manner  described,  that  he 


254  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

went  to  the  Clerk's  office  to  investigate,  and  found  it  true — the  papers  in  the 
case  returned  and  recorded  in  due  form.  He  then  went  to  the  girl  and  told 
her  what  had  occurred,  when  quite  a  little  excitement  arose.  She  cried  and 
Stoddert — swore  (perhaps),  not  that  they  objected  to  each  other,  but  to  the  way 
they  had  been  inveigled  into  it.  At  last,  Stoddert  told  her  that  they  had  better 
make  the  best  of  a  "horrid  joke"  and  call  it  genuine.  She  responded  that 
perhaps  she  would  never  be  able  to  do  any  better  in  the  selection  of  a  husband, 
and  so  the  sham  wedding  was  turned  into  a  genuine  affair.  Before  leaving  the 
subject  we  will  add  that,  if  all  reports  be  true,  Charleston  never  knew  a  hap- 
pier couple  than  the  one  united  in  this  romantic  manner.  Long  years  of  wedded 
life  were  passed  in  the  greatest  harmony,  and  when,  a  few  years  ago,  the  good 
woman  passed  from  earth,  she  was  most  sincerely  mourned  by  the  partner  of 
her  sorrows  and  joys.  He  is  still  living,  an  honored  citizen  of  Charleston. 
'Squire  Dunbar  is  living  in  Texas,  or  was  at  the  last  known  of  him,  enjoying 
the  reflection,  doubtless,  that  he  paid  Stoddert  for  his  joke,  with  interest. 

The  first  practicing  physician  in  Coles  County  was  Dr.  John  Apperson, 
His  practice  extended  over  a  large  scope  of  country,  and  his  office  was  usually 
on  horse-back.  Often  when  he  slept,  his  saddle  was  his  pillow,  the  soft  side  of 
a  puncheon  or  the  green  earth  his  bed,  and  the  blue  sky  his  covering.  Dr. 
Carrico  was  another  of  the  early  practitioners  in  the  healing  art,  and  was  fol- 
lowed soon  after  by  Dr.  Ferguson,  who  doctored  the  people  of  Coles  County  for 
more  than  forty  years.  Col.  Dunbar  was  the  first  licensed  lawyer  of  the  county, 
and  for  some  time  had  an  open  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  legal  talent.  A 
more  minute  history  of  the  professions  is  given  in  the  township  histories. 

J       OLD  settlers'  association. 

In  1878,  the  idea  was  conceived  of  forming  an  association  of  the  old  settlers 
of  Coles  County  still  surviving,  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  up  the  old  associa- 
tions of  the  pioneer  days,  and  preserving  the  reminiscences  of  the  wilderness, 
in  which  they  long  ago  planted  their  homes.  With  this  object  in  view,  a  meet- 
ing assembled  in  the  city  of  Charleston,  on  the  19th  of  October  last,  and  was 
called  to  order  by  Hon.  0.  B.  Ficklin.  Col.  A.  P.  Dunbar  was  chosen  Chair- 
man of  the  meeting,  and  Capt.  W.  E.  Adams  was  appointed  Secretary.  Col. 
Dunbar  briefly  stated  the  object  of  the  meeting  to  be  "  the  renewal  of  old 
acquaintances,  and  giving  brief  sketches  of  the  early  history  and  settlement  of 
Coles  County,  and  the  organization  of  a  society  to  be  known  as  the  Coles 
County  Old  Settlers'  Society."  I.  J.  Montfort,  Isaac  N.  Craig  and  Thomas  G. 
Chambers  were  appointed  a  committee  to  report  a  plan  for  the  organization  of 
such  a  society.  The  following  is  their  report :  "  This  association  shall  be  known 
as  the  Coles  County  Old  Settlers'  Society.  The  object  of  this  Society  shall  be 
to  keep  in  lively  remembrance  the  hardships  and  privations  incident  to  the 
early  settlers  of  new  countries,  and  especially  of  this  county,  and  thereby 
promote  the  same  economy  among  the  rising  generation  as  was   practiced  by 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  255 

them.  The  officers  shall  be  a  President,  and  a  Vice  President  for  each  town- 
ship, a  Secretary  and  five  Directors.  The  duties  of  the  officers  provided  for 
as  above  shall  be  the  same  as  performed  by  such  officers  in  all  deliberative 
bodies  and  societies.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Directors  to  call 
annual  meetings  of  this  society  on  the  last  Thursday  in  August  of  each  year, 
and  make  necessary  arrangements  for  such  meetings.  The  officers  shall  hold 
their  positions  for  one  year."  A  committee,  consisting  of  0.  B.  Ficklin, 
Bichard  Stoddert  and  Dr.  S.  Van  Meter,  was  appointed,  to  define  what  an  old 
settler  is,  and  who  shall  be  members  of  this  society.  Following  is  their  definition  : 
"  Whosoever  shall  have  lived  in  the  State  of  Illinois  thirty  years  is  considered 
an  old  settler  by  this  association,  and  shall  be  eligible  to  become  a  member  of 
this  Society."  At  this  meeting,  Thomas  G.  Chambers  was  chosen  President  of 
the  association  for  the  ensuing  year,  and  W.  E.  Adams,  Secretary.  The  fol- 
lowing gentlemen  were  chosen  Vice  Presidents  :  Albert  Compton,  Charleston  ; 
Thomas  E.  Woods,  Mattoon  ;  Adam  W.  Hart,  Paradise ;  J.  K.  Ellis,  Okaw ; 
James  Shoemaker,  Humbolt ;  James  McCrory,  La  Fayette;  I.  J.  Montfort^ 
Pleasant  Grove;  Ely  B.  Adams,  Ilutton ;  Peter  K.  Honn,  Ashmore  ;  J.J. 
Pemberton,  Oakland ;  Yancey  E.  Winkler,  Morgan ;  and  Isaac  Perisho, 
Hickory.  J.  W.  Frazier,  Abram  Highland,  Dr.  S.  Van  Meter,  Col.  A.  P. 
Dunbar  and  George  Birch  were  chosen  Executive  Committee. 

The  Charleston  Plaindealer  closes  its  account  of  the  proceedings  of  this 
meeting  of  the  old  settlers  as  follows:  "Brief  speeches  were  made  by  Col.  J. 
J.  Adams,*  who  has  lived  in  the  county  for  forty-eight  years,  and  has  heard 
the  scream  of  the  panther  and  the  war-whoop  of  the  Indian,  and  by  Isaac 
Perisho,  who  had  been  a  resident  of  Illinois  since  1825 ;  and  by  William  Rigsby, 
who  had  seen  the  Court  House  built  and  sowed  the  blue-grass  seed  in  the  Court 
House  yard ;  and  by  Uncle  John  Bates,  who  came  here  in  1824,  and  has  seen 
the  wilderness  blossom  as  the  rose ;  and  by  Dr.  Van  Meter,  who  has  been  in 
the  country  for  fifty  years,  and  carried  his  corn  to  mill  on  his  back  and  hired 
the  miller  to  take  his  oxen  and  grind  his  grist  for  him ;  and  by  Aunt  Polly 
Kellogg,  who  came  here  in  1824,  saw  the  first  mill  built,  and  heard  the  first 
sermon  preached,  and  attended  the  first  funeral  in  the  county.  Job  W.  Brown, 
P.  K.  Honn,  George  Birch,  Y.  E.  Winkler,  Jeptha  Parker,  Michael  Hall, 
Isaac  Craig,  and  many  other  old  settlers  were  in  attendance.  The  Vice  Presi- 
dents are  requested  to  enroll  all  old.  settlers  in  their  respective  townships.  The 
last  Thursday  in  August,  1879,  was  fixed  as  the  time  for  the  next  annual 
meeting."  We  would  add  that  it  is  the  intention  to  keep  up  the  meetings,  and 
to  maintain  the  association  permanently. 

EDUCATIONAL    FACILITIES. 

Some  modern  sage,  imbued  with  a  poetical  view  in  his  composition,  has  very 

wisely  declared:  ,,„.,.,        .i,  -a 

•'  "   Tis  education  forms  the  common  mind, 

Just  as  the  twig  is  bent  the  tree's  inclined." 


■  A  soldier  of  the  Mexican  war,  and  recently  deceased. 


256  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

And  when  our  forefathers  declared  in  their  ordinance  of  1787,  that  kn  v.vl;;l  :c, 
in  connection  with  religion  and  morality,  was  "necessary  to  the  g'>  >  1  .;  i\\,m-ii- 
raent  and  happiness  of  mankind,'.'  and  enjoined  that  "schools,  and  ilu  iiuaris 
of  education,  should  forever  be  encouraged,"  they  suggested  in  that  ordinance  the 
verv  bulwark  of  American  liberty  and  freedom.  The  first  free-school  system 
of  the  State  was  adopted  thirty  years  before  the  present  one.  Schools  flourished 
in  almost  every  neighborhood,  says  Gov.  Ford  in  his  history  of  Illinois,  and 
"  the  law  Avorked  reasonably  well."  Gov.  Coles,  in  his  Message  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  1824-25,  directed  attention  to  the  liberal  donation  of  Congress  in 
lands  for  educational  purposes,  asking  that  they  be  husbanded  as  a  rich  treasure 
for  future  generations,  and,  in  the  mean  time,  to  make  provision  for  the  support 
of  local  schools.  During  this  session,  Hon.  Joseph  Duncan,  subsequently 
Governor  (then  Senator),  introduced  a  bill,  afterward  passed,  to  which  the 
following  is  the  preamble  :  "  To  enjoy  our  rights  and  liberties,  we  must 
understand  them  ;  their  security  and  protection  ought  to  be  the  first  object  of 
a  free  people  ;  and  it  is  a  well-established  fact  that  no  nation  has  ever  continued 
long  in  the  enjoyment  of  civil  and  political  freedom  which  was  not  both  virtuous 
and  enlightened.  And  believing  that  the  advancement  of  literature  always  has 
been,  and  ever  will  be,  the  means  of  more  fully  developing  the  rights  of  men — 
that  the  mind  of  every  citizen  in  a  republic  is  the  common  property  of  society, 
and  constitutes  the  basis  of  its  strength  and  happiness — it  is,  therefore,  con- 
sidered the  peculiar  duty  of  a  free  government,  like  ours,  to  encourage  and 
extend  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of  the  intellectual  energies  of  the 
whole."  Stuve,  in  his  history  of  Illinois,  speaking  of  this  act,  says:  "  It  was 
provided  that  common  schools  should  be  established,  free  and  open  to  every  class 
of  white  citizens  between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty-one ;  and  persons  over 
twenty-one  might  be  admitted  on  such  terms  as  the  Trustees  should  prescribe. 
Districts,  of  not  less  than  fifteen  families,  were  to  be  formed  by  the  County 
Courts,  upon  petition  of  a  majority  of  the  voters  thereof;  officers  were  to  be 
elected,  sworn  in,  and  their  duties  were  prescribed  in  detail.  The  system  was 
full  and  complete  in  all  particulars.  The  legal  voters  were  empowered  at  the 
annual  meeting  to  levy  a  tax,  in  money  or  merchantable  produce  at  its  cash 
value,  not  exceeding  one-half  of  one  per  cent,  subject  to  a  maximum  limitation 
of  $10  to  any  one  person.  But,  aside  from  this  tax,  the  best  and  most  efiective 
feature  of  the  law,  in  principle,  the  great  stimulant  of  our  present  system,  was 
an  annual  appropriation  by  the  State  of  $2  out  of  every  $100  received  into 
the  Treasury,  and  the  distribution  of  five-sixths  of  the  interest  arising  from  the 
school  funds,  apportioned  among  the  several  counties,  according  to  the  number 
of  white  children  under  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  which  sums  were  then  re- 
distributed by  the  counties  among  their  respective  districts,  none  participating 
therein  where  not  at  least  three  months'  school  had  been  taught  during  the 
twelve  months  preceding.  In  this  law  were  foreshadowed  some  of  the  most 
valuable  features  of  our  present  free-school  system.     But  it  is  asserted  that  the 


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HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  259 

law  of  1825  was  in  advance  of  the  times ;  that  the  people  preferred  to  pay 
their  tuition  fees,  or  do  without  education  for  the  children,  rather  than  submit 
to  the  bare  idea  of  taxation,  however  it  might  fall  in  the  main  upon  the  wealthier 
property-holders,  for  the  benefit  of  all ;  and  the  law  was  so  amended,  in  1827, 
as  to  virtually  nullify  it,  by  providing  that  no  person  should  be  taxed  for  the 
maintenance  of  any  school,  unless  the  consent  was  first  obtained  in  writing,  and 
the  continuance  of  the  State  appropriation  of  |2  out  of  every  $100  received 
into  the  Treasury,  being  its  very  life,  was  denied."  In  the  foregoing  extract 
is  portrayed  something  of  the  first  school  laws  of  Illinois,  and  their  virtual  abolish- 
ment developed  the  rude  system  of  schools  of  the  pioneer  days  in  Coles  County. 
The  school  fund  was  not  sufficient  to  support  the  schools,  and  the  people  obviated 
the  difficulty' by  some  one,  specially  interested,  taking  a  paper,  going  to  the 
parents  and  having  them  sign  as  many  scholars,  at  $1.50  apiece  (that  was  the 
standard  price),  as  they  could  send  to  school.  If  a  sufficient  number  were  sub- 
scribed they  had  a  school,  if  not,  the  children  ran  wild  and  unrestrained  as  the 
prairie  winds,  at  least,  so  far  as  pertained  to  schools.  Nor  were  schoolhouses 
built  then  by  general  taxation,  as  they  are  now,  but  by  gratuitous  contribution. 
This  contribution  usually  consisted  in  a  man  taking  his  ax  and  cuttino-  locrs,  or 
taking  his  team  and  hauling  them  from  the  timber  to  the  building-site,  or 
carrying  the  hod  while  the  chimney  was  in  process  of  erection,  or  of  "  rivino-  " 
boards  to  cover  it,  etc.,  etc.  These  schoolhouses  were  built  of  logs,  often  with- 
out hewing,  raised  one  story  high,  and,  as  an  old  settler  informed  us,  "  white- 
washed inside  and  outside  with  original  Illinois  mud,  floored  with  rude 
puncheons,  and  cracks  between  them  through  which  the  small  children  some- 
times fell."  With  a  fire  place  extending  across  one  end  of  the  room,  benches 
made  of  trees  split,  open,  and  wooden  pins  put  in  for  legs,  the  half  of  two  logs 
cut  out,  and  white  domestic  tacked  over  it  (the  pioneer  glass  window),  completes 
the  picture  of  the  original  schoolhouse.  In  these  rude  temples  of  learning  the 
pioneer's  child  acquired  his  education.  There  were  no  grades  then,  and  but 
few  classes,  for  in  a  school  of  twenty  or  thirty  pupils,  there  would  be  found  as 
many  arithmetics,  geographies  and  readers  as  there  were  extant  in  the  English 
language.  But  the  adoption  of  the  free-school  system,  entered  upon  in  1855, 
marks  the  turning-point  in  the  history  of  common-school  education  of  the 
State,  and  abolished  forever  the  rude  and  imperfect  system  hitherto  in  force. 
The  donation  by  Congress  of  the  Sixteenth  Section  of  every  Congressional 
Township,  or,  if  sold,  lands  equivalent  thereto,  as  contiguous  as  might  be,  for 
the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  such  township  for  school  purposes,  amounted  to 
over  998,000  acres,  and  which,  had  it  been  properly  managed  and  husbanded, 
would  have  given  the  people  such  an  ample  school  fund  as  would  have  saved 
them  from  any  local  taxation.  At  the  session  of  the  Legislature  of  1854.  that 
august  body  took  the  first  step  in  the  right  direction,  .by  the  enactment  of  a 
law  separating  the  office  of  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  from  that  of 
Secretary  of  State,  and  creating  it  a  distinct  department  of  the  State  govern- 


260  '      HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

ment,  the  incumbent  to  receive  a  salary  of  $1,500,  and  Gov.  Matteson  appointed 
the  Hon.  N.  W.  Edwards  State  Superintendent  of  Common  Schools.  This 
most  important  office,  at  that  juncture,  was  bestowed  upon  Mr.  Edwards  on 
account  of  his  long  experience  in  public  life,  and  from  the  conviction  that  he 
would  carry  into  effect  the  hopes  of  the  people  and  the  designs  of  the  Legis- 
lature in  creating  it.  In  January  following,  he  submitted  to  the  General 
Assembly  a  full  report  upon  the  condition  of  the  public  schools  throughout  the 
State,  ably  urged  the  education  of  the  children  of  the  State  at  the  public 
expense,  and  presented  a  well-drawn  bill  for  a  complete  system  of  free  schools, 
which,  with  some  alterations,  became  a  law.  The  act  bore  date  February  15, 
1855,  and  embraced  all  the  essential  principles  now  in  force."*  But,  however 
interesting  our  school  history  may  be  to  the  friends  of  education,  we  cannot 
follow  it  through  all  of  its  mutations,  but  have  already  trespassed  upon  time 
and  space,  and  will  only  add,  that  there  is  not  a  State  west  of  the  Alleghanies 
whose  educational  interest  and  common-school  system  is  so  well  developed,  so 
well  protected  and  so  well  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  people  and  the  spirit  of 
the  age,  as  the  State  of  Illinois.  With  a  few  statistical  facts  from  the  last 
report  of  Prof.  T.  J.  Lee,  County  Superintendent  of  Schools,  to  the  Superin- 
tendent of  Public  Instruction,  which  are  of  special  interest  to  the  people  of  the 
county,  we  will  pass  on  to  other  branches  of  our  work  : 

Number  of  schools  taught  in  the  county 121 

"        "  pupils  enrolled 7,937 

Male  teachers  employed  (1st  grade) 66 

"            "             "         ('2d    grade) 41 

Female     "             "         (1st  grade) 59 

"           "             "         (2d    grade) 67 

Total  number  of  teachers  employed 233 

Average  merit  of  their  certificates 8.3 

Months  taught  by  males 526 

"           "        "  females 582 

Average  number  of  months  taught  previous 88 

Average  age  of  these  teachers  (years) 27 

Average  monthly  wages  (males) $48.88 

"       (females) $30.60 

Amount  paid  teachers , 14-4,607.99 

Number  of  persons  between  6  and  21  years 9,099 

"      between  12  and  21  unable  to  write 20 


V 


Referring  to  the  qualifications  of  teachers.  Prof.  Lee  says:  "Shortly  after 
coming  into  office,  I  deemed  it  best  to  reduce,  gradually,  the  number  of  certifi- 
cates by  raising  the  grade  of  qualifications,  and  adopted  the  following  rules  con- 
cerning certificates  :  "  1.  Scale  :  5,  very  poor  ;  6,  poor  ;  7,  tolerable  ;  8,  good  ;  9, 
very  good  ;  10,  perfect.  2.  For  First  Grade — Average  of  8,  with  no  branch 
below  7.  3.  For  Second  grade — Average  of  7,  with  no  branch  below  5.  After 
twelve  months  teaching,  same  mark  as  for  First  Grade.  4.  Only  bona-fide  ap- 
plicants to  teach  in  this  county  will  be  examined.     5.   Reference  of  good  moral 

♦Stuve's  History  of  Illinois. 


HISTORY'  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  261 

character  required  of  applicants  unknown  to  Superintendent.  6.  In  addition 
to  above,  aptitude  for  the  business  of  teaching  will  be  required.  7.  No  re-ex- 
amination under  three  months  after  rejection.  8.  No  certificate  now  held  will 
be  renewed  or  another  issued  instead,  except  on  personal  application  for  re- 
examination. 9,  All  examinations  must  be  begun  and  completed  on  the  same 
day  ;  therefore  applicants  should  come  to  the  office  early  in  the  day.  10.  No 
certificates  will  be  issued  except  at  published  time  and  place."  Prof.  Lee  closes 
his  report  as  follows  :  "  Our  common  school  system  is  yet  an  experiment.  Give 
it  time  to  grow,  and  it  may  yet  unfold  into  that  perennial  blessing,  and  those  benef- 
icent propositions  dreamed  by  its  founders.  Its  growth  cannot  be  hastened — 
but  retarded  rather — by  certain  Utopian  ideas  that  now,  unhappily  for  it,  seem 
to  be  gaining  ground.  Let  us  call  a  '  halt '  and  wait.  Let  all  who  are  '  called  ' 
to  help  administer  the  system  strive  in  every  good  way  to  bring  it  up  equal  to 
the  provisions  already  made  for  it,  before  attempting  new  excesses." 

EARLY    RELIGIOUS    HISTORY. 

The  sound  of  the  Gospel  in  Coles  County  is  coeval  with  the  first  settle- 
ment made  in  its  limits.  John  Parker,  the  old  patriarch  of  the  Parker  family 
was  a  Baptist  preacher  of  the  "  hard-shell  "  or  "  ironside"  persuasion,  and  used  to 
proclaim  the  word  of  God  to  the  pioneers  on  the  Sabbath — when  it  was  not  a 
good  day  to  hunt  bees.  Daniel  Parker  was  also  a  preacher  of  the  same  denom- 
ination, and,  as  the  Parkers  were  the  first  settlers  in  the  county,  so  were  they 
the  first  preachers.  "•  High  "  Johnny  Parker,  as  the  old  man  was  familiarly 
called,  preached  the  first  sermon  in  Coles  County  in  182-4,  the  year  the  first 
settlement  was  made.  He  was  a  plain,  old-fashioned  man,  hewn  out  of  rou^h 
timber,  and  "preached  salvation  by  election,  without  money  and  without 
price."  This  sermon  (the  first  in  the  county)  was  preached  in  a  small  log  cabin 
in  the  Parker  settlement,  and  it  is  said  that  every  inhabitant  of  the  county 
was  there,  and  had  abundant  room,  for  eleven  souls  constituted  the  entire 
adult  population.  Father  Parker  closed  this  original  religious  service  of  the 
county  in  these  words :  "  Brethren,  we  have  wandered  far  into  the  wilder- 
ness, but  even  here  death  will  find  us."  The  Rev.  Mr.  Newport  was  another 
of  the  "hard-shell"  divines  who  figured  prominently  in  the  early  relio-ious 
history  of  the  county.  The  early  settlers  were  a  conscientiously  religious 
people.  Even  prior  to  the  era  of  schoolhouses  and  churches,  they  had 
meetings  under  the  shade-trees  on  the  river-banks,  and  in  private  houses, 
dedicated  by  common  usage  to  religious  services.  Says  Capt.  Adams  in 
his  Centennial  Address :  "  We  have  seen  one  of  these  private  houses,  not 
exceeding  twenty  feet  square,  containing  three  or  four  beds  and  all  the  house- 
hold and  kitchen  furniture  of  a  large  family,  hold  a  big  congregation  of  zealous 
worshipers.  In  the  early  days,  the  old,  young  and  even  small  children  went  to 
church.  During  the  services  it  sometimes  occurred  that  a  half-dozen  of  these 
little  ones,  all  with  one  accord,  would  raise  their  plaintive  cries  ;    nevertheless, 


262  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

the  services  proceeded  without  any  apparent  disturbance.  The  occasional  man- 
ifestations of  some  of  these  people  were  strikingly  singular.  Some  would  shout  and 
some  would  pray  and  others  scream  at  the  top  of  the  voice.  Some  would  clap 
their  hands  until  blistered,  and  others  faint  away,  but  all  seemed  happy,  recog- 
nizing it  as  the  Lord's  doings." 

An  early  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  was  Rev.  Isaac  Bennett. 
"  He  dropped  down  among  us,"  says  one,  "  as  softly  as  the  morning  light,  and 
could  not  brook  any  religious  excitement,  or  even  the  music  of  a  child  during 
his  discourse."  Rev.  Mr.  Martin  was  another  of  the  early  preachers  of 
Coles  County.  But  we  have  not  space  to  particularize  each  of  these 
pioneer  soldiers  of  the  cross.  Without  the  hope  of  earthly  reward,  they 
preached  the  glad  tidings  to  perishing  sinners,  and  sought  to  gather  them 
into  the  fold  of  Christ.  Reverently  asking  the  blessing  of  God  upon  all 
they  did,  their  lives  were  simple ;  their  wants  few  and  easily  satisfied ;  their 
teachings  plain  and  unvarnished,  touched  with  no  eloquence  save  that  of  their 
daily  living,  which  was  seen  and  known  of  all  men. 

In  what  year  the  first  church-building  was  erected  in  the  county  is  not 
known,  but  subsequently  to  1830,  as  at  that  date,  we  are  informed,  there  was 
not  an  edifice  which  had  been  erected  purposely  for  a  temple  of  worship.  Before 
the  building  of  schoolhouses,  the  cabin  of  the  settler  was  used  in  winter, 
and  in  summer,  "the  groves,  God's  first  temples,"  served  their  humble  wishes. 
But  now,  some  sixty-five  church-buildings  may  be  enumerated  in  the  county. 
Not  only  in  the  towns  and  cities,  but  in  every  village  and  hamlet,  their  lofty 
spires  "pierce  the  clouds."  Even  in  many  neighborhoods  in  the  country  are 
neat  and  commodious  church-houses. 

In  connection  with  the  church  history,  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  say  a 
few  words  of  the  benevolent  institutions  existing  in  the  county.  Freemasonry 
and  Odd  Fellowship  follow  close  in  the  wake  of  the  Christian  church,  and,  in 
their  way,  exert  almost  as  great  an  influence  for  good  as  the  church  itself. 
They  teach  a  belief  in  God,  the  immortality  of  the  soul  and  the  resurrec- 
tion of  the  body.  Gathered  around  their  altars,  their  votaries  can  sub- 
scribe to  their  simple  articles  of  faith,  and  join  in  one  united  prayer  and 
praise  to  the  great  Architect  of  the  universe.  These  institutions  have  organ- 
ized bodies  in  Charleston,  Mattoon,  Etna,  Ashmore,  Muddy  Point,  Oakland, 
Paradise,  Hutton  and  Milton.  In  the  city  of  Charleston  are  Charleston  Lodge, 
No.  35,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Keystone  Chapter,  No.  54,  Royal.  Arch  Masons  ; 
Charleston  Lodge,  No.  609,  I.  0.  0.  F.;  Kickapoo  Lodge,  No.  00,  I.  0.  0.  F.; 
and  Coles  Encampment,  No.  94,  I.  0.  0.  F. ;  in  Mattoon — Mattoon  Lodge, 
No.  260,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Circle  Lodge,  No.  707,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Mattoon 
Chapter,  No.  85,  Royal  Arch  Masons ;  Godfrey  de  Bouillon  Commandery,  No. 
44,  Knights  Templar;  Harmony  Lodge,  No.  551,  I.  0.  0.  F.;  Coles  County 

Lodge,  No.  260,  I.  0.  O:  F. ;    Mattoon  Encampment,  No. ,  I.  0.  0.  F. ; 

also,  Mattoon  German  Lodge,  No.  414,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  Eureka  Lodge,  No. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  263 

13,  Colored  Masons ;  in  the  village  of  Etna,  Wabash  Lodge,  No.  179, 
A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Etna  Lodge,  No.  519,  I.  0.  0.  F.;  in  Oakland— Oak- 
land Lodge,  No.  219,  A.,  F  &  A.  M.,  and  Oakland  Lodge,  No.  545,  I.  0.  0.  F.; 
in  Milton — Milton  Lodge,  No.  275,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Humboldt  Lodge,  No. 
636,  L  0.  0.  F.;  in  Ashmore— Ashraore  Lodge,  No.  390,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.; 
in  Muddy  Point— Etna  Lodge,  No.  396,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.;  in  Milton  Station 
— Elwood  Lodge,  No.  589,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.;  in  Paradise — Miles  Hart  Lodge, 
No.  595,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  in  Hutton  — Hutton  Lodge,  No.  698, 
A.,  F.  &  A.  M. 

'  AGRICULTURAL    ASSOCIATION. 

An  association  entitled  the  Coles  County  Agricultural  Society  was  formed 
at  Charleston  on  the  24th  day  of  May,  1841,  and  held  three  successive  fairs, 
the  first,  October  1,  1841,  the  second,  October  1,  1842,  and  the  third,  Sep- 
tember 27,  1843.  The  permanent  officers  of  the  Society  for  1841  were  as 
follows :  James  Hite,  President ;  B.  F.  Jones,  H.  J.  Ashmore  and  M.  Ruflf- 
ner,  Vice  Presidents ;  T.  A.  Marshall,  Treasurer,  and  J.  F.  Whitney,  Secre- 
tary. The  officers  for  1842  were :  Thomas  Monson,  President ;  Michael 
Ruffner,  Isaac  Gruwell,  Vice  Presidents ;  L.  R.  Hutchason,  Treasurer  ;  D.  J. 
Van  Deren,  Secretary;  and  for  1843,  James  T.  Cunningham,  President; 
George  H.  Nabb  and  Fountain  Turner,  Vice  Presidents ;  L.  R.  Hutchason, 
Treasurer;  D.  J.  Van  Deren,  Secretary;  Laban  Burr,  John  A.  Olmstead, 
John  Hite,  Joel  Connelly,  John  Apperson,  B.  F.  Jones,  Thomas  Monson, 
Thomas  Farris,  R.  A.  Miller  and  William  Frost,  a  Board  of  Directors.* 

The  following  extract  is  from  the  records:  "From  1843  to  1855,  the 
Society  appears  to  have  been  entranced  in  a  sort  of  Rip  Van  Winkle  sleep,  a 
"rpasterly  inactivity  "  of  eleven  years'  duration,  until  the  passage  of  the  two 
acts  of  the  Legislature  of  Illinois,  February  14,  1855,  and  February  15,  1855, 
the  first  to  encourage  the  formation  of  county  agricultural  societies,  and  the 
last,  a  general  act  of  incorporation  of  agricultural  and  horticultural  societies 
and  associations  for  improving. the  breeds  of  domestic  animals,  whereupon  the 
Society  appears  to  have  awakened  from  its  lengthy  slumber,  and  recommenced 
its  labors  with  more  of  vigor,  comeliness  of  proportion  and  hope  to  its  friends 
than  prior  to  that  wise  legislative  aid  by  the  State,  and  accordingly,  in  the 
spring  of  1855,  a  re-organization  was  effected,  and  a  constitution  and  by-laws 
adopted,  as  was  then  supposed,  in  conformity  with  the  acts  above  referred  to. 
The  records  under  the  new  organization  are  said  to  be  lost,  so  that  the  present 
Secretary  is  unable  to  give  a  history  of  its  proceedings  for  1855.  Certain  it  is, 
however,  the  Society  held  a  fair  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  but  what  was  contained 
in  its  list  of  premiums,  who  were  judges,  who  competitors,  to  whom  and  for 
what  premiums  were  awarded,  is  enshrouded  in  darkness.  Nor  is  the  present 
Secretary  able  to  give  a  full  list  of  the  officers  elected  for  that  year,  but  as  far 
as  informed,  the  following  is  believed  to  be  correct:     James  T.Cunningham, 

*These  fairs  were  held  on  the  commons,  we  are  told,  the  Society  having  no  grounds  of  its  own. 


264  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

President;  D.  J.  Van  Deren,  Secretary;  B.  F.  Jones,  J.  K.  Decker,  M.  F. 
Hackett,  a  portion  of  the  Board  of  Directors ;  Thomas  G.  Chambers,  Treas- 
urer. The  present  Secretary  is  informed  that  the  Society,  having  complied 
with  the  act  of  February  14,  1855,  received  from  the  Treasurer  of  State  the 
sum  of  $50,  as  authorized  by  that  act.  Before  the  election  of  the  present 
Secretary,  but  at  what  time  he  is  not  informed,  the  Society  had  purchased  seven 
and  three-fifths  acres  of  land  for  the  use  of  the  same  for  its  fair  grounds,  and 
had  paid  the  sum  of  $100  in  part  payment  for  the  same,  the  title  to  which 
remains  yet  unperfected." 

The  act  of  February  14,  1855,  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  records,  is  as 

follows : 

An  Act  to  encourage  the  formation  nf  County  Agricultural  Societifs. 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  General 
Assembly,  That  whenever  the  President  and  Treasurer  of  any  County  Agricultural  Society  shall 
certify  that  the  sum  of  (at  least)  fifty  dollars  has  been  collected,  and  is  in  the  hands  of  the 
Treasurer  for  the  use  of  said  society,  the  Tre.isurerof  this  State  shall,  when  called  upon  for  that 
purpose,  pay  to  the  said  Treasurer  or  fiscal  agent  or  officer  of  said  society,  the  sum  of  fifty  dol- 
lars ;  and  the  receipt  of  said  Treasurer  of  such  society  therefor  shall  entitle  the  said  Treasurer 
of  this  State  to  a  credit  for  that  amount  in  the  settlements  of  his  account  as  such  State  Treasurer. 

Sec.  2.  The  said  sum  of  fifty  dollars,  thus  appropriated,  shall  be  expended  in  the  purpose 
of  premiums,  to  be  procured  and  distributed  under  the  direction  of  said  societies  respectively  in 
the  manner  prescribed  in  the  constitution,  by-laws,  or  other  regulations  of  said  societies. 

Sec.  3.     This  act  shall  take  effect  and  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  passage. 

The  act  of  February  15,  1855,  also  alluded  to  in  the  extract  from  the 
minutes  of  the  Society,  provides  for  the  incorporation  of  such  societies,  the 
mode  of  forming  them,  who  shall  be  members,  etc.,  and  gives  the  usual  privi- 
leges of  all  corporate  bodies.  But  its  great  length  and  lack  of  interest  to  the 
general  reader,  are  sufficient  excuses  for  omitting  it  here.  Under  these  acts 
the  Society  revived,  as  already  stated,  took  new  lease  of  life,  and  commenced 
business  in  earnest.  The  minutes,  however,  of  the  first  meeting,  under  the 
new  dispensation,  being  lost,  the  proceedings  of  that  fair  are  "  as  a  sealed  book." 
The  proceedings  of  1856  are  given  in  full,  together  with  the  premium-lists, 
officers  and  all  matters  of  interest  occurring  during  the  year.  At  a  meeting  of 
Society  held  in  the  Court  House,  June  2,  1856,  the  following  officers  were 
elected  for  the  ensuing  year:  John  Cofer,  President;  William  Miller,  Vice 
President ;  H.  J.  Keeler,  Secretary  ;  Thomas  G.  Chambers,  Treasurer  ;  B.  F. 
Jones,  J.  T.  Cunningham,  J.  K.  Decker,  M.  F.  Hackett  and  James  Hammett, 
Executive  Committee.  At  a  meeting  of  the  officers,  held  soon  after  their 
election,  they  met  and  made  out  a  list  of  pi'emiums,  also  a  list  of  Avhat  should 
be  exhibited.     It  is  as  follows  : 

FIRST  DAY.— DOMESTIC  ANIMALS. 

Horses. — Best  stallion,  4  years  old  and  over,  Class  1,  No.  1 '?6  00 

Second  best '^  *^0 

Best  stallion,  3  years  old.  Class  1,  No.  '1 3  00 

Second  best : 2  00 

Best  stallion,  2  years  old,  Class  I,  No.  o 3  00 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  265 

Horses. — Second  best 2  00 

Best  stallion,  1  year  old,  Class  1,  No.  4 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  sucking  horse-colt,  Class  1,  No.  5. 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  brood-mare,  4  years  old  and  over,  Class  2,  No.  1 6  00 

Second  best 3  00 

Best  filly,  8  years  old,  Class  2,  No.  2 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  filly,  2  years  old.  Class  2,  No.  3 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  filly,  1  year  old.  Class  2,  No.  4 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  sucking  mare-colt,  Class  2,  No.  5 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  pair  horses  or  mares.  Class  3,  No.  1 5  00 

Best  saddle  horse  or  mare.  Class  3,  No.  2 3  00         '' 

Best  buggy  horse  or  mare,  Class  3,  No.  3 3  00 

Jacks. — Best  jack,  3  years  old  and  over,  Class  4,  No.  1 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  jack,  2  years  old,  Class  4,  No.  2 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  jack  1  year  old.  Class  4,  No.  3 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  sucking  jack-colt,  Class  4,  No.  4 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Jennies. — Best  jenny,  3  years  old  and  over,  Class  5,  No.  1 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  jenny,  2  years  old.  Class  5,  No.  2 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  jenny,  1  year  old,  Class  5,  No.  3 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  sucking  jenny  colt.  Class  5,  No.  4  3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Mules. — Best  pair  of  mules.  Class  6,  No.  1 5  00 

Best  sucking  mule-colt.  Class  6,  No.  2 3  00 

Catile. — Best  bull,  4  years  old  and  over,  Class  7,  No.  1 5  00 

Second  best 3  00 

Best  bull,  3  years  old.  Class  7,  No.  2 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  bull,  2  years  old,  Class  7,  No.  3 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  bull,  1  year  old.  Class  7,  No.  4 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  sucking  bull-calf.  Class  7,  No.  5 3  00 

Second  best ^. 2  00 

Best  cow,  4  years  old  and  over,  Class  8,  No.  1 8  00 

Second  best 3  00 

Best  heifer,  3  years  old,  Class  8,  No.  2 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  heifer,  2  years  old.  Class  8,  No.  3 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  heifer,  1  year  old,  Class  8,  No.  4 3  00 


266  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

Caillc. — Second  best 2  00 

Best  sucking  lieifer-calf,  Class  8,  No.  5 3  00 

Second  best 2  00 

Best  pair  work  cattle,  Class  9,  No.  1 .5  00 

Sheep. —  Best  buck,  Class  10,  No.  1 §2  00 

Second  best  buck 1  00 

Best  ewe,  Class  10,  No.  1 2  00 

Second  best  ewe 1  00 

Swine. —  Best  boar,  1  year  old  and  over,  Class  11,  No.  1 3  00 

Best  boar  6  months  old  and  under  12  months  old.  Class  11,  No.  2...  3  00 

Best  pig  under  6  months  old,  Class  11,  No.  3 2  00 

Best  breed-sow,  1  year  old  and  over,  Class  11,  No.  4 3  00 

Best  breed-sow,  6  months  and  under  12  months  old,  Class  11,  No.  -5,  3  00 

Poultry. — Best  pair  of  chickens,  Class  12,  No.  1 2  00 

Second  best  pair  of  chickens 1  00 

Farming  Utensils. — Best  sod  plow.  Class  13 3  00 

Best  Subsoil  plow,  Class  13 3  00 

Best  harrow.  Class  13 2  00 

Best  land-roller,  Class  13 2  00 

Best  mower  and  reaper  combined,  Class  13 .5  00 

Best  thresher  and  separator.  Class  13. 5  00 

Best  seed-sower.  Class  13 3  00 

Best  hay-rake,  Class  13 2  00 

Mechanical  Department. — Best  harness  for  all  purposes,  Class  14,  No.  1 3  00 

Second  best  harness  for  all  purposes 2  00 

Best  riding-saddle,  Class  14,  No.  2 3  00 

Second  best  riding-saddle 2  00 

Agricultural  Products. — Best  acre  of  wheat  (dimension  and  quality  indorsed 
by  responsible,  disinterested  party),  to  be  reported  to  the 
Secretary  prior  to  November  10,  with  instruction  as  to  soil, 
time  and  manner  of  sowing,  tillage  of  ground,  species  of 

wheat,   etc..  Class  15,  No.  1 5  00 

Best  acre  of  corn   (with  same  conditions  as  to  the  wheat,  etc.), 

Class  15,  No.  2 5  00 

Fruit  Department. — Greatest  and  best  variety  of  apples,  with  siatement  as  to 
soil,  slope  of  ground,  etc.,  and  any  concurrent  facts  or  con- 
ditions by   which  it  is  believed  its  superiority  had   been 

induced.  Class  16,  No.  1 3  00 

Second  best  and  greatest  variety  (same  statement) 2  00 

Greatest  and  best  variety  of  fruits,  with  statement  as  above  relative 

to  each,  species,  etc..  Class  16,  No.  2 3  00 

Second  greatest  and  best  variety  (same  statement) 2  00 

SECOND     DAY. LADIES'      DEPARTMENT. 

Dairy. —  Best  5  lbs.  butter,  with  process  of  manufacture,  Class  17,  No.  1 2  00 

Best  10  lbs.  cheese,  with  process  of  manufacture,  Clasi^  17,  No.  2...  2  00 

Domestic  Manufactures. — Best  fancy  quilt,  Class  18,  No.  1 2  00 

Best  coverlet,  Class  18,  No.  2 2  00 

Best  cai-pet,  10  yards  and  upward.  Class  18,  No.  3 2  00 

Best  rag  carpel,  10  yards  and  upward,  Class  18,  No.  4 2  00 

Best  woolen  cloth,  10  yards  and  over,  Class  18,  No.  5 3  00 

Best  jeans,  10  yards  and  over,  Class  18,  No.  6 2  00 

Best  flannel,  10  yards  and  over  (white,  striped  or  plaid),  Class  18 

No.  7 2  00 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  267 

Domestic.  Manufactures. — Best   pair  of  blankets,  Class  18,  No.  8 2  00 

Best  yarn  socks.  Class  18,  No.  9 50 

Best  cotton  hose.  Class  18,  No.  10 50 

Fancy  or  Needle  Work. — Best  specimen  fancy  needle  work.  Class  19,  No.  1...  3  00 
Best  quality,  embracing  the  greatest  variety,  of  articles  useful  and 

ornamental,  Class  19,  No.  2 , 5  00 

At  a  meeting  held  August  2,  1856,  the  Board  passed  a  resolution  to  adopt 
the  list  of  premiums  as  above  given,  and  appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  the 
fair  grounds  for  the  forthcoming  exhibition.  At  a  subsequent  meeting,  an 
agreement  was  made  with  D.  J.  Van  Deren  and  H.  J-  Keeler  to  inclose  the 
grounds.  At  a  meeting  September  13,  it  was  ordered  that  a  well  be  dug  and 
curbed  upon  the  Society's  grounds  ;  badges  were  ordered  for  life  members,  and 
for  the  officers.  Robert  Leith  was  appointed  Marshal ;  E.  W.  True,  J.  R. 
Jeffries,  James  Shoemaker,  William  Jones  and  Richard  Champion,  Deputy 
Marshals,  together  with  some  other  unimportant  matters  pertaining  to  the  fair 
soon  to  take  place,  were  arranged. 

The  fair  came  off  on  the  24th  and  25th  of  September,  and,  from  the  entries 
made  in  the  different  classes,  seems  to  have  been  a  very  interesting  and  success- 
ful meeting.  Particularly  were  the  stock  classes  well  represented,  and  a  num- 
ber of  entries  made  in  each  class.  The  Secretary  published  a  report  which  is 
copied  in  the  records,  showing  the  list  of  Judges  for  the  articles  and  stock 
adjudged,  and  the  names  of  those  to  whom  premiums  were  awarded,  but  its 
extreme  length  forbids  its  insertion  in  this  work,  however  interesting  it  might 
prove  to  our  readers,  especially  those  who  are  engaged  in  stock-raising. 

But  it  is  impossible  to  follow  the  Society  through  all  the  years  since  its 
re-organization  in  1855.  Suffice  it,  that  at  the  present  time  it  is  in  a  flourish- 
ing state,  and  the  people  of  the  county  are  justly  proud  of  their  association. 
The  last  meeting  took  place  in  September,  1878,  occupying  five  days,  the  17th, 
18th,  19th,  20  th  and  21st ;  the  premium -list  embraces  ten  pages  of  closely 
printed  matter  in  a  pamphlet  printed  for  gratuitous  distribution.  The  grounds 
of  the  Society  comprise  twenty-four  acres  well  improved,  substantially  inclosed, 
with  stock-stalls  and  all  necessary  buildings,  and  of  a  total  value  of  about 
$6,000.  The  present  officers  are  as  follows,  viz.,  S.  D.  Dole,  of  Mattoon, 
President ;  James  Shoemaker,  of  Loxa,  I.  J.  Montfort,  of  Charleston,  T.  G. 
Chambers,  of  Charleston,  M.  B.  Valodin,  of  Oakland,  Vice  Presidents ;  E.  R. 
Connely,  Samuel  Van  Meter,  C.  E.  Wilson,  Adam  Millar  and  Isaac  Flenner, 
Board  of   Directors;    R.  S.  Hodgen,  Secretary,  and  J.  K.  Decker,  Treasurer. 

The  farmers  of  Coles  County  have  for  years  past  devoted  considerable 
attention  to  the  improvement  of  their  stock,  and  many  of  them  are  at  present 
engaged  largely  in  breeding  blooded  horses,  cattle  and  hogs.  Of  horses,  the 
Norman  stock  is  being  introduced  in  the  county,  and  as  draft  horses  are  popu- 
lar, while  other  blooded  horses  are  receiving  some  attention.  W.  A.  Whitte- 
more,  H.  M.  Ashmore,  J.  W.  Wright  and  I.  N.  Gibbs  are  specially  engaged  in 
breeding  fine  horses.     Blooded  cattle  are  being  more  extensively  raised,  as  this 


268  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

section  of  the  country  is  more  favorably  adapted  to  cattle  than  horses.  S.  C. 
Ashmore,  William  Millar,  Ambrose  Edwards  and  Isaac  Flenner  make  a 
specialty  of  Short  Horns.  R.  L.  Reat,  of  Herefords  and  Jerseys,  and  R.  S. 
Hodgen,  of  Jerseys. 

Shepard  &,  Alexander  are  known,  not.  only  over  the  State  of  Illinois,  but 
throughout  the  entire  country,  for  their  fine  breed  of  Poland-China  hogs. 
Their  fine  specimens  of  this  famous  stock  of  hogs  have  been  exhibited  at  Chi- 
cago, St.  Louis,  Indiana  State  Fair,  Illinois  State  Fair,  Kansas  State  Fair, 
and  all  the  surrounding  county  fairs,  where  they  have  been  invariably  awarded 
the  highest  prizes.  But  we  shall  refer  more  particularly  to  this  snbject  in  the 
history  of  Charleston  Township. 

In  conclusion  of  the  history  of  the  Agricultural  Society  and  the  fine 
stock  of  the  county,  we  deem  it  of  some  general  interest  to  the  reader,  to 
append  the  following  abstract  from  the  Assessor's  returns  for  1878,  as  showing 
the  amount  of  stock,  its  value,  together  with  other  property,  and  the  grain 
produced  for  the  past  year : 

Assessed  valuation. 
Horses,  number  of  head 10,402         $    208  628 

Cattle,         "           "         15,973  143,875 

Mules  and  asses,  number  of  he:id ],393  80,975 

Sheep,  number  of  head 6,971  5,948 

Hogs,         "           "         35,176  39,746 

Steam  engines 20  6,010 

Fire-proof  safes 50  1,353 

Carriages  and  wagons 3,664  48,067 

Watches  and  clocks 3,552  7,754 

Sewing  machines 1,575  14,854 

Piano-fortes 179  8,366 

Melodeons  and  organs 167  4  579 

Improved  lands 268,863  3,333,290 

Unimproved  lands 49,491  249,074 

Improved  town  and  city  lots 2,46  5  769,909 

Unimproved  town  and  city  lots 3,384  76,325 

Total  value  of  assessed  property  in  the  county* §5,642,818 

No.  of  acres  of  wheat  in  1878 19,500 

No.  of  acres  of  corn  in   1878 100, P16 

No.  of  acres  of  oats  in  1878  10,075 

No.  of  acres  of  meadow  in  1878 24,549 

No.  of  acres  of  other  field  products 6,300 

No.  of  acres  of  inclosed  pasture 97,408 

No.  of  acres  of  orchard 6,708 

No.  of  acres  of  wood-land 53,200 

THE    COUNTY    FARM. 

"The  poor  ye  have  with  you  alway."  Originally,  the  mode  of  taking 
care  of  the  poor  of  the  county,  was  through  an  officer  in  each  township  or  elec- 
tion precinct,  styled  "  Overseer  of  the  Poor,"  who  looked  after  the  welfare  of  the 

♦Several  items  of  taxable  property  not  given  in  the  above  table. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  269 

poor  and  needy,  supplied  their  wants  and,  at  a  regular  meeting,  brought  his 
bill  before  the  County  Board.  But  this  system  was  found  to  be  rather  expen- 
sive, the  county,  it  is  said,  having  paid  out  as  much  as  |12,000in  a  single  year 
for  the  benefit  of  its  poor.  So  this  mode  was  changed  to  a  county  farm.  Some 
time  during  the  war  the  county  purchased  a  small  tract  of  land  in  Pleasant 
Grove  Township,  but  becoming  dissatisfied  with  this,  from  some  cause  or  other, 
probably  its  location  at  the  very  edge  of  the  county,  it  was  sold  in  1865,  and 
forty  acres  bought  in  La  Fayette  Township.  After  using  this  a  few  years  in 
the  capacity  of  a  county  farm,  it  was  sold  and  258  acres  purchased  in  1870,  in 
Ashmore  Township.  Upon  this  farm  substantial  buildings  have  been  erected, 
and  all  necessaries  and  conveniences  prepared  for  taking  care  of  the  poor  com- 
fortably. The  main  building  is  a  substantial  two-story  brick,  and  will  accom- 
modate about  sixty  persons.  This  farm,  at  the  time  of  its  purchase  by  the 
county,  was  well  improved,  having  a  comfortable  frame  residence,  barns  and  all 
necessary  outbuildings,  so  that  the  only  additional  expense  to  the  purchase  of 
the  land  was  the  erection  of  the  brick  building  above  referred  to.  Upon  a 
written  request  to  the  Superintendent  of  the  farm,  Joshua  Ricketts,  Esq.,  we 
received  the  following,  which  we  give  in  full,  as  it  contains  much  of  general 
interest,  as  well  as  some  valuable  hints  :  "  The  number  at  present  in  our  County 
Poorhouse  is  thirty-three.  This  is  about  the  average  for  the  year.  There  are 
twenty-one  females  and  twelve  males.  Four  of  the  inmates  are  over  eighty 
years  of  age ;  two  of  them  are  white  and  two  black.  One  of  these  blacks  is 
supposed  to  be  at  least  100  years  old.  The  blacks  are  both  females,  and  were 
slaves  until  freed  by  the  emancipation  proclamation  of  President  Lincoln.  Old 
John  Golliday,  well  known  to  many  of  the  citizens  of  the  county,  having  been 
a  resident  for  over  forty  years,  was  once  the  lawful  owner  of  400  acres  of  good 
land  in  Morgan  Township,  but  by  not  doing  right,  he  lost  it  all,  and  now  has  to 
betaken  care  of  at  the  expense  of  the  public.  I  am  convinced  that  fully  nine- 
tenths  of  all  pauperism  in  this  county  may  be  traced  either  directly  or  indi- 
rectly to  the  use  of  intoxicating  drinks.  Not  that  there  were  that  number  who 
were  drunkards,  but  the  sin  of  others  has,  in  many  cases,  visited  the  children 
to  the  third  and  fourth  generations.  It  is  but  a  few  days  since  a  poor,  degraded 
creatare  left  the  house  to  return  to  his  old  haunts,  where  he  can  again  wallow 
in  the  ditch,  steeped  in  the  fire  of  the  still.  This  same  man  said  that  he  felt 
as  if  could  drink  fully  three  inches  of  whisky,  so  anxious  was  he  to  get  back 
to  his  old  rum-holes.  I  am  thoroughly  satisfied  that  there  would  be  no  real  neces- 
sity for  poorhouses  if  intoxicating  liquors  were  banished  from  the  land. 

"  As  to  the  mode  of  conducting  the  house,  we  have  a  set  of  rules  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  inmates,  which  are  hung  up  in  the  house  so  that  all  can  know  what 
is  required  of  them.  The  Supervisors  of  the  various  townships  are  ex-officio 
Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  their  respective  townships,  and  by  their  order  the  Su- 
perintendent receives  and  takes  under  his  care  those  who  are  dependent  and  help- 
less.    The  county  owns  some  two  hundred  and  fifty-eight  acres  of  land,  about 


270  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

two  hundred  acres  of  which  is  plow  and  grass  land  :  the  remainder  is  principally 
timber-land.  On  the  farm  is  a  brick  building  38x58  feet,  two  stories  high,  apd 
a  kitchen  attached  to  the  main  building,  extending  some  28  feet  in  length  and 
16  in  width,  with  a  large  porch  facing  the  east.  There  is  also  a  very  comfortable 
dwelling  for  the  Superintendent  and  his  family  and  a  large  barn,  with  some 
smaller  buildings.  There  is  an  orchard  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  bear- 
ing trees,  consisting  of  apples,  peaches  and  cherries.  In  the  summer  time,  the 
paupers  are  employed  some  portion  of  the  time  in  cultivating  tobacco,  of  which 
weed  they  are,  as  a  rule,  very  fond." 

The  Superintendent  has  to  enter  into  a  contract  with  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors, and  give  a  heavy  bond,  obligating  himself  to  take  care  and  treat  kindly 
and  humanely  all  who  may  be  placed  under  his  care,  stipulating  the  kind  and 
variety  of  food  that  shall  be  furnished.  It  is  now  nine  years  since  the  county 
bought  the  farm  where  the  Poorhouse  is  now  located,  eight  miles  east  of  Charles- 
ton, immediately  on  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroad.  There  were  twen- 
ty-seven paupers  moved  from  the  old  house,  four  miles  west  of  Charleston,  to 
this  place,  October  25,  1870,  of  which  number  there  are  remaining  on  hand  at 
the  present  time  seven — two  men  and  five  women.  There  have  been  thirty-two 
deaths  at  the  house,  out  of  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  persons  who  have 
been  received  and  cared  for.  The  attending  physician  (A.  T,  Robertson),  says 
it  is  remarkable  what  cures  have  been  effected.  Most  of  those  who  have 
died  were  far  gone  when  received.  The  oldest  person  who  died  was  Mrs.  Anna 
Higgenbotham,  a  cousin  to  Gen.  Winfield  Scott. 

RAILROADS    OF    THE    COUNTY. 

To  obtain  an  accurate  idea  of  the  railroads  of  Coles  County,  one  must  go 
back  before  the  day  of  railroads  and  note  briefly  their  causes. 

The  first  railways  in  the  world  began  in  the  collieries  in  England,  and  were 
simple  tramways — wooden  rails — on  which  the  cars  were  hauled  by  mules.  As 
in  many  places  the  way  from  the  collieries  to  the  coal-yards  was  up  an  inclined 
plane,  the  cars  were  hauled  by  the  mules  up  the  plane,  and  allowed  to  return 
by  their  own  gravity.  "  By  little  and  by  little,"  as  Charles  Dickens  would  say, 
the  tracks  were  extended  to  the  shipping  points,  and,  finally,  to  the  chief 
markets.  Then  the  laborers  began  to  ride  to  and  from  their  daily  tasks ;  then 
others  rode ;  then  a  car  made  to  carry  only  laborers  and  those  desiring  to  ride 
was  placed  on  the  track  ;  steam  began  now^  and  then  to  be  recognized  as  an 
important  factor  among  the  immense  motive  powers  of  the  world,  and,  about 
1825,  George  Stephenson  invented  and  placed  in  successful  operation  an  engine 
that  drew  a  train  of  cars  over  a  wooden  railway,  protected  by  an  iron  covering, 
at  the  rate  of  twelve  miles  an  hour.  This  road  ran  from  one  town  to  another, 
over  vale  and  hill,  up-hill  and  down,  astonishing  the  incredulous  English,  who 
prophesied  only  dire  disaster  and  distress  would  attend  the  operating  of  such  a 
monster.     Soon  the  railways,  operated  by  steam,  and  carrying  a  train  of  cars 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  271 

that  "annihilated  both  time  and  space,"  were  coming  rapidly  into  use  in  the 
mother  country.  The  American  nation,  not  to  be  outdone,  had  caught  the  con- 
tagion, and,  in  1830,  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad  commenced  active  opera- 
tions to  open  a  similar  line,  extending  westward  from  that  city.  In  1826,  a 
tramway  was  built  from  Quincy,  Mass.,  the  home  of  the  Adams  family,  to  the 
granite  quarries,  a  few  miles  away — the  pioneer  railroad  in  America.  On  this 
primitive  affair  only  mules  or  horses  were  used,  and  it  was  never  put  to  any 
other  purpose  than  the  hauling  of  granite  from  the  quarries. 

From  1830  to  1835,  railroads  in  the  East  received  a  considerable  impulse. 
Improvements  of  all  kinds  were  being  made,  a  speed  of  twenty  and  thirty 
miles  an  hour  was  attained,  and  the  benefits  of  their  construction  and  use  were 
becoming  more  apparent. 

About  this  time,  it  began  to  occur  to  the  denizens  of  the  Prairie  State  that 
their  domain  was  the  best  place  in  all  the  world  for  such  enterprises.  "  For," 
argued  they,  "  have  we  not  a  rich,  productive  soil,  an  even  country,  requiring 
but  little  preparation,  and  needing  no  expensive  grading,  filling  or  costly 
bridges.  Does  not  our  land  bring  forth  plenty,  and,  if  we  had  proper  means 
for  transporting  our  products  away  and  bringing  money  and  settlers  back  to  us. 
what  a  country  we  would  be  !  " 

A  desire  always  finds  a  favorable  argument  and  some  way  to  accomplish  its  ends. 

True,  there  was  no  money  to  build  such  works,  and  Pennsylvania  and  other 
Eastern  States  which  had  entered  on  such  schemes  had  invariably  been  the  losers; 
for  "  rings  "  would  form  and  steal  what  they  could  not  get  honestly.  Yet  Illinois 
soon  found  a  way,  and  the  attempt  was  made.  In  his  message  to  the  General  As- 
sembly, at  the  session  of  1885,  Gov.  Joseph  Duncan  urged  the  Legislature,  now 
ripe  for  action,  to  the  furtherance  of  schemes  that  were  so  brilliant  in  their  pros- 
pects. That  body  responded  by  such  subsidies  and  grants  to  internal  improvements 
as  to  astonish  even  the  sanguine  Governor  himself.  Before  they  stopped,  so 
infatuated  were  they  with  the  glorious  future  so  enchantingly  spread  out  before 
them,  they  had  entailed  a  debt  of  more  than  $14,000,000,  all  confidently 
expected  to  be  paid  by  the  improvements  themselves  and  by  the  consequent 
increase  in  property. 

The  Utopian  scheme  dazzled  the  eyes  of  the  Governor,  the  Legislature  and 
the  people.  They  saw  nothing  but  the  most  prosperous  times  ahead,  and  began 
at  once  a  system  of  financiering  that  in  the  end  well  nigh  impoverished  the 
State.  Gold  and  silver,  the  money  of  the  world  from  its  infancy,  could,  of 
course,  not  be  had  for  the  fulfillment  of  the  plans,  and  a  system  of  bonds  was 
instituted,  based  on  the  faith  of  the  State,  redeemable  in  a  series  of  years,  and 
payable  in  coin  in  the  banks  in  New  York.  It  was  confidently  predicted  that 
the  bonds  would  not  only  sell  at  par,  but  would  command  a  premium.  Thoy 
were  to  be  paid  from  the  proceeds  of  the  canal  and  railroads,  and  were  adver- 
tised as  the  best  securities  to  be  had.  The  first  installment  went  off  easily ;  but 
human  greed  began  to  exhibit  itself,  and  "  rings  "  were  formed,  and,  before  any 


272  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

one  was  aware,  the  bonds  of  Illinois,  Indiana  and  Ohio — for  tliese  States  were 
in  the  meshes  of  the  same  visionary  scheme — began  to  decline.  When  work 
began  on  the  Illinois  and  iNIichigan  Canal,  on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  and 
a  few  other  such  enterprises,  laborers  flocked  to  the  State,  prices  of  everything 
advanced,  and  the  day  of  prosperity  so  confidently  predicted  in  the  early  stages 
of  the  "  plan,"  seemed  now  at  hand.  The  men  of  the  day,  blinded  by  the  ap- 
parent success  of  the  scheme,  like  men  of  this  day,  seemed  to  overlook 
the  fact  that  every  article  of  trade,  whether  food,  labor  or  merchandise,  ad- 
vanced with  the  influx  of  currency  issued  by  the  State  banks,  brought  into  life 
by  the  scheme,  and  that  in  this  respect  things  were  no  cheaper  than  before. 
Now,  at  first  $1  would  buy  but  little  less  than  before.  Soon  it  took  $2  to  buy 
what  $1  would  before,  and  so  on,  till,  when  the  system  collapsed,  $100  of  State 
money  would  buy  only  as  much  as  $16  in  gold. 

The  projected  works  were  simply  marvelous  in  extent.  Almost  every  county 
in  Illinois  was  to  have  a  railroad,  and  in  those  where  none  were  projected, 
$200,000  was  to  be  distributed.  Work  was  to  begin  at  both  ends  of  the  rail- 
roads and  the  canal,  and  in  any  other  places  where  heavy  grades  were  encountered. 
Among  the  projected  routes  was  one  from  Cairo  to  the  northern  limit  of  the 
State,  especially  to  meet  the  southern  end  of  the  canal,  this  was  to  run  through 
or  near  Coles  County.  Another  was  projected  from  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  west- 
ward to  Alton,  111.  It  was  stipulated  by  the  "  Alton  interest,"  as  that  faction 
was  known  in  the  Senate,  that  no  road  should  terminate  at  St.  Louis.  That 
city  was  a  rival  to  Alton,  which  confidently  expected  to  overtake  and  pass  her 
opulent  neighbor,  and,  in  time,  completely  overshadow  her.  Hence,  no  favors 
were  to  be  shown  the  foreign  rival.  She  must  be  put  down  some  way,  and 
that  way  could  be  aided  by  refusing  all  means  of  ingress  and  egress, 
save  through  Alton.  For  this  reason,  the  road  from  Terre  Haute  westward, 
must  stop  at  Alton,  and  all  business  coming  from  the  East  must  center  there. 
That  the  railroad  was  to  be  built  no  one  for  a  moment  doubted.  It  was  to  be 
known  as  the  Terre  Haute  &  Alton  Railroad,  and  contracts  for  its  construction 
were  let  early  in  the  life  of  the  Internal  Improvement  system.  Work  began  at 
both  ends  and  progressed  centerward.  Grading  and  filling  was  done  at  each  ex- 
tremity, the  route  determined  on,  and  for  a  short  time  progressed  favorably.  As 
the  bonds  of  the  State  declined  in  value,  and  its  currency  fell  in  a  like  ratio, 
the  demands  of  the  laborer,  unskilled  in  finance,  and  caring  only  for  their  pay, 
became  more  and  more  exorbitant,  and  when  the  failure  of  the  system  came, 
they  abruptly  abandoned  the  State,  with  all  manner  of  maledictions  cast  upon  it. 
The  work  on  the  railroad  did  not  reach  Coles  County.  That  on  the  Illinois 
Central  suff"ered  a  similar  fate,  and  no  signs  of  railroads  appeared  here,  save  in 
the  surveyor's  lines  and  stakes,  and  in  the  losses  some  of  its  people  suffered 
from  the  collapse,  and  return  to  a  specie  basis. 

The  hard  times  that  followed  have  almost  an  unequaled  history.  The 
decline  in  fictitious  values,  the  distress   of  many  people  who  had  caught  the 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY,  273 

contagion  of  suddenly  growing  rich  without  giving  an  equivalent  for  the  pros- 
perity, the  fall  of  real  estate,  the  high  price  of  produce,  and,  more  than  all, 
the  dread  of  emigrants,  who  feared  to  link  their  lives  with  a  commonwealth 
whose  taxes  for  the  future  seemed  unbearable,  gave  the  State  a  reputation  any- 
thing but  agreeable. 

It  was  young,  however,  full  of  resources,  and  confident  in  its  powers. 
Able  men  took  the  helm  ;  a  series  of  redeemable,  long-time  bonds  was  issued, 
the  canal,  through  additional  loans,  w^as  completed ;  and  by  the  time  the  Mexican 
war  began  to  agitate  the  minds  of  the  American  people  the  bonds  of  Illinois  had 
risen,  first  to  forty,  then  fifty,  then  seventy,  and  now  to  ninety  cents  on  the 
dollar.  To  its  everlasting  credit  it  must  be  recorded,  all  were  paid  ;  and  to-day 
the  debt  of  the  State  is  only  a  nominal  sum,  which  could  be  paid  at  any  time. 
Whatever  may  be  said  of  the  system  of  Internal  Improvements,  it  must  be 
recorded  that  the  people  learned  a  lesson,  dearly,  too,  that  it  does  not  pay 
municipalities  to  assume  the  construction  of  such  works,  and  that  it  is  always 
disastrous  to  entail  a  debt  in  expectation  of  future  greatness  and  ability  to  dis- 
charge it.  Where  such  a  course  succeeds  once,  it  will  fail  a  hundred  times  ; 
and  even  if  succeeding,  it  is  only  by  unnatural  methods. 

The  reverse  of  the  system  was  so  great  that  no  attempts  were  made  to  com- 
plete any  of  the  unfinished  roads  for  over  twelve  years.  Of  all  the  grand 
system  of  internal  railroads  in  Illinois,  but  one,  the  Northern  Cross  Railroad, 
was  the  only  one  that  reached  practical  results.  Of  that,  in  the  spring  of 
1837,  some  eight  miles  were  built,  and,  on  November  8,  the  first  locomotive 
that  ever  turned  a  wheel  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  was  placed  and  made  a  trial- 
trip,  running  out  and  back  on  the  eight  miles  of  the  old  flat  bar  track.  The  road 
was  finished  on  to  Jacksonville,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1842,  to  Springfield,  where 
it  terminated.  The  little  locomotive,  minus  a  spark-arrester  and  cow-catcher, 
was  a  terror  to  cattle  and  buildings,  throwing  the  one  ruthlessly  from  the  track, 
and  burning  the  other  with  its  sparks.  It  was,  after  running  a  year  or  so,  run 
oif  the  track  by  a  drunken  engineer,  and  sold  to  Gen.  Semples,  of  Alton,  who 
nearly  bankrupted  himself  in  a  fruitless  endeavor  to  make  a  steam  road-wagon 
of  it.  Mule-power  superseded  the  engine  on  this  road  until  about  1847,  when 
the  track  was  sold  (being  worn  out,  and  the  strap  rails  stolen  for  sled  shoes  by 
the  surrounding  populace)  to  a  company  of  capitalists,  for  |100,000,  one-tenth 
of  its  cost,  and  by  them  remodeled,  equipped,  completed  and  the  beginning  of  the 
present  Wabash  Railway  was  the  result. 

TERRE    HAUTE    &    ALTON    RAILROAD. 

In  1850,  the  next  railroad  was  made  in  Illinois.  By  February  of  that 
year,  the  Chicago  &  Galena  (now  Chicago  &  North-Western)*was  finished  as  far 
as  Elgin,  and  an  excursion-train  ran  between  the  two  cities.  A  great  revival 
in  railroad  interests  sprang  up.  Among  those  sharing  in  the  awakening  was  the 
old  Terre  Haute  &  Alton  Road,  which  a  second  time  comes  into  the  narrative. 


274  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

Work  began  under  a  new  corporation  in  1851.  The  old  route  was  deter- 
mined on,  as  much  of  it  at  either  end  could  yet  be  used.  As  has  been  stated, 
no  grading  had  been  done  in  Coles  County.  The  Illinois  Central,  whose  early 
history  is  analagous  to  that  of  the  Terre  Haute  &  Alton,  was  surveyed  while 
work  was  being  done  on  the  latter  road,  and  an  agreement  made  between  the 
two  roads  stipulated  that  whichever  got  to  the  place  of  contact  last  should 
bear  the  expense  of  crossing.  Work  went  vigorously  on  through  1853,  1854 
and  1855,  and,  in  order  to  accomplish  the  feat,  the  Terre  Haute  &  Alton  Road 
hastily  graded  their  route  and  reached  Mattoon  first.  This  was  accomplished 
in  the  winter  of  1855.  As  fast  as  either  end  of  the  roads  was  completed,  cars 
were  put  on,  the  intervening  links  being  traversed  by  stages  which  carried  pas- 
sengers who  desired  to  travel  in  the  then  incomplete  condition  of  the  roads. 
This  road  completed  its  bed  and  ran  a  train  of  cars  through  from  Terre  Haute 
to  Alton  a  little  before  the  holidays  in  the  winter  of  1855-56.  The  gradino- 
was  very  incomplete,  many  places  the  engine  being  unable  to  pull  but  few  cars 
at  a  time.  When  "stuck,"  as  the  natives  called  it,  fence-rails  were  used  as  an 
assistant  motive  power,  or  neighboring  horses  or  oxen  borrowed  to  help  haul 
the  engine  over  the  incline. 

About  the  time  of  the  building  of  this  and  the  Central  road,  a  policy 
arose  on  the  part  of  the  residents  of  Central  Illinois  known  as  the  "  State's 
Policy."  It  more  particularly  affected  those  on  the  line  of  the  Terre  Haute  & 
Alton  Road,  whose  terminus  was  Alton,  which  by  the  people  of  that  city,  always 
a  rival  of  its  great  foreign  neighbor,  was  considered  as  one  of  the  public  cor- 
porations that  would  in  time  enable  her  to  become  what  she  sought  to  be — 
the  emporium  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  This  policy  party  sprung  suddenly 
into  existence  when  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi,  and  the  Vandalia — then  known  as 
the  Brough  Road — attempted  to  get  charters.  They  must  not  center  at  a 
point  opposite  St.  Louis  ;  they  must  come  to  Alton  or  not  be  built.  No  track 
was  allowed  to  be  laid  from  Alton  to  the  river  on  this  side  of  St.  Louis, 
and  for  two  years  this  "policy"  threatened  the  serious  failure  of  these  two 
corporations.  It  was  extremely  narrow,  selfish  and  bigoted,  and  was  handled 
without  gloves  by  the  foreign  press  and  by  the  people  on  the  line  of  these  two 
roads  striving  to  get  a  crossing  in  Illinois.  Xot  until  1852-53,  did  the  party 
lose  its  power  in  the  State  Legislature,  and  not  till  a  new  body  was  elected  from 
the  people,  who,  by  this  time  began  to  see  its  narrowing  effects,  were  the 
desired  charters  allowed. 

Senators  Douglas  and  Young  wrote  letters  to  prominent  men  in  Illinois 
urging  them  to  abandon  the  idea,  and  pointing  out  to  them  the  fact  that  the 
grant  to  the  Central  Railroad  could  not  have  been  obtained,  had  such  a  "pol- 
icy" been  known  to  exist. 

Owing  to  this  feeling,  mainlj^,  the  Terre  Haute  &  Alton  Road  was  built 
from  the  city  on  the  Wabash  to  her  aspiring  neighbor  on  the  Father  of  Waters; 
and,  owing  to  this  same  polic}''  lurking  then  in  the  minds  of  the  citizens  of  that 


■sSfe., 


M& 


■w    %'''f'f''M 


-i-^-f^-^'-  ^r.a)^i:_ 


ci-T/— >"Z>/^ 


(DECEASED) 
PLEASANT    GROVE 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  277 

place,  was  the  road  for  a  number  of  years  compelled  to  transfer  its  freight  and 
passengers  to  boats,  and  float  them  to  the  mighty  emporium  on  the  western 
bank  of  the  same  mighty  stream.  It  was  finally  overcome,  however.  A  track 
was  built  to  the  east  side  of  the  river,  opposite  St.  Louis,  where,  until  the  erec- 
tion of  the  present  grand  bridge,  the  ferry-boat  transferred  them  over  the  river. 

With  the  change  of  terminus,  a  change  of  name  occurred,  and  when  the 
connection  was  eftected  with  the  road  leading  eastward  to  the  capital  of  Indiana, 
the  name  assumed  its  present  form. 

Now  it  connects  with  the  "  Bee  Line,"  eastward,  and  forms  a  continuous 
route  from  the  cities  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  to  those  on  the  Atlantic  seaboard. 

Mr.  E.  B.  McClure,  the  General  Superintendent,  is  a  citizen  of  Coles 
County,  residing  at  Mattoon.  Here  is  what  what  may  be  termed  the  "  Half- 
way House,"  and  here  are  some  of  the  principal  offices.  The  car-shops  of  this 
Company  were  removed  from  Litchfield,  in  1870,  and  erected  on  a  lot  of  ground 
donated  by  the  residents  of  the  northeast  part  of  town,  where  they  are  placed. 
They  were  secured  through  a  donation  of  |60,000  on  the  part  of  Mattoon,  in 
whose  history  a  full  account  of  them  may  be  found. 

THE    ILLINOIS    CENTRAL    RAILROAD. 

Like  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis,  the  Illinois  Central  had  its  rise  in  the 
Internal  Improvement  system  of  1835,  and,  like  that  road,  went  down  in  the 
collapse  of  the  system  in  1840.  Some  work  was  done  on  the  road  during  this 
period,  chiefly  at  the  northern  end — its  connection  with  the  canal.  It  was 
intended  to  connect  the  canal  and  the  junction  of  the  rivers  at  Cairo  by  means 
of  this  road ;  and  from  published  statements  of  the  late  Judge  Sidney  Breese 
and  letters  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  we  learn  the  idea  originated  as  early  as 
1835,  the  commencement  of  the  system  referred  to. 

The  revival  of  railroads  and  the  consequent  improvement  in  property 
received  a  great  impulse  in  Congress  by  the  grant  of  3,000,000  acres  of 
land  to  the  State  of  Illinois  for  the  construction  of  the  Central  road.  A  more 
munificent  grant  of  land  could  hardly  be  imagined  at  that  date,  and  to  the 
Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress  of  that  session  is  the  grant  due. 
The  provisions  of  the  grant  were  that  the  road  was  to  be  completed  in  ten 
years.  In  case  of  failure,  the  unsold  lands  were  to  revert  to  the  General  Gov- 
ernment, and  for  those  sold  the  State  was  to  pay  the  Government  price.  The. 
belt  of  land  was  to  include  each  alternate  section  for  a  width  of  twelve  sections, 
the  odd-numbered  sections  to  be  the  property  of  the  railroad,  the  even-num- 
bered ones  to  be  the  property  of  the  Government,  and  to  be  sold  at  not  less 
than  double  the  ordinary  price  (|1.25  per  acre),  i.  e.,  $2.50  per  acre. 

The  lands  in  this  belt  not  already  sold  were  to  be  withdrawn  from  market 
and  to  remain  so  until  the  location  of  the  road  was  permanently  decided  upon. 
The  State  found  itself  in  possession  of  the  grant  of  land  at  the  session  of  1850, 
and  1851,  and  as  the  act  of  Congress  had  passed  the  September  previous,  the 


278  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

intervening  time  had  been  assiduously  taken  up  by  the  press  and  stump  of  the 
State  in  advocating  and  discussing  plans  for  carrying  out  the  project.  It  may 
be  remarked  here  that  every  plan  brought  forward  was  secretly  fed  by  private 
interests  as  much  or  more  than  by  public  good.  Each  town  on  any  line  from 
Cairo  to  La  Salle  knew  it  was  destined  to  be  the  one  the  road  should  pass 
through.  The  session  of  the  State  Legislature  was  harassed  by  various  monop- 
olists, who  saw  in  the  brilliant  prospects  an  easy  way  to  secure  wealth,  and  who, 
for  a  time,  seriously  crippled  the  enterprise.  Many  persons  were  strongly  in 
favor  of  the  State  engaging  in  the  work  as  it  had  done  twelve  years  before,  and 
advocated  the  payment  of  the  State  indebtedness  by  means  of  the  sale  of  the 
lands  and  profits  from  the  lands. 

The  maxim  that  "  A  burnt  child  dreads  the  fire"  was  exemplified  here. 
The  State  did  not  care  to  repeat  the  experiment  it  had  so  disastrously  attempted 
a  few  years  before;  especially  so  when  an  unexpected  solution  of  the  problem 
of  how  to  best  build  the  road  presented  itself. 

Robert  Schuyler,  Geoi'ge  Griswold,  Gouverneur  Morris,  Jonathan  Sturgis, 
George  W.  Ludlow  and  John  F.  A.  Sanford,  of  New  York  City,  and  David  A. 
Neal,  Franklin  Haven  and  Robert  Rantoul,  Jr.,  of  Boston,  came  before  the 
Legislature,  represented  by  one  of  their  number,  and  offered,  if  the  State  would 
give  them  the  grant  of  land,  they  would  build  and  equip  the  road,  and  have  it 
in  running  order  by  the  year  1854  ;  that  by  the  4th  day  of  July,  in  that  year, 
the  road  would  be  completed.  There  was  a  speedy,  unlocked  for  solution  of  the 
whole  question.  A  company  of  capitalists  step  forward,  propose  to  complete  and 
equip  the  road  in  a  given  length  of  time,  much  shorter  than  the  State  could 
hope  to — to,  in  fact,  relieve  them  of  all  care  in  the  matter,  and,  when  done,  to 
pay  annually  into  the  treasury  7  per  cent  of  all  its  gross  earning  in  lieu  of  all 
taxes.  State  and  municipal.  It  is  said,  in  their  eagerness  to  obtain  the  road, 
the  capitalists  would  have  bound  themselves  to  pay  10  per  cent  as  readily  as  7  ; 
but  that  that  was  engineered  through  the  Assembly  by  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Illinois,  who  was  secured  for  this  purpose  by  the  company.  After  a  little  delay 
in  getting  the  Commissioner  of  the  Land  Office,  at  Washington,  to  convey  the 
land  to  the  company,  work  was  begun.  At  the  outset,  much  strife  was  engen 
dered  over  the  route  the  road  should  take,  several  towns  vying  with  each  other 
in  their  efforts  to  obtain  not  only  the  road  through  their  midst,  but  the  com- 
mencement of  the  branch  to  Chicago.  The  question  was  finally  decided  by  the 
State  selecting  a  route  as  direct  as  possible,  through  a  region  containing  as 
much  unsold  land  as  possible,  thereby  gaining  all  the  land  she  could.  The 
main  line  ran  from  Cairo  north  to  Central  City,  where  the  Chicago  branch 
diverged  in  the  direction  of  that  city,  taking  in  its  route  Coles  County.  The 
main  stem  continued  north  through  Decatur,  Bloomington,  La  Salle,  Avhere  it 
encountered  the  soutliern  end  of  the  canal,  and  on  northward,  ending  at  Galena. 
Thus,  by  rare  sagacity,  a  company  of  capitalists  found  themselves  in  possession 
of  a  magnificent   railway,  built  from   the  proceeds  of  bonds   issued  by   them 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  279 

secured  by  the  lands,  without  the  outlay  of  a  dollar  of  their  own  money.  They 
set  aside  a  certain  part  of  the  lands,  the  proceeds  of  which  were  to  be  applied 
to  the  interest  on  the  bonds.  The  prices  realized  for  all  these  lands  ranged 
from  |5  to  |55  per  acre,  and  as  the  road  opened,  an  immense  region  of  hitherto 
unproductive  lands,  the  sales  on  the  part  of  both  the  road  and  the  Government 
were  simply  enormous.  The  Government  was  the  real  gainer,  for  much  of  the 
lands  had  been  in  the  market  over  thirty  years  and  had  not  found  a  purchaser. 
Now,  the  railway  promised  a  speedy  outlet  for  farm  produce  ;  towns  and 
villages  sprung  into  existence  with  Western-like  prodigality,  and  before  a  decade 
of  years  had  passed,  the  enterprise  had  yielded  a  hundred-fold.  It  was  the 
first  subsidy  granted  any  railroad  by  the  Government — a  practice  which,  we  are 
prone  to  say,  has,  in  a  measure,  been  somewhat  abused. 

The  Illinois  Central  Road  was  completed  and  in  full  running  order  by  the 
winter  of  1856,  a  year  and  a  half  from  the  time  the  memorialists  agreed  to 
make  it,  they  having  been  delayed  in  getting  the  grant  of  land  properly  deeded 
to  them  by  the  Commissioner  of  the  Land  Office  at  Washington.  Construction- 
trains  were  running  that  winter,  and  on  January  1,  1856,  says  Mr.  Frank  Alli- 
son, of  Mattoon,  a  passenger-train  made  the  first  run  from  Chicago  to  Cairo. 

This  railway  is  one  of  the  longest  in  the  West,  and  from  the  7  per  cent  of 
its  earnings  a  revenue  accrues  to  the  State  amounting  now  to  over  a  half-million 
dollars  annually.  This,  the  Company  has  at  various  times  endeavored  to  reduce 
or  change ;  but  the  people  have  set  their  faces  against  it,  and,  not  long  since, 
have  placed  it  beyond  the  reach  of  the  Legislature,  by  a  constitutional  amend- 
ment to  the  organic  law  of  the  State. 

OTHER    RAILROADS. 

In  addition  to  the  two  extensive  lines  of  railway  crossing  the  county,  three 
others  have  been  added  since  the  war ;  none,  however,  so  great  or  having  such 
history  as  their  predecessors. 

The  close  of  the  late  rebellion  threw  upon  the  country  a  large  force  of 
unemployed  men,  and  a  vast  amount  of  capital.  This  latter  was  used  in  open- 
ing new  enterprises,  and,  as  the  States  had  learned  to  let  such  affairs  alone,  men 
with  tact  and  energy  stood  ready  to  enter  upon  them.  A  railroad  from  Mattoon 
to  Danville  ;  from  Mattoon  to  Gray  ville,  thence  to  Evansville ;  from  Charleston 
to  several  other  towns  in  the  State,  was  proposed,  while  roads  in  various  direc- 
tions across  the  county  were  projected.  Of  these  enterprises  we  will  mention 
none  save  the  successful  ones :  the  Grayville  &  Mattoon,  the  Decatur,  Mattoon 
&  Southern,  and  the  Illinois  Midland. 

The  Grayville  &  Mattoon  Railroad  began  to  be  talked  about  as  early  as 
1866.  One  effort  brought  on  another,  and  in  the  columns  of  the  Mattoon 
papers,  from  that  time  down  to  1872  and  1873,  large-headed  articles  appear 
every  week  or  so,  all  prophesying  great  results.  Townships  along  the  line  of 
the  proposed   road   gave  liberally  in  bonds  and  private  subscriptions,  as  those 


280  FilSTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

along  the  line  of  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  had  done,  and  a  speedy  comple- 
tion was  expected.  Only  twenty-eight  or  thirty  miles  of  grading  were  com- 
pleted, however,  and  that  in  Richland  County,  and  for  four  or  five  years  the 
road  lay  dormant.  In  1874,  a  new  company  was  formed,  and  by  two  years 
had  the  grading  completed  to  the  south  line  of  Coles  County.  Work  was  con- 
tinued on  up  through  the  county,  at  first  running  the  line  to  intersect  the 
Illinois  Central  about  a  mile  south  of  Mattoon.  The  grade  was  made  here ; 
but  afterward  changed,  and  brought  directly  into  the  town.  It  was  all  com- 
pleted and  the  track  laid  by  July  4,  1878,  and  on  that  day  a  grand  excursion, 
under  the  care  of  J.  H.  Herkimer,  the  Receiver,  was  inaugurated,  and  a  hila- 
rious day  made  along  the  route.  The  road  has  been  operating  since  then,  and 
has  had  a  good  local  trade,  the  freight  business  especially  being  quite  heavy. 
A.  short  time  ago,  Mr.  Herkimer  and  his  associate  officers  resigned,  from  various 
causes,  and  were  succeeded  by  E.  B.  Phillips,  Receiver;  M.  H.  Riddell,  Gen- 
eral Traveling  Agent ;  S.  C.  Anthony,  General  Clerk,  and  S.  M.  Henderson, 
Roadmaster.  This  road  received  $75,000  in  bonds  from  Mattoon  Township 
and  the  city  ;  from  the  former,  two-thirds,  and  from  the  latter,  one-third.  The 
vote  on  this  question  was  held  in  Mattoon,  Tuesday,  February  9,  1869 ;  444 
votes  were  cast  in  favor  of  the  tax,  and  7  against  it.  Whether  the  town  and 
township  are  justified  in  such  a  heavy  debt,  in  addition  to  several  others  of  a 
similar  character,  i.  e.,  the  $60,000  for  the  shops,  is  a  serious  question,  and  one 
which  conservative  citizens  are  inclined  to  doubt. 

The  Decatur,  Mattoon  &  Southern  Railroad  was  begun  in  1871,  and  com- 
pleted to  Hervey  City,  seven  miles  from  Decatur,  by  1873.  Here,  this  Com- 
pany was  allowed  a  joint  use  of  the  Illinois  Midland  Company's  ti-ack  to 
Decatur,  which  the  courts  afterward  decided  they  were  entitled  to,  and  which 
they  yet  use. 

January  16,  1874,  the  road  passed  into  a  Receiver's  hands,  and  the  name 
changed  to  the  present  one,  it  being  formerly  known  as  the  Decatur,  Sullivan 
&  Mattoon  Railroad.  Since  that  date,  the  Receiver  has  been  managing  it.  It 
is  run  in  connection  with  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Road,  and  is  under  the 
care  of  Mr.  E.  B.  McClure  as  Manager.  Mr.  W.  H.  Lewis  is  the  General 
Agent.  Both  these  gentlemen  reside  at  Mattoon,  and  are  connected  with  the 
Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Road. 

The  remaining  road,  the  Illinois  Midland  Railway,  runs  through  but  a  small 
part  of  Coles  County.  It  crosses  the  township  of  Oakland  from  east  to  west, 
passing  through  the  village.  The  road  runs  from  Terre  Ha.ute  to  Peoria,  and 
is  in  three  divisions,  which  originally  were  separate  roads  ;  Avhen  consolidated, 
the  present  name  was  adopted.  The  part  running  through  Coles  County  was 
built  from  Decatur  to  Paris,  under  the  name  of  the  Paris  &  Decatur  Railroad. 
It  was  completed  in  1871,  and,  for  a  time,  used  the  track  of  the  Indianapolis  & 
St.  Louis  Road  from  Paris  to  Terre  Haute.  When  the  Paris  &  Terre  Haute 
Road  was  completed,  in  1875,  it  formed  a  junction  with  that  road,  and,  soon 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  281 

after,  consolidated  with  it.  Only  about  six  miles  of  this  railroad  passes  through 
Coles  County,  and  that  in  the  extreme  northeast  part,  in  Oakland  Township,  in 
whose  history  it  is  more  fully  noticed. 

While  on  the  history  of  railroads,  it  might  not  be  amiss  to  say  something 
about  telegraphs.  They  were,  in  their  infancy,  regarded  as  somewhat  super- 
natural, as  all  things  are  apt  to  be  when  we  cannot  understand  them ;  and,  when 
a  line  was  brought  through  Coles  County  in  advance  of  the  railway,  it  is  related 
that  it  was  not  uncommon  for  some  of  the  worthy  citizens  to  hourly  gaze  upon  it  to 
see  the  news  flash  along.  Their  desires  were,  however,  not  gratified.  They 
couldn't  see  the  news  ;  but  they  thought  they  could  hear  it,  especially  when 
they  stood  near  a  post  and  heard  the  ring  caused  by  the  vibration  of  the  wires, 
with  the  air  passing  over  them.  The  supposition  lasted  very  satisfactorily  until 
they  found  out  better,  and  was  as  harmless  as  deceptive. 

The  first  operator  in  town  was  Fred  Tubbs,  and  was  succeeded  by  W.  W. 
Craddock.  They  were  here  in  1850,  at  the  time  the  railways  of  the  State 
began  their  second  era  of  construction,  and  have  since  been  prominently  known 
in  the  county.  Other  lines  were  added  to  the  one  running  east  and  west  across 
tiie  county,  as  the  railways  were  bujlt  and  the  utility  of  such  inventions  became 
apparent.  Now,  they  run  in  all  directions,  and  one  can  talk  with  another,  even 
though  a  continent  be  between  them.  Should  the  telephone  supersede  the  tel- 
egraph, as  it  bids  fair  to  do,  those  of  the  future  will  see  a  result  almost  beyond 
our  conception.  political  and  Wak  record. 

In  the  days  of  Whigs  and  Democrats,  Coles  was  a  Whig  county  by  several 
hundred  majority,  in  contests  where  party  lines  were  closely  drawn.  Upon  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party,  a  change  came  over  the  color  of  its  poli- 
tics, and  for  a  number  of  years  it  was  Democratic;  but,  eventually,  the  Repub- 
licans gained  the  ascendency,  and  for  several  years  carried  the  day  in  all  impor- 
tant elections.  At  the  present  time,  the  political  question  is  toned  down  to  a 
point,  that  both  of  the  great  parties  claim  to  be  the  dark  horse.  At  the  last 
Presidential  election,  the  county  Avas  carried  by  the  Hayes  Electors  by  a  small 
majority.  In  the  local  elections  of  the  last  few  years,  the  spoils  have  been 
pretty  equally  divided  between  Democrats  and  Republicans.  The  present 
county  oificers  and  their  political  faith  are  thus  represented  :  Hon.  J.  R.  Cun- 
.  ningham,  County  Judge,  Democrat ;  J.  F.  Goar,  County  Treasurer,  Repub- 
lican ;  William  R.  Highland,  County  Clerk,  Democrat ;  W.  E.  Robinson, 
Circuit  Clerk,  Republican.  The  latter  was  elected  by  a  small  majority,  and 
his  election  contested  by  Mr.  Clarke,  his  Democratic  competitor  for  the  office. 
The  case  was  tried  in  the  County  Court,  and  occupied  the  spare  moments  of 
Judge  Adams,  of  that  august  tribunal,  from  December  until  the  June  follow- 
ing, when  it  was  decided  in  Robinson's  favor.  Clarke,  still  unsatisfied,  appealed 
to  the  Supreme  Court,  which  body  confirmed  the  decision  of  the  County  Court, 
and  thus  Mr.  Robinson's  title  to  the  office  was  settled.     The  other  county  offi- 


282  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

cers — J.  E.  Brooks,  Sheriff;  T.  J.  Lee,  Superintendent  of  Schools ;  and  John 
L.  Aubert,  County  Surveyor — are  Democrats.  Such  is  the  political  record  of 
the  county.  It  is  probable,  however,  that,  in  a  State  or  national  contest,  with 
a  full  vote  on  both  sides,  the  Republicans  would  carry  the  day. 

Coles  County's  war  history  is  written  in  characters  of  blood  upon   a   hun- 
dred battle-fields.      Citizens  of  Coles  have  figured  in  every  war,  from  the  Revo- 
lution  down   to  the  great  rebellion  that  shook  the  republic  to  its  very  founda- 
tion.    In  many  of  the  Indian  wars  of  the  times,  they  have  borne  an  honorable 
part.     Upon  the  records  of  the  County  Commissioner's  Court  of  1835,  we 
find   the   certificates   of  Elisha   Hadden,  John   Parker,  Joseph   Painter,  John 
Hart  and  Griffin  Tipsoward,  made  under  oath  to  the  Commissioners'  Court   for 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  pension  under  an  act  of  the  United  States  Congress 
passed  in  1832.     These  parties  made  oath  to  their  services  in  the  armies  of  the 
United  States  during  the  Revolutionary  war  and  the  Avars  with   the  Indians  of 
those  times.     Hadden  stated  on   his  oath  that   he  was  in  the  battle  of  King's 
Mountain,  in  North    Carolina,   "against  the   British   and  Tories;"  and  that, 
in  a  battle  soon   after  with  the  Cherokee   Indians,  he  was  wounded,  and   for 
three  months  lay  in  the  fort  helpless,  and  was  then  carried  home  to  North  Carolina 
on  a  litter.     Painter  testified  that  he  was  in  the  Revolutionary  battle  of  Eutaw 
Springs,  and  several  skirmishes  in  North  Carolina.      Hart,  that  he  entered  the 
service  of  the  United  States  in  1776,  and  served  under  Gen.  Clarke,  and  was 
in  several  battles  with   the  Indians.     Griffin   Tipsoward,  that  he  entered  the 
service  in  Virginia,   in  1775,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  was  discharged  by 
Gen.  Washington, 

In  the  war  of  1812,  many  of  the  pioneers  of  this  county  had  participated, 
as  elsewhere  noticed,  and  some  are  still  living  who  took  part  in  that  struggle 
with  Johnny  Bull.  In  the  Black  Hawk  war  of  1832,  an  entire  company  from 
Coles  County  (then  in  her  infancy)  responded  to  the  call  of  the  Governor  for 
troops.  Many  of  them  are  still  surviving.  The  officers  of  this  company 
were :  James  P.  Jones,  Captain ;  Thomas  Sconce,  Isaac  Lewis  and  James  Law, 
Lieutenants.  In  the  Mexican  war,  notwithstanding  it  was  considered  a  Demo- . 
cratic  issue  and  Coles  was  a  Whig  county,  a  full  company  was  raised  and  par- 
ticipated in  many  of  the  battles,  among  which  were  those  of  Vera  Cruz  and 
Cerro  Gordo.  The  officers  of  the  company  were :  W.  W.  Bishop,  Captain  ; 
J.  J.  Adams,  First  Lieutenant ;  H.  C.  Dunbar,  Second  Lieutenant,  and 
Charles  Jones,  Orderly  Sergeant.  Bishop  and  Adams  are  dead,  Dunbar  lives 
in  Texas,  and  several  of  the  rank  and  file  are  still  living  in  the  county. 

In  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  Coles  County  furnished  quite  a  little  army. 
The  Seventh  and  Eighth  Regiments  of  three-months  men,  each  drew  a  com- 
pany from  the  county ;  the  Seventh  a  company  from  Mattoon,  and  the  Eighth 
a  company  from  Charleston.  The  Twenty-first  (Grant's  old  regiment)  con- 
tained many  men  from  Coles,  as  well  as  the  Twenty-fifth,  Thirty-eighth,  Fifty- 
fourth,  Sixty-second  and  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Volunteers  and  the 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  288 

Fifth  Cavalry.  The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Regiment  contained 
seven  companies  that  were  called  Coles  County  companies.  In  a  history  like 
this,  however,  it  is  impossible  to  give  a  complete  and  correct  record  of  a 
county's  participation  in  the  late  war.  Space  will  not  permit.  Besides,  from 
the  records  that  have  been  kept,  it  is  not  an  easy  matter  to  obtain  the  names  of 
all  who  deserve  mention.  Therefore,  we  shall  make  no  attempt  to  particular- 
ize any  one,  but  will  add  that  the  record  of  Coles  County  soldiers  is  above 
reproach.  Their  deeds  are  engraved  upon  the  hearts  of  their  countrymen,  and 
their  reward  is  found  in  the  happy  reflection  that  the  old  flag  still  floats  over 
all  the  States.  And  for  those  who  laid  down  their  lives  to  maintain  the  Union, 
and  whose  lone  graves  are  fanned  by  Southern  winds,  we  know  of  no  better 
meed  to  their  bravery,  no  sweeter  tribute  to  their  memory,  than  the  beautiful 
lines  from  the  pen  of  Col.  Theodore  O'Hara,  of  Kentucky,  and  dedicated  to 
the  heroes  of  that  State  who  fell  in  the  Mexican  war,  when  their  bones  were 
collected  and  interred  in  the  State  Cemetery  at  Frankfort : 

"The  muffled  drum's  sad  roll  has  beat 

The  soldier's  last  tattoo  ! 
No  more  on  life's  parade  shall  meet 

That  brave  and  fallen  few  ; 
On  Fame's  eternal  camping-ground 

Their  silent  tents  are  spread, 
And  glorj  guards  with  solemn  round 

The  bivouac  of  the  dead !  " 

These  beautiful  lines,  written  for  the  Kentucky  dead  of  the  Mexican  war, 
have  been  adopted  by  Massachusetts  and  inscribed  upon  a  splendid  monument 
erected  to  her  dead  heroes  of  the  late  war.  They  are  a  touching  tribute  to  the 
soldier  who  lays  down  his  life  for  his  country  and  sleeps  the  eternal  sleep, 
never  more  to  heed  the  call  to  arms  until  the  last  reveille  shall  sound  from  the 
battlements  of  heaven.     Peace  to  their  ashes. 

MISCELLANEOUS    HISTORY. 

There  are  few  individuals,  and  perhaps  few  countries,  but  have  some  dark 
pages  in  their  histories.  To  err  is  human  nature,  and  to  say  that  the  people  of 
Coles  County,  or  certain  classes  of  them,  have  sometimes  erred  is  but  to  pro- 
claim them  human — not  divine.  The  murder  of  Nathan  Ellington  by  Adolph 
Monroe,  in  October,  1855,  was  a  horrible  affair,  and,  considering  all  the  circum- 
stances, pe(?uliarly  distressing.  Ellington  is  said  to  have  been  a  man  of 
most  excellent  character,  and  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  Mon- 
roe was  his  son-in-law.  He  was  a  young  man  of  commanding  appearance, 
fine  address,  and  had  once  stood  high  in  the  community,  but  had  fallen 
a  prey  to  intoxicating  drink.  A  family  feud  was  engendered,  and  one 
day,  in  an  altercation  with  his  father-in-law,  he  drew  «  revolver  and  shot 
him  dead.  For  this  crime  he  was  tried  by  a  jury  of  his  peers,  found 
guilty  of  murder  in  the  first  degree,  and  sentenced   to  be  hanged.     The   day 


284  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

of  execution  came,  and  though  in  midwinter  (the  14th  of  February,  1856;, 
and  the  ground  white  with  snow,  a  great  multitude  gathered  at  the  county's 
capital  to  witness  the  fulfillment  of  the  law.  The  heavens  were  dark, 
as  if  draped  in  the  "  gloom  of  earthquake  and  eclipse,"  and  the  elements  seemed 
poisoned  with  the  spirit  of  vengeance,  as  manifested  by  the  immense  crowd  which 
had  assembled,  not  only  from  this,  but  from  adjoining  counties.  In  the  mean 
time,  a  respite  of  thirty  days  was  granted  by  the  Governor  to  the  doomed  man. 
This  produced  a  terrible  commotion  in  the  multitude,  now  changed  into  a  howl- 
ing mob,  and  threw  it  into  the  most  insane  excitement.  It  swayed  back  and 
forth  from  the  Court  House  to  the  prisoner's  cell,  and  resolved  and  re-resolved. 
The  death  of  the  fated  man,  in  violation  of  law,  was  determined  upon.  His 
prison  was  assaulted  by  the  mob,  the  officers  of  the  law  intimidated  and  over- 
come, and  Monroe  taken  out  of  jail  by  ruthless  hands.  He  was  dragged  to  the 
valley  west  of  town  by  the  infuriated  people,  where  a  gallows  was  speedily 
erected,  the  doomed  wretch  lifted  into  a  wagon,  the  rope  adjusted,  his  limbs 
pinioned,  the  wagon  moved  from  under  him,  and,  without  shrift,  hurled  into 
eternity.  Monroe  said  to  one  man  at  the  gallows  :  "  I  die,  and  if  I  go  to  hell, 
you  will  go  to  the  same  place,  for  you  it  was  that  sold  me  the  whisky  that  has 
brought  me  to  this  terrible  fate."  What  a  haunting  memory  to  cling  to  one 
through  life  !  It  is  scarce  necessary  to  add  that  all  the  best  people  were 
universal  in  their  condemnation  of  the  dissrraceful  affair. 

Another  dark  page  in  the  history  of  Coles  'County  was  the  riot  which  took 
place  in  Charleston  during  the  stormy  scenes  occasioned  by  the  late  war,  and 
the  diversity  of  opinion  with  which  the  people  regarded  it.  It  is  a  fact  much 
to  be  regretted  that,  with  a  record  for  patriotism  second  to  no  county  in  the 
State  (as  reckoned  by  the  number  of  soldiers  furnished),  that  such  an  event 
should  have  occurred  to  tarnish  that  glorious  record.  Doubtless  both  parties, 
the  citizens  and  soldiers,  were  more  or  less  to  blame  for  the  collision  which  took 
place  between  them,  and  in  like  manner  responsible  for  the  melancholy  result. 
Of  all  the  wars  that  have  scourged  the  earth,  a  civil  war  is  the  most  deplorable. 
In  England's  war  of  the  roses,  we  have  an  illustration  of  the  direful  results  of 
such  a  strife,  and  in  our  own  internecine  war  we  equaled,  if  we  did  not  excel, 
the  rival  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster.  It  may  be  that  the  high-wrought  ex- 
citement of  the  times  presented  an  eligible  excuse  for  the  scene  enacted  in 
Charleston  on  the  29th  of  March,  1864,  between  the  same  people  (brothers  as 
it  were)  who  saw  the  cause  and  object  of  the  war  through  different  'glasses.  The 
death  of  several  persons  in  the  streets  of  Charleston  was  the  sad  consequence 
of  that  difference  of  opinion.  The  feelings  engendered  by  the  war,  which  cul- 
minated in  bloodshed,  have  long  since  toned  down,  and  the  participators  in  the 
deplorable  affair  (to  call  it  by  its  mildest  name)  doubtless  regret  the  part  they 
acted  in  it.  So,  in  no  spirit  of  censure  beyond  a  condemnation  of  mob  violence 
on  general  principles,  we  will  pass  from  the  subject,  flinging  over  the  sad  occur- 
rence the  spacious  robe  of  charity. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  285 

In  his  Centennial  Address,  Capt.  Adams  narrates  a  melancholy  occurrence 
in  the  township  of  Hickory,  at  or  near  Hickory  Grove.  In  the  winter 
of  1830-31,  which  is  characterized  in  the  history  of  Illinois  as  one  of 
unusual  severity,  three  men  froze  to  death  near  this  grove.  They  had  under- 
taken to  cross  the  prairie  on  horse-back  ;  the  ground  was  covered  with  snow 
to  a  considerable  depth,  and  the  air  piercingly  cold.  In  their  last  extremity, 
they  killed  their  horses,  and,  taking  out  their  entrails,  crawled  into  the  warm 
carcasses,  but  before  relief  reached  them  they  succumbed  to  the  "  Icy  King  of 
Terrors."  The  following  is  from  the  same  source  of  information :  "  In  1831, 
three  men  of  the  name  of  Ellis  were  killed  by  lightning,  in  the  southwest  part 
of  the  county.  The  accident  occurred  on  Wednesday,  and  they  were  not  found 
until  the  Saturday  following.  When  discovered,  their  bodies  were  as  limber  as 
that  of  a  living  person,  and  never  stiffened  like  a  body  that  meets  death  from 
natural  causes.  It  was  supposed  that  the  lightning  had  broken  the  bones 
without  rupturing  the  skin." 

Passing  from  the  grave  to  the  gay,  from  the  sad  to  the  ludicrous,  it  becomes 
our  duty,  as  a  faithful  historian,  to  chronicle  an  event  that  took  place  in  Coles 
County  in  1834,  which,  while  it  had  a  somewhat  ludicrous  termination,  was 
begun  in  earnest,  by  one  of  the  parties  engaged  in  it,  at  least.  The  circum- 
stance referred  to,  was  a  duel  fought  in  Charleston,  by  Peter  Glassco  and  John 
Gately.  A  difficulty  had  arisen  between  them,  which  blood  alone  could  satisfy 
or  settle,  and,  accordingly,  they  resorted  to  the  code  of  honor  to  avenge  their 
wounded  dignity.  A  challenge  was  sent  and  accepted,  seconds  were  selected 
and  the  weapons  (big  "  boss  "  pistols)  were  chosen.  The  hostile  parties  met, 
with  ten  paces  between  them,  and  proceeded  to  wipe  out  their  wrongs  in  the  most 
approved  style.  The  seconds  loaded  the  pistols  with  blank  cartridges,  without 
Glassco's  knowledge,  however,  who,  it  seems,  was  the  most  belligerent  of  the 
two,  and  the  most  deeply  grieved.  Finally,  when  all  was  ready,  the  principals 
were  placed  by  the  seconds,  one,  two,  three,  were  called,  and  both  parties  fired. 
Gately  fell,  and  his  second,  who  had  provided  a  bottle  of  pokeberry-juice  for 
the  purpose,  ran  to  him  and  dexterously  saturated  his  clothes  with  the  contents 
of  the  bottle,  thus  giving  him  a  most  ghastly  appearance.  Glassco,  petrified 
with  terror,  gazed  at  his  bleeding  victim,  and,  horrified  at  the  "  ruin  he  had 
wrought,"  exclaimed,  "  My  God,  I  have  killed  him,",  threw  away  his  pistol 
and  fled.  About  a  year  afterward,  he  was  apprised  of  the  fact  that  the 
duel  was  a  "put-up  job,"  and  that  Gately  still  lived,  when,  with  the  horror  of 
murder  removed  from  his  soul,  he  returned  to  the  county.  He  never  fought 
another  duel. 

That  scourge  of  the  human  race,  the  Asiatic  cholera,  one  of  the  gifts  of  the 
Old  World  to  the  new,  made  a  visit,  in  1851,  to  Coles  County.  For  a  time 
"it  made  itself  exceedingly  odious  and  repulsive,"  says  one,  "and  old  and 
young  alike  were  the  victims  of  the  fell  disease."  As  is  usually  the  case,  it  visited 
certain  localities  only,  Charleston  and  Pleasant  Grove  Township  being  the  suf- 


286  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

ferers.  In  these  sections,  many  cases  occurred  ;  some  of  them  proved  fatal, 
"while  others  recovered.  The  greatest  consternation  and  excitement  prevailed. 
Those  not  sick  became  panic-stricken,  and  fled  in  confusion  and  dismay.  How 
many  died  of  the  disease  cannot  now  be  ascertained.  Distressing  as  was  the 
ordeal  and  melancholy  in  its  result,  yet  it  had  its  humorous  side.  A  very 
amusing  anecdote  is  told  of  Hon.  0.  B.  Ficklin's  grim  fight  with  the  awful 
disease.  He  was  attacked  in  the  harvest-field,  rushed  home  and  went  to  bed, 
sent  for  all  the  doctors  in  town,  called  his  wife  and  children  to  his  bedside,  bade 
them  good-by,  and  kissed  them  one  by  one,  concluding  with  his  old  colored 
cook,  and  prepared  to  die  with  the  cholera.  He  dropped  off  to  sleep,  from 
which  he  awoke,  a  few  hours  later,  completely  restored.  Having  slept  off  the 
natural  exhaustio7i  (!)  of  the  harvest-field,   "Richard  was  himself  again." 

AVe  spoke  of  a  murder  and  a  lynching,  a  little  space  ago.  Charleston  can 
boast  of  several  other  murders  within  her  time.  But  we  shall  not  go  into 
details  concerning  them.  Such  incidents  are  better  forgotten  than  perpetuated 
upon  the  pages  of  history.  We  will,  therefore,  pass  them  without  further 
remark  in  this  connection. 

THE  GRAVE  OF  LINCOLN'S  FATHER. 

Thomas  Lincoln,  the  father  of  the  martyred  President,  was  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Coles  County.  He  removed  from  Kentucky  (where  the  future 
President  was  born)  to  Spencer  County,  Ind.,  in  1816,  when  Abraham  was 
but  seven  years  old.  Here  he  remained  until  1830,  when  he  removed  to  Macon 
County,  111.,  and  located  on  the  North  Fork  of  the  Sangamon  River,  ten 
miles  southwest  of  Decatur.  He  came  to  Coles  County  about  1832-33,  and 
settled  in  what  is  now  Pleasant  Grove  Township :  but  Abraham,  having  in  the 
mean  time  attained  his  majority,  and  commenced  the  battle  of  life  on  his  own 
responsibility,  did  not  come  with  the  family  to  this  county.  In  after  years 
however,  when  he  became  a  praccicing  lawyer,  he  often  attended  the  courts  of 
Coles  County,  in  which  cases  he  never  failed  to  visit  his  father  in  Pleasant 
Grove,  and,  it  is  said,  always  purchased  as  many  presents  (generally  of  a  sub- 
stantial character)  as  he  could  stow  in  his  buggy,  and  conveyed  them  to  the 
family,  who  were  in  indigent  circumstances.  Stuve's  History  of  Illinois  gives 
the  following  of  President  Lincoln's  family  :  "  Abraham  Lincoln  was  born  in 
La  Rue  (now  Hardin)  County,  Ky.,  about  two  miles  south  of  the  village 
of  Hodgensville,  February  12,  1809.  Here  his  father  had  taken  up  a  land- 
claim  of  300  acres,  rough,  broken  and  poor,  containing  a  fine  spring,  known  to 
this  day  as  the  '  Linkum  Spring.'  Unable  to  pay  for  the  unproductive  land, 
the  claim  Avas  abandoned,  and  the  family  moved  from  place  to  place  in  the 
neighborhood,  being  very  destitute.  These  removals  occurring  while  Abraham 
was  scarcely  more  than  an  infant,  has  given  rise  to  different  statements  as  to 
the  exact  place  of  his  birth.  It  is  said  that  in  that  part  of  Kentucky  four 
places  now  claim  the  honor."    Thomas  Lincoln,  the  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  287 

finally  removed  to  Indiana,  and  then  to  Illinois,  as  above  stated,  and  died  years 
ago  in  Pleasant  Grove  Township.  There,  in  a  quiet  little  cemetery,  known  as 
*'  Gordon's  Grave-yard,"  without  stone  or  "lettered  monument"  to  mark  the 
spot,  sleeps  the  old  pioneer.  We  give  below  a  poem,  entitled  the  "  Grave  of 
the  Father  of  Abraham  Lincoln,"  written  by  G.  B.  Balch,  Esq.,  of  Pleasant 
Grove,  and  published  in  many  journals  throughout  the  country,  from  Lippin- 
€otfs  Magazine  to  the  county  papers  : 

"  In  a  low,  sweet  vale,  by  a  murmuring  rill, 
The  pioneer's  ashes  are  sleeping; 
Where  the  white  marble  slabs  so  lonely  and  still, 
In  silence  their  vigils  are  keeping. 

"  On  their  sad,  lonely  faces  are  words  of  fame. 
But  none  of  them  speak  of  his  glory  ; 
When  the  pioneer  died,  his  age  and  his  name. 
No  monument  whispers  the  story. 

"No  myrtle,  nor  ivy,  nor  hyacinth  blows 

O'er  the  lonely  grave  where  they  laid  him ; 
No  cedar,  nor  holly,  nor  almond  tree  grows 
Near  the  plebeian's  grave  to  shade  him. 

"  Bright  evergreens  wave  over  many  a  grave, 
O'er  some  bow  the  sad  weeping-willow  ; 
But  no  willow-trees  bow,  nor  evergreens  wave, 
Where  the  pioneer  sleeps  on  his  pillow. 

"  Some  are  inhumed  with  the  honors  of  State, 
And  laid  beneath  temples  to  molder  ; 
The  grave  of  the  father  of  Lincoln,  the  great. 
Is  known  by  a  hillock  and  bowlder. 

"  Let  him  take  his  lone  sleep,  and  gently  rest, 
With  naught  to  disturb  or  awake  him, 
When  the  angels  shall  come  to  gather  the  blest 
To  Abraham's  bosom,  they'll  take  him.'' 

GEOLOGICAL    FORMATION. 

The  geological  deposits  and  formations  of  Coles  County  possess  but  little 
interest  or  importance,  as  compared  to  many  other  sections  of  Illinois.  The 
soil  of  the  prairies  is  of  considerable  thickness,  of  a  deep  black,  or  dark  brown 
color,  and  very  rich  and  productive.  Beneath  this  soil,  according  to  the  geo- 
logical survey  of  the  State,  is  a  loamy  clay,  which  also  produces  well  with 
proper  cultivation.  The  most  important  feature  of  the  geology  of  the  county, 
however,  is  the  coal-deposit,  which  is  supposed  to  underlie  the  county.  A  man 
of  the  name  of  Owens,  years  ago,  discovered  coal,  and  a  very  good  quality,  too, 
near  where  John  Mickleblack  now  lives.  Recent  investigations,  we  are 
informed,  have  developed  the  fact  that  not  exceeding  five  hundred  feet  below 
the  surface,  coal  abounds  in  great  abundance.  Doubtless  the  time  is  not  far 
distant  when  these  coal-fields  will  become  a  source  of  industry,  as  well  as  of 
great  value  to  the  country.     According  to  geological  survey,  three-fourths  of 


288  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

the  surface  of  Illinois  are  underlaid  by  beds  of  coal,  and  consequently  have  a 
greater  area  of  this  valuable  fuel  than  any  other  State  of  the  Union.  A 
scientific  writer  speaks  thus  upon  the  formation  and  discovery  of  coal :  '•  The 
vast  accumulation  of  vegetable  matter  from  carboniferous  plants,  either  im- 
bedded in  the  miry  soil  in  which  it  grew,  or  swept  from  adjacent  elevations 
into  shallow  lakes,  became  covered  with  sediment,  and  thus  were  transformed 
into  coal.  It  has  been  estimated  that  eight  perpendicular  feet  of  wood  were 
required  to  make  one  foot  of  bituminous  coal,  and  twelve  to  make  one  foot  of 
anthracite.  Some  beds  of  the  latter  are  thirty  feet  in  thickness,  and  hence 
360  feet  of  timber  must  have  beqn  consumed  in  their  production.  The  process 
of  its  formation  was  exactly  the  same  as  practiced  in  the  manufacture  of  char- 
coal, by  burning  wood  under  a  covering  of  earth.  Vegetable  tissue  consists 
mostly  of  carbon  and  oxygen,  and  decomposition  must  take  place,  either  under 
water  or  some  other  impervious  covering,  to  prevent  the  elements  from  forming 
carbonic-acid  gas,  and  thus  escaping  to  the  atmosphere.  Conforming  to  these 
requirements  the  immense  vegetable  growths  forming  the  coal-fields  subsided 
with  the  surface  on  which  they  grew,  and  were  buried  beneath  the  succeeding 
deposits.  Nova  Scotia  has  seventy-six  different  beds,  and  Illinois  twelve ;  and 
consequently,  in  these  localities,  there  were  as  many  different  fields  of  verdure 
overwhelmed  in  the  dirt-beds  of  the  sea.  Thus,  long  before  the  starry  cycles 
had  measured  half  the  history  of  the  unfolding  continent,  and  when  first  the 
expanding  stream  of  life  but  dimly  reflected  the  coming  age  of  mind,  this  vast 
supply  of  fuel  was  stored  away  in  the  rocky  frame-work  of  the  globe.  Here  it 
slumbered  until  man  made  his  appearance  and  dragged  it  from  its  rocky  lairs. 
At  his  bidding,  it  renders  the  factory  animate  with  humming  spindles,  driving 
shuttles,  whirling  lathes  and  clanking  forges.  Under  his  guidance  the  iron- 
horse,  feeding  upon  its  pitchy  fragments,  bounds  and  tireless  treads  over  its  far- 
reaching  track,  dragging  after  him  the  products  of  distant  marts  and  climes. 
By  the  skill  of  the  one  and  the  power  of  the  other,  the  ocean  steamer  plows  the 
deep  in  opposition  to  winds  and  waves,  making  its  watery  home  a  highway  for 
the  commerce  of  the  world. 

Beyond  the  coal-beds  underlying  the  surface,  the  county,  as  we  have  said, 
is  not  very  rich  in  geology.  There  are,  we  believe,  some  stone-beds  along  the 
Embarrass  River,  but  the  quality  of  the  stone  is  poor  and  of  but  little  value  for 
building  purposes.  With  this  brief  glance  at  the  geological  features,  we  will 
leave  the  subject,  referring  the  reader  to  the  Geological  Survey  of  the  State 
for  further  information  on  this  interesting  point  of  history. 

THE    COUNTY    PRESS. 

The  first  newspaper  was  established  in  Coles  County -in  1840,  and  was 
called  the  Charleston  Courier.  But  as  the  township  history  will  contain  a 
more  complete  account  of  the  press,  we  shall  have  little  to  say  on  the  subject 
in  this  chapter.     We  wish,  however,  to  leave  on  record  our  impression  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  289 

value  of  the  files  of  county  papers  as  sources  of  history.  Their  pages  give 
a  picture  from  week  to  week  of  both  national  and  local  events,  which  can  be 
found  nowhere  else.  Even  the  advertisements  give  much  history,  and  we 
think  there  ought  to  be  a  provision  made  for  keeping  such  files  in  the  county 
and  city  offices. 

There  are  at  present  in  Coles  County  six  newspapers,  viz.  :  the  Courier  and 
Plaindealer,  of  Charleston  ;  the  Oommercial,  Journal  and  G-azette,  of  Mattoon  ; 
and  the  Herald,  of  Oakland.  These  are  live,  energetic  newspapers,  well  filled 
with  the  news  of  the  day  (this  is  not  an  advertisement),  and  deserve  the  liberal 
support  of  the  people  of  the  county. 


CHARLESTON  TOWNSHIP. 

"The  proud  bird, 
The  condor  of  the  Andes,  that  can  soar 
Through  heaven's  unfathomable  depths,  or  brave, 
The  fury  of  the  northern  hurricane 
And  bathe  his  plumage  in  the  thunder's  home. 
Furls  his  broad  wings  at  nightfall,  and  sinks  down 
To  rest  upon  his  mountain-crag  ;  but  Time 
Knows  not  the  weight  of  sleep  or  weariness, 
And  night's  deep  darkness  has  no  chain  to  bind 
His  rilshing  pinions." — Prentice. 

*'  Time,  fierce  spirit  of  the  glass  and  scythe,"  sets  his  signet  upon  the  fading 
race  of  men,  and  they  pass  away  "as  a  tale  that  is  told."  The  "enduring 
marble"  points  us  to  the  spot  where  sleep  the  pioneers  whose  magic  touch 
changed  this  country  from  a  "  howling  waste"  to  the  paradise  we  find  it  to-day. 
More  than  fifty  years  have  "  flung  their  sunshines  and  shadows  o'er  the  world  " 
since  the  first  white  people  came  to  Charleston  Township  and  proceeded  to  set- 
tle themselves  to  "  grow  up  with  the  country."  Fifty  years  !  How  much  has 
transpired  in  that  half-century  that  has  come  and  gone  since  the  "  star  of 
empire  "  crossed  the  "  raging"  Embarrass  and  paused  for  a  moment  over  this 
fair  region.  We  have  neither  time  nor  space  to  particularize  the  changes  that 
have  taken  place  in  all  these  rolling  years.  Go  ask  the  few  old  gray-heads 
still  left  how  they  have  seen  the  palace  take  the  place  of  the  "  pole  cabin,"  the 
railway-train  that  of  the  patient,  plodding  ox,  and  the  "  wilderness  rejoice  and 
blossom  as  the  rose."  They  can  tell  you  of  these  changes  far  better  than  we, 
for  they  are  things  '  all  of  which  they  saw  and  part  of  which  they  were.'  Ours 
is  the  duty  to  give  the  dry,  historical  details,  and  faithfully  we  shall  endeavor 
to  perform  the  task.  ^.  „„^.xm 

^  THE    EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  permanent  settlement  was  made  in  Charleston  Township  in  1825. 
In  that  year,  Seth  H.  Bates  settled  here,  having  removed  from  Crawford 
County.     Jesse  Veach,  then  a  young  man  of  eighteen,  "moved"  him  to  this 


290  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

neighborhood,  and  informs  us  that  there  was  not  a  family  then  on  this  side  of 
the  Embarrass  River.  Bates  was  originally  from  Ohio,  but  had  been  living 
some  ten  years  in  Crawford  County  before  emigrating  to  this.  He  remained 
here  but  a  short  time,  however,  when  he  sold  out  and  removed  to  the  Kickapoo 
settlement,  in  what  is  now  La  Fayette  Township,  where  he  is  noticed  further. 
In  the  fall  of  1826,  Enoch  Glassco  and  his  sons,  Kimball,  Madison  and  Enoch 
Glassco,  Jr.,  came  from  Kentucky  and  settled  just  north  of  the  present  city  of 
Charleston.  They  are  said  to  have  been  almost  as  tall  as  the  giant  oaks  of 
their  native  State — not  one  of  them  but  stood  more  than  six  feet  in  his  stock- 
ings. Enoch  Glassco,  Jr.,  is  still  living  and  resides  in  Charleston ;  Kimball 
lives  in  Tuscola,  and  Madison  died  some  three  years  ago.  A  daughter  of  the 
elder  Glassco  married  James  Y.  Brown,  who  came  to  the  settlement  soon  after. 
Mrs.  Permelia  Gobin  was  also  a  daughter  of  Glassco.  In  1827,  the  Parkers 
came  to  this  neighborhood  and  settled  on  what  is  now  Anderson's  Addition  to 
the  city  of  Charleston.  They  were  of  the  family  of  Parkers  mentioned  in  the 
general  county  history  as  settling,  originally,  Parker's  Prairie.  Benjamin 
Parker  was  one  of  the  most  noted,  perhaps,  of  those  who  settled  in  this  town- 
ship. He  was  a  son  of  old  "  High"  Johnny  Parker,  as  he  was  called,  the  old 
"hard-shell"  Baptist  preacher.  It  is  told  of  him  (old  "  High"  Johnny)  that, 
one  Sunday,  after  he  had  closed  his  sermon,  he  gave  out  an  appointment  "  to 
preach  at  that  place,  that  day  four  weeks,  if  it  was  not  a  good  day  for  bee- 
hunting."  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and,  as  a  reward  for  his 
services,  received  a  pension  under  the  act  of  Congress  of  1832.  The  following 
certificate  appears  on  the  early  records  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court : 

Stat«  OK  Illinois,  ) 
Coles  County,     j       ' 

On  the  15th  day  of  October,  personally  appeared  in  open  Court  before  Isaac  Lewis  and 
James  S.  Martin,  County  Commissioners  for  the  county  of  Coles,  now  sitting  and  constituting 
said  Court  for  said  county  and  State  aforesaid,  John  Parker,  a  resident  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  in  the  county  of  Coles  and  State  of  Illinois,  aged  seventy-four  years,  who,  being  first 
duly  sworn  according  to  law,  doth  on  his  oath  make  the  following  declaration  in  order  to  obtain 
the  benefit  of  the  act  of  Congress  passed  June  7,  1832  :  That  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  under  the  following-named  officers,  and  served  as  herein  stated  ;  that  he  enlisted 
under  Capt.  Fields,  Col.  Slaughter  commander  of  the  regiment.  Gen.  Greene's  Brigade; 
entered  the  service  of  the  United  States  in  October,  1777,  and  left  the  service  in  twelve  months 
thereafter ;  that  again  he  entered  the  United  States  service  under  Capt.  Callier,  of  Col.  Alexan- 
der's regiment.  That  he  was  drafted  in  the  latter  end  of  177D,  and  mai'ched  through  Winchester, 
Va.,  into  Pennsylvania,  and  was  stationed  on  a  creek  called  Ten-Mile  Creek,  in  Pennsylvania  ; 
was  in  no  engagements,  and  that  he  has  no  documentary  evidence.  That  he  remained  twelve 
months  each  term  of  service,  making  two  whole  years.  That  he  received  a  discharge  from  Capt. 
Callier,  and  that  it  is  now  lost.  That  he  was  boi-n  September  5,  1758,  in  the  ^State  of  Mary- 
land, Baltimore  County;  that  the  only  record  of  his  age  is  taken  from  his  father's  Bible,  now 
in  his  possession;  that  he  lived  in  Culpeper  County,  Va.,  when  called  into  service;  that 
he  lived  in  the  State  of  Georgia  seventeen  years  ;  thence  to  Tennessee,  Hickman  County  ;  thence 
to  the  Territory  of  Illinois,  in  the  year  1815,  in  which  State  he  now  resides,  and  in  the  county 
of  Coles.  He  hereby  relinquishes  every  claim  whatever  to  a  pension,  except  the  present,  and 
he  declares  that  his  name  is  not  on  the  pension-roll  of  the  agency  of  any  State. 

Sworn  to  and  subscribed  the  day  and  year  aforesaid.  John  Parker. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  291 

This  certificate  is  attested  by  Griffin  Tipsoward,  who  was  also  a  Revolution- 
ary soldier,  and  the  Commissioners  add  their  certificate,  that  after  fully 
investigating  the  case,  and  "  putting  the  interrogations  prescribed  by  the  War 
Department,  "  believe  he  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  served  as  stated  in 
the  foregoing  declaration. 

There  were  James,  Silas,  Nathaniel  and  Daniel  Parker,  who  were  all  brothers 
of  Benjamin  Parker.  Daniel  Pai'ker  was  also  a  Baptist  preacher  of  the  hard- 
shell or  ironside  faith,  and  mentioned  in  the  history  of  Edgar  County  as  one  of 
the  first  preachers  in  that  county.  He  together,  with  Benjamin  and  Silas  Par- 
ker, finally  removed  to  Texas,  where  the  latter  two  were  killed  by  the  Comanche 
Indians.  They  had  bought  a  lot  of  cattle,  and  were  herding  them  when  the 
Comanches  are  supposed  to  have  come  upon  them,  drove  them  to  their  herder's 
shanty  and  murdered  them,  as  when  found  their  bodies  were  sticking  full  of 
arrows.  A  daughter  of  one  of  the  Parkers  was  captured  by  the  Indians,  after 
their  removal  to  Texas,  and  kept  for  some  time  in  captivity.  When  released, 
she  wrote  a  narrative,  descriptive  of  her  trials  and  sufferings  while  among  the 
savages,  which  many  of  the  people  siill  living  in  this  neighborhood  have  read. 
Old  "  High  "  Johnny  Parker  went  to  Texas  with  his  son  Benjamin.  The  old 
gentleman  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  as  such.  Col.  Dunbar 
succeeded  in  getting  a  pension  for  him,  as  a  reward  for  his  services  in  fightini: 
for  the  independence  of  his  country.  There  are  still  many  descendants  of  the 
Parkers  living,  who  are  among  the  substantial  men  of  Coles  County. 

Charles  S.  Morton  was  another  of  the  very  early  pioneers  of  Charleston 
Township,  and  one  of  the  energetic  and  enterprising  men  of  that  early 
day.  He  was  from  Fayette  County,  Ky.,  within  three  miles  of  the  city  of 
Lexington,  the  home  of  Henry  Clay.  Though  he  came  to  a  rich  county,  it 
does  not  equal  that  which  he  left.  Fayette  County  is  in  the  very  heart  of  the 
blue-grass  region,  than  which  no  finer  land  is  to  be  found  below  the  sun,  and 
Lexington  possesses  more  wealth  (to  the  amount  of  population),  perhaps,  than 
any  city  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Morton  came  to  this  settlement  in  tho 
spring  of  1829,  and  brought  his  wife  Avith  him  to  look  at  the  country,  thus  con- 
sulting her  taste  and  happiness  in  the  selection  of  a  home,  as  all  good  men  ought 
to  do.  Three  months  later,  he  brought  his  children  to  his  new  home.  We  have 
said  that  he  was  an  enterprising  man.  He  kept  the  first  store  in  Charleston 
Township — brought  the  goods  with  him  when  he  came  to  the  country  and  opened 
them  out  in  a  small  pole  cabin,  where  he  continued  business  until  Charleston 
was  laid  out,  when  he  moved  into  the  village,  and  was  the  first  merchant 
here  also.  He  also  had  the  first  horse-mill  in  the  township,  and  his  residence 
was  the  first  in  the  neighborhood,  perhaps  in  the  county,  that  could  boast  of  the 
luxury  of  a  glass  window,  and  we  are  creditably  informed  that  people  came  for 
miles  to  see  how  a  house  looked  with  the  modern  improvement  of  a  glass  window. 
He  built  a  row  of  pole  cabins  near  where  the  Charleston  post  office  now  stands, 
which  were  known  as  the  Penitentiary,  and  these  he  would  let  to  families  mov- 


292  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

ing  to  the  settlement  three  months  free  of  rent,  which  time  sufficed,  if  they 
were  industrious,  to  provide  a  cabin  of  their  own.  A  daughter  of  Mr.  Morton 
married  Dr.  Ferguson,  and  another  J.  K.  Decker,  Esq.,  and  a  son,  Charles 
II.  Morton,  lives  in  Chicago.  Capt.  Adams  thus  speaks  of  him  in  an  address 
delivered  by  hira  some  time  ago:  "Mr.  Morton  traveled  down  through  the 
journey  of  life  among  us,  bearing  an  irreproachable  reputation  for  truth  and 
integrity,  and  has  left  behind  him  children,  grandchildren  and  great-grandchil- 
dren, all  intelligent  and  prosperous,  and  scattered^^from  here  to  Chicago."  He 
died  in  January,  1848.  Mrs.  Ferguson  and  Mrs.  Decker  still  can  describe  very 
vividly  how,  in  their  young  days,  they  used  to  dance  on  puncheon  floors  and 
dirt  floors  and  any  other  kind  of  floors,  and  that,  too,  as  often  as  a  fiddler  could 
be  obtained.  As  musicians  were  scarce,  whenever  one  chanced  to  present  him- 
self it  was  invariably  the  signal  for  a  dance,  which  was  usually  prolonged 

."  All  night,  till  broad  daylight," 

when  the  boys  would 

"  Go  home  with  the  girls  in  the  morning." 

Col.  A.  P.  Dunbar  is  another  of  the  pioneers  of  Charleston,  who  came  here 
from  the  "  Dark  and  Bloody  Ground."  He  is  a  native  of  Fleming  County, 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  1828,  but  returned  to  Kentucky,  where  he  read  law  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and,  in  1831,  came  back  to  Coles  County  and  located  in 
Charleston,  and  was  the  first  lawyer  to  hang  out  a  "shingle"  in  this  city.  He 
was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature  in  1836,  when  Coles  County  embraced 
Cumberland  and  Douglas  Counties,  and  was  re-elected  in  1844-45,  and,  at  this 
session,  had  Abraham  Lincoln  for  his  deskmate.  His  father,  Alexander  Dun- 
bar, was  a  soldier  of  1812  and  was  with  Commodore  Perry  in  the  battle  on  Lake 
Erie.  Col.  Dunbar's  law  library  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1877,  since  which 
time  he  has  retired  from  the  practice  of  laAV.  Among  the  early  settlers  of  this 
township  are  Levi,  Samuel  and  James  Doty,  and  John  Bates,  who  settled  in  the 
southeast  part  of  the  town  about  1830-31.  They  came  from  Crawfoi'd  County, 
but  were  originally  from  Kentucky.  Levi  and  James  Doty  still  live  in  the 
township,  and  Samuel  moved  away  years  ago.  Bates,  also,  is  living  yet  in  the 
town. 

Charleston  Township,  as  well  as  the  entire  county,  was  originally  settled 
mostly  by  Southern  people,  Kentucky,  perhaps,  contributing  the  largest  delega- 
tion to  the  population.  In  addition  to  the  names  already  mentioned,  we  have 
from  the  old  Blue-Grass  State,  Thomas  G.  and  Dr.  W.  M.  Chambers,  Isaac  N. 
Craig,  Edmund  Curd,  Alexander  Perkins,  John  Monroe,  Levi  Hackett,  James 
M.  Miller,  Richard  and  Thomas  Stoddert,  Col.  Thomas  A.  Marshall,  Hon.  U. 
F.  Linder,  Dr.  Samuel  Van  Meter  and  Hon.  0.  B.  Ficklin,  and  probably  others 
whose  names  we  have  failed  to  obtain.  The  Chamberses  were  from  Harrison 
County.  Thomas  came  to  Illinois  in  1838,  and  settled  in  Charleston,  where  he 
still  lives.  He  commenced  his  business  life  as  clerk  in'a  dry  goods  store,  and, 
in  1840,  embarked  in   the  business  for  himself,  and  continued  it  until  1866, 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  295 

when  he  established  the  banking  house  of  T.  G.  Chambers  &  Co.  In  1866,  he 
became  President  of  the  First  National  Bank,  which  position  he  now  holds. 
He  is  a  public-spirited  and  enterprising  citizen,  and  has  always  manifested  a 
lively  interest  in  the  Coles  County  Agricultural  Society,  together  with  many 
other  enterprises  calculated  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  city  and  county. 
He  is  also  President  of  the  Old  Settlers'  Association.  Dr.  Chambers  gradu- 
ated as  a  physician  in  Transylvania  University,  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  in  1833, 
and  practiced  his  profession  in  that  State  until  his  removal  to  Coles  County,  in 
1855.  In  1861,  he  was  appointed  Brigade  Surgeon  in  the  Union  army,  by 
President  Lincoln,  and  served  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  until  1865.  He 
has  been  President  of  the  State  Medical  Society,  both  of  Kentucky  and  Illi- 
nois. Isaac  Craig  is  a  native  of  Montgomery  County,  and  came  to  Illinois 
with  his  father's  family  in  1828,  settling  in  Clark  County.  Here  he  remained 
until  1835,  when  he  came  to  Coles  County,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
was  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  this  township,  until  his  retirement  from 
active  business.  He  is  a  stockholder  and  Director  in  the  Second  National 
Bank  of  Charleston.  In  the  Black  Hawk  war  of  1832,  he  served  in  the  Sec- 
ond Brigade  of  Illinois  Volunteers,  under  Gen.  M.  K.  Alexander,  of  Paris. 
Edmund  Curd  was  born  in  Jessamine  County,  and  from  there  removed  to 
Hardin  County,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  a  few  years,  and  then  came  to  this 
township,  arriving  here  in  1836,  and  entered  into  partnership  in  the  saddlery 
business  with  John  R.  Jeffries,  who  had  come  to  the  place  a  short  time  previ- 
ous. For  more  than  thirty  years,  he  continued  in  this  business.  His  grand- 
father removed  to  Kentucky  from  Virginia  at  an  early  day,  and  settled  on  the 
Kentucky  River  where  the  Southern  Railroad  now  crosses  it.  His  grandfather's 
little  family  consisted  of  fifteen  children,  and  from  them  almost  that  entire 
neighborhood  was  peopled.  Alexander  Perkins  went  from  Kentucky  when 
quite  young,  with  his  parents,  to  Marion  County,  Ind.,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
liood,  and  removed  to  Charleston  in  1836.  He  was  one  of  the  early  brick 
manufacturers  in  the  county.  Hon.  John  Monroe  was  from  Barren  County, 
and  came  to  this  township  in  1833.  He  read  medicine  with  Dr.  George  Rogers, 
of  Glasgow,  Ky.,  but  never  practiced  the  profession.  He  was  an  active  busi- 
ness man,  and  accumulated  a  handsome  property.  He  served  a  term  in  the 
State  Legislature,  and  died  in  Charleston,  in  1877.  Levi  Hacket  was  from 
Scott  County,  and  settled  here  in  1835,  where  he  remained  until  1861,  when 
he  removed  to  Douglas  County.  James  M.iMiller  came  from  Spencer  County  . 
to  Charleston  in  1838,  where  he  still  lives,  a  prominent  merchant.  Richard 
and  Thomas  Stoddert  came  from  Grayson  County,  and  may  be  numbered 
among  the  pioneers  of  Coles.  The  family  consisted  of  the  mother  and  nine 
children  (the  father  having  died  before  leaving  Kentucky),  who  came  at  dif- 
ferent times  from  1836  to  1838.  They  are  descendants  of  the  old  Massachu- 
setts Stodderts.  The  grandfather,  Benjamin  Stoddert,  was  a  Major  in  the 
Continental  army  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  afterward  the  second  Sec- 


296  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

retary  of  the  United  States  Navy.  Thomas  Stoddert  settled  here  in  1836,  and 
Richard  in  1838.  The  brothers  formed  a  partnership  in  a  tannery,  which,  in 
that  line,  and  in  other  departments  of  business,  was  continued  for  thirty  years. 
Richard  is  a  man  of  considerable  wealth,  and  is  a  large  land-owner.  He  has 
held  several  offices,  of  which  County  Treasurer  and  Sheriff  are  the  most  im- 
portant. Thomas,  in  1849,  drove  an  ox-team  across  the  plains  to  the  land  of 
gold.  He  still  lives  in  Charleston,  and  is  engaged  in  farming  and  merchandis- 
ing. Col.  Thomas  A.  Marshall  was  born  in  Frankfort,  and  is  a  son  of  Hon. 
Thomas  A.  Marshall,  for  more  than  twenty  years  a  Judge  of  the  Court  of 
Appeals  of  Kentucky.  The  Marshalls  comprise  one  of  the  grandest  old 
families  of  Kentucky,  which  has,  perhaps,  produced  more  great  men  than  any 
other  family  in  that  proud  old  commonwealth,  so  prolific  of  great  men.  Col. 
Marshall,  after  settling  in  Charleston,  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession 
(law,  in  which  he  had  graduated  in  Kentucky),  and  turned  his  attention  to 
politics.  In  1856,  he  was  associated  with  Abraham  Lincoln,  Lyman  Trumbull, 
David  Davis,  John  M.  Palmer,  and  others,  in  the  organization  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  served  two  terms  in  the  State  Senate,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1847.  In  1861,  he  became  Colonel  of  the 
First  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  served  until  the  muster-out  of  his  regiment,  in  the 
fall  of  1862.  He  was  an  able  financier,  and  one  of  the  first  bankers  in  Coles 
County.  Dr.  Samuel  Van  Meter  came  from  Grayson  County,  with  his  mother's 
family,  and  settled  here  about  1827.  •  He  read  medicine  under  Dr.  Trower,  and 
practiced  the  profession  until  1849,  when  he  went  overland  to  California,  the 
trip  occupying  five  months.  He  remained  in  the  Golden  State  a  year  and  a 
half;  then  returned  to  Charleston,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  the  liealing  art. 
In  1857,  he  founded,  in  Charleston,  the  Illinois  Infirmary,  the  fame  of  which 
has  extended  to  all  parts  of  the  country.  Patients  came  to  it  from  the  Pacific 
coast,  and  even  from  beyond  the  Atlantic.  His  partner,  for  a  time,  in  this 
famed  institution  was  Dr.  H.  R.  Allen,  now  of  the  National  Surgical  Institute 
at  Indianapolis.  As  an  illustration  of  the  popularity  of  the  Illinois  Infirmary, 
its  receipts  for  1868  were  ^186,000.  It  continued  in  successful  operation  until 
1877,  when  Dr.  Van  Meter,  worn  out  with  constant  care,  closed  it  and  retired 
from  active  business.  Hon.  U.  F.  Linder  was  from  Hardin  County,  and 
removed  to  Illinois  in  1835,  and  to  Charleston  in  1838,  where  he  resided  until 
1860,  when  he  removed  to  Chicago.  He  was  Attorney  Generalof  the  State 
under  the  administration  of  Gov.  Duncan,  a  man  of  intelligence  and  fine  orator- 
ical powers.  He  died  June  5,  1876.  Hon.  0.  B.  Ficklin  located  in  Charles- 
ton in  1837.  He  went  to  Missouri  from  Kentucky,  with  his  parents,  when 
quite  young,  and  commenced  the  study  of  the  law  with  Henry  Shurlds,  Esq  . 
and,  in  the  winter  of  1829-30.  entered  the  office  of  Robert  Farris,  of  St.  Louis, 
In  1830,  he  Avas  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Belleville,  111.,  having  been  examined 
by  Hon.  Edward  Coles  By  the  advice  of  Hon.  William  Wilson,  he  located  at 
Mount  Carmel,  111.,  where  he  resided  until  1837,  Avhen  he  removed  to  Charles- 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  297 

ton,  as  noted  above.  In  the  Black  Hawk  war,  he  enlisted  in  Capt.  Elias 
Jurdin's  company,  and,  upon  the  organization  of  the  army,  was  appointed 
< Quartermaster,  and  attached  to  the  brigade  of  Gen.  Alexander,  of  Paris.  In 
1834,  he  was  elected  to  the  Lower  House  of  the  State  Legislature,  and  by  that 
body  chosen  State's  Attorney  for  the  Wabash  Circuit.  At  the  election  in 
1838,  having  removed  to  Coles,  he  was  elected  Representative  from  this  county, 
and  re-elected  in  1842.  In  1843,  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the  Wabash 
District.  His  colleagues  were  Robert  Smith,  John  A.  McClernand,  John 
Wentworth,  Joseph  P.  Ilogue,  John  J.  Harding  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  He 
was  re-elected  to  Congress  in  1844,  in  1846,  and  again  in  1850.  In  1856,  was 
a  member  of  the  Democratic  Convention  that  nominated  James  Buchanan  for 
President,  and  one  of  the  electors  that  cast  the  vote  of  Illinois  for  "  Old 
Buck."  He  Avas  a  member  of  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at  Charles- 
ton, S.  C,  in  1860 ;  was  present  at  the  disruption  of  that  body,  and  attended 
the  adjourned  meeting  at  Baltimore,  when  Stephen  A.  Douglas  was  nominated. 
In  1864,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at  Chicago, 
that  nominated  for  President  Gen.  George  B.  McClellan,  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Constitutional  Convention  in  1869-70,  and  is  at  present  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  from  this  county. 

Among  the  substantial  citizens  given  to  Charleston  Township  by  the  "  Old 
Dominion " — the  venerable  mother  of  States — may  be  numbered  Albert 
Compton,  Isaiah  H.  Johnston,  R.  M.  Coon,  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Trower,  Nathan 
Ellington,  Jonathan  Linder,  the  Cossells,  William  Frost,  Leander  Gillingwater, 
and  perhaps  others.  Albert  Compton  came  from  Fairfax  County,  and,  in 
1833,  settled  in  Charleston  Township.  He  was  a  shoemaker,  and  worked  at 
that  trade  for  a  number  of  years  after  coming  to  this  neighborhood.  He  has 
retired  from  active  business  life,  and,  living  in  the  city  of  Charleston,  he  enjoys 
in  his  old  age  a  well-earned  competence.  Isaiah  H.  Johnston  is  almost  a 
native  of  Coles  County,  having  been  here  since  he  was  three  years  old.  His 
father  came  from  Russell  County,  Ya.,  in  1830,  and  settled  in  what  is  now 
Pleasant  Grove  Township,  in  the  history  of  which  he  is  noticed  among  the 
early  settlers.  After  the  death  of  his  father,  he  continued  on  the  farm  until 
he  was  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  when  he  opened  a  store  in  the  neighborhood. 
In  1857,  he  removed  to  Mattoon,  and  in  that  city,  continued  the  mercantile 
business  until  1860,  when  he  was  elected  Sheriif  of  the  county.  When  his 
term  of  office  expired,  he  resumed  merchandising,  and  finally,  in  company  with 
T.  A.  Marshall  and  John  W.  True,  established  the  banking  house  of  T.  A. 
Marshall  &  Co.,  which,  in  1871,  became  the  Second  National  Bank  of  Charles- 
ton. In  1873,  he  became  its  President,  an  office  he  still  holds.  In  1869,  he 
built  an  extensive  porkhouse,  and,  in  1871,  together  with  John  B.  Hill  and 
Thomas  Stoddert,  erected  the  Charleston  Pork-Packing  House,  which  receives 
further  notice  in  another  chapter.  R.  M.  Coon  cannot  be  termed  an  old  set- 
tler of  this  township  or  of  the  county,  but  his  extraordinary  experience  of  the 


298  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

early  times  will  be  of  some  interest  in  these  pages.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  he  entered  the  employ  of  a  stock-drover.  There  were  no  railroads 
then,  and  stock-trains,  but  the  usual  custom,  or,  rather,  the  invariable  custom, 
was  to  drive  all  stock  to  market.  In  this  line  of  business  he  drove  stock  from 
Ohio  and  Kentucky  to  Virginia,  and  to  North  and  South  Carolina,  making 
thirteen  trips  in  this  capacity  across  the  Alleghany  Mountains.  He  came  to 
Charleston  in  1840,  and  about  twenty  years  ago,  engaged  in  gardening.  He 
has  set  out  eight  different  orchards,  and  has  eaten  fruit  from  the  last  one 
planted.  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Trower  came  to  Illinois  in  1830,  and  located  in  Shel- 
byville.  He  came  from  Albemarle  County,  and  after  practicing  his  profes- 
sion in  Shelbyville  for  six  years,  removed  to  Charleston,  where  he  still 
lives.  He  has  held  many  high  positions  in  the  medical  fraternity,  in  all  of 
which  he  has  discharged  his  duty  with  satisfaction  to  those  interested.  Not 
only  is  he  a  fine  physician,  but  an  excellent  business  man,  an  able  financier  and 
a  statesman.  He  was  at  one  time  President  of  the  Moultrie  County  Bank,  at 
Sullivan,  and  Vice  President  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Charleston. 
While  a  resident  of  Shelbyville,  he  served  three  terms  in  the  State  Legislature, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1847.  Jonathan  Lin- 
der  came  to  Coles  County  with  his  father's  family  previous  to  1830,  making 
the  journey  in  wagons,  and  settled  in  this  township.  Some  years  later,  he 
I'evisited  his  native  State  (West  Virginia),  making  the  trip  both  ways  on  horse- 
back, a  distance  (the  round  trip)  of  over  one  thousand  miles.  He  died  in 
1877,  leaving  one  son,  Jacob  Linder,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead.  In 
1829,  Michael  Cossell,  Jr.,  came  to  the  township,  and  the  next  year  his  father, 
Michael  Cossell,  Sr.,  and  two  other  sons,  Isaac  and  Solomon,  moved  in.  Isaac 
and  Solomon  are  both  living,  the  latter  in  Charleston  Township  and  the  former 
in  Ashmore.  The  elder  Cossell  and  his  son  Michael  are  dead.  Nathan  Elling- 
ton was  one  of  the  early  settlers  here.  He  was  an  early  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
an  earlv  school-teacher  of  Charleston  and  a  man  of  most  excellent  character. 
His  tragic  death  was  deplored  by  all  good  men.  He  was  the  first  County 
Clerk  of  Coles  County,  and  filled  the  ofiice  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people. 
William  Frost  and  Leander  Gillingwater  settled  in  Charleston  Township  about 
the  same  time,  and  were  both  Virginians.  They  came  to  the  settlement  about 
1830—31,  and  both  died  here.  Frost  but  a  few  years  ago,  and  Gillingwater  a  few 
years  after  he  came  to  the  country. 

From  the  Hoosier  State,  Charleston  Township  has  received  some  good  mate- 
rial. Jacob  K.  Decker,  James  Skidmore  and  William  Linder  came  from 
Indiana.  Mr.  Decker  is  a  native  of  Knox  County,  and  settled  in  Charleston 
Township  in  1836.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Virginia,  and  came  to  Knox 
County  in  1810,  and  were  living  in  Fort  Knox,  on  the  Wabash,  at  the  time  the 
battle  of  Tippecanoe  was  fought.  Mr.  Decker  married  a  daughter  of  the  pio- 
neer Charles  Morton,  mentioned  in  the  beginning  of  this  chapter,  and  as  a 
farmer  and  merchant  has  laid  up  a  competence  for   old  age.     Mr.  Skidmore 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  299 

came  from  Owen  County  (Ind.)  with  his  parents  in  1833.  They  first  settled  in 
Morgan  Township,  but  remained  only  a  few  years,  when  they  returned  to 
Indiana.  After  the  death  of  his  father,  Mr.  Skidmore  came  back  to  Illinois, 
then  went  to  Missouri,  and  finally  returned  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Charles- 
ton, where  he  still  lives.  William  Linder  came  here  in  1835,  and  died  in  1843. 
He  has  a  son,  G.  W.  Linder,  still  living  in  the  township. 

From  Tennessee,  the  land  of  cotton,  the  township  has  drawn  some  excellent 
citizens.  John  Jeffries,  William  Collom,  James  Y.  Brown,  Isaac  Lewis  and 
Hiram  Steepleton,  came  from  Tennessee.  Jeffries  came  to  Crawford  County 
with  his  parents  when  but  a  small  boy.  In  1835,  he  removed  to  Coles  County 
and  settled  in  Charleston,  where  he  engaged  in  the  saddlery  and  harness  busi- 
ness, which  he  continued  until  November  5,  1860,  the  date  of  his  death.  He 
served  one  term  as  Sheriff  of  Coles  County,  was  an  enterprising  citizen,  a  good 
business  man,  and  accumulated  a  handsome  property.  James  A.  Mitchell  and 
William  Collom  were  from  Washington  County.  The  latter  came  to  Illinois 
in  1829,  and  stopped  first  in  Edgar  County,  and,  in  1831,  removed  to  Charles- 
ton. He  built  and  kept  the  first  tavern,  a  log  cabin  of  one  room,  in  the  city 
of  Charleston.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  fought  under  Gren. 
Jackson  against  the  Creek  Indians  ;  also  participated  in  the  battle  of  the  Horse- 
Shoe.  He  died  August  8,  1851.  Mitchell  settled  in  Charleston  in  1830,  and 
was  quite  a  prominent  man  in  the  neighborhood.  He  died  many  years  ago, 
but  has  a  son  still  living  in  Charleston.  James  Y.  Brown  settled  in  Charleston 
Township  in  1827,  and  remained  a  resident  of  it  until  his  death.  Lewis 
and  Steepleton  settled  in  the  town  in  1827,  and  Steepleton  died  here  ;  Lewis 
moved  to  the  north  part  of  the  State,  where  he  was  living  the  last  known  of  him. 

Dr.  Aaron  Ferguson  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  in  early  childhood 
came  with  his  parents  to  Bloomington,  Ind.  After  attaining  his  majority,  he 
read  medicine  with  Dr.  Maxwell,  and  graduated  in  the  profession  at  Transyl- 
vania University,  Lexington,  Ky,,  and,  in  1830,  located  in  Charleston.  His 
wife  was  a  daughter  of  Charles  Morton,  mentioned  as  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  this  township.  Dr.  Ferguson  was  a  close  student,  somewhat  retiring  in  his 
nature,  never  seeking  public  office.  He  died  in  1876.  Charles  R.  Briggs 
came  from  Washington  County,  N.  Y.,  to  this  township  in  1839,  and,  after 
farming  one  year,  located  in  the  city  of  Charleston.  He  has  made  painting 
of  fine  stock  a  specialty,  a  profession  in  which  he  excels,  as  hundreds  of  speci- 
mens of  his  genius  to  be  found  in  the  city  and  county  testify.  He  opened  the 
first  livery-stable  in  Charleston  with  one  horse  in  it  to  begin  with,  and  so 
increased  his  trade  that  at  one  time  he  had  in  his  stable  forty-two  horses.  T. 
J.  Marsh  came  from  Baltimore  and  settled  first  in  what  is  now  Morgan  Town- 
ship in  1836.  His  first  residence  in  the  wild  West  was  a  cabin  built  of  rails, 
ten  feet  square,  in  which  he  lived  with  his  entire  family  for  three  months,  when 
they  removed  to  Charleston.  He  was  a  carpenter  and  builder,  and  erected  the 
first  iron-front  store  in  Charleston.     Many  other  monuments  of  his  enterprise 


300  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

are  to  be  found  in  the  citj.  George  Birch,  whose  father  is  noticed  among  the 
pioneers  of  Ashmore  ToAvnship,  is  a  native  of  England,  and  came  to  America 
witli  liis  parents  in  1833.  After  spending  a  few  years  in  Pennsylvania,  they 
removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Ashmore  Township,  as  above.  He  has  hauled 
■vfheat  to  Chicago  in  the  early  times  for  G2|  cents  a  bushel,  and  driven  hogs  to 
Clinton,  Ind.,  for  $1.25  per  hundred  pounds  net.  He  has  for  a  year  or  two. 
been  a  resident  of  Charleston  Township,  and  by  close  economy  has  amassed 
eonsiderable  property.  Eli  Wiley,  a  lawyer  of  Charleston,  came  to  Illinois 
with  his  parents  in  1826,  and,  after  spending  several  years  in  Edgar  and  Clark 
Counties,  removed  to  Charleston  in  1835,  where  he  still  lives. 

The  Eastins,  mentioned  in  the  county  history  as  first  settling  in  Kickapoo, 
as  it  was  then  called,  were  Charles  Eastin  and  three  sons,  Van,  John  M.  and 
Harman.  The  elder  Eastin,  after  a  few  years,  moved  into  Charleston  Town- 
ship, and,  after  sevei'al  other  removals  to  different  sections  and  neighborhoods, 
finally  died  in  Charleston.  John  M.  Eastin  located  in  this  township  in  an 
early  day  (about  1830)  and  lived  for  awhile  with  Charles  Morton.  He  resides 
at  present  in  Charleston.  Harman  Eastin  went  to  the  Mexican  war  and  was 
killed.  He  married  Miss  Lavina  Cox,  when  this  county  was  included  in  Clark, 
and  went  to  Darwin  for  his  marriage  license.  The  Eastins  were  originally 
from  Kentucky,  but  had  lived  for  a  number  of  years  in  Indiana,  before 
coming  to  Illinois.  They  left  Lexington,  Ind.,  in  February  of  1830,  in 
wagons,  and  were  nineteen  days  on  the  road.  To  add  to  the  severity  and  discom- 
forts of  the  trip,  there  was  quite  a  snow,  which  continued  on  the  ground  during 
their  journey.  Dr.  John  Carrico  was  a  native  of  Meade  County,  Ky.,  and  came 
here  about  1830-31,  and  was  the  first  physician  in  Charleston  Township.  He 
was  also  the  first  Representative  from  this  county  in  the  Legislature  of  the 
State,  and  died  soon  after  his  term  of  service  expired.  Hon.  James  T.  Cun- 
'ningham,  another  Kentuckian,  came  to  Coles  County  in  1830,  and  was  one  of 
the  active  and  energetic  men  of  the  times.  He  served  in  the  Legislature  dur- 
ing the  sessions  of  1836-37,  and  was  the  choice  of  his  party  for  Congress  in 
the  campaign  of  1860.  Dr.  Byrd  Monroe,  also  a  Kentuckian,  came  here  in 
1833,  and  was  a  man  of  prominence.  In  1838,  he  was  elected  to  the  State 
Senate,  an  office  he  filled  very  acceptably  to  the  people  he  represe;ited.  Isaac 
Odell  Avas  among  the  early  settlers  in  this  township,  but  had  first  settled  in 
Pleasant  Grove,  where  he  is  mentioned  among  the  pioneers  of  that  neighbor- 
hood.    A  son  of  his  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  birth  in  Charleston  Township. 

Col.  H.  R.  Norfolk  came  to  Charleston  Township  in  1833.  He  was 
born  in  Maryland,  but  mostly  raised  by  an  uncle  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  mar- 
ried his  wife  in  Natchez,  Miss.  She  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  is  still  living. 
Col.  Norfolk  died  in  December,  1865.  He  was  the  second  merchant  in  Charles- 
ton. Reuben  Canterberry  came  from  near  Lexington,  Ky.,  and  settled  in 
Charleston,  in  the  fall  of  1832.  He  died  here  many  years  ago,  and  his  widow 
married  again  and  moved  out  of  the  county.     William  Martin,  I.  Lyman  and 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  301 

Gideon  S.  Bailey  were  early  settlers,  but  of  them  not  much  could  be  obtained. 
Bailey  married  the  widow  of  James  P.  Jones,  and  moved  away  from  the  town- 
ship. Robert  Lightfoot  came  from  Kentucky,  and  settled  in  the  town  in  1836, 
and  was  an  honest,  upright  man  in  the  community.  He  died  some  three  or  four 
years  ago. 

John  Yeach,  the  father  of  Jesse  Veach,  a  well-known  citizen  of  this  town- 
ship, and  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  settled  here  in  1828.  He  bought  a 
claim  of  James  Riley,  who  had  settled  here  a  year  or  two  before.  Riley  was 
from  Crawford  County,  and  removed  to  Texas  about  1833-34.  Mr.  Veaeh  came 
from  Crawford  County,  but  was  born  in  Maryland,  had  been  a  resident  of  Ken- 
tucky in  the  early  days,  and  removed  to  Crawford  County  in  1814,  when  the 
people,  for  the  sake  of  protection,  were  compelled  to  live  in  forts.  He  was  some- 
time a  resident  of  old  Fort  La  Motte.  After  two  years'  residence  in  this  town- 
ship, he  removed  into  La  Fayette,  where  he  is  noticed  in  the  early  settlement  of 
that  town.  Jesse  Veach,  one  of  the  honored  citizens  of  Charleston  Township, 
settled  here  in  1831,  but  his  acquaintance  with  this  section  extends  back  to 
1825.  Li  that  year,  he  "  moved  "  a  family  from  Crawford  County  to  this 
township — Mr.  Bates,  who  is  mentioned  as  the  first  settler  in  this  neighborhood. 
At  the  time  of  his  first  visit  here,  in  1825,  there  was  not  a  family  living  on  this 
side  of  the  Embarrass  River,  the  whole  country  around  the  present  beautiful 
little  city  of  Charleston  was  a  wilderness  untrodden  by  the  white  men.  He  is 
still  living,  a  hale  old  gentleman  for  one  of  his  years,  and  with  an  excellent 
memory  of  the  early  days  and  hardships  of  this  country.  H.  Gregg  settled 
here  in  1827,  but  remained  in  the  neighborhood  but  a  short  time,  when  he 
removed  to  Edgar  County. 

This  concludes  the  early  settlement  of  the  township,  and  a  history  of  the  old 
settlers,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn  their  names.  Possibly,  many  names 
have  been  omitted  that  deserve  special  mention,  but  with  more  than  half  a  cent- 
ury between  "then  and  now,"  and  many  of  the  early  settlers  "gone  home,  " 
and  the  memories  of  those  still  remaining  clouded  by  age,  renders  it  impossible 
to  get  a  history  of  every  one.  This  must  be  our  excuse  for  any  omissions  that 
have  been  made. 

MILLS,    STORES    AND    OTHER    IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  first  mill  in  Charleston  Township  was  a  small  horye-mill  erected  by 
Charles  Morton,  soon  after  his  settlement  in  the  neighborhood.  After  its  erec- 
tion, it  was  patronized  extensively  by  the  people  in  the  vicinity  in  preference  to 
going  to  the  mills  on  the  Embarrass  River.  At  this  little  corn-cracking  estab- 
lishment the  pioneers  used  to  congregate,  and  while  waiting  their  "  turn,"  would 
amuse  themselves  playing  marbles,  running  foot-races,  jumping,  pitching  quoits 
and  other  innocent  amusements ;  in  cold  weather  they  would  parch  corn  in  the 
ashes.  But  with  the  building  of  other  mills  of  greater  capacity,  and  of  water 
and  steam  power,  horse-mills  became  obsolete,  and,  at  the  present  date,  it  is  prob- 


302  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

able  that  at  least  one-half  of  the  population  of  Coles  County  never  saw  a  horse- 
mill.  After  the  laying-out  of  Charleston,  Morton  moved  his  mill  in  the  village, 
Avhere  it  figured  as  the  first  in  the  village  as  it  had  in  the  township. 

The  first  store  in  the  town  was  opened  by  Charles  Morton  the  same  year  of 
his  settlement.  He  brought  a  stock  of  goods  with  him  when  he  moved  here 
from  Kentucky,  and  as  soon  as  he  could  erect  a  pole  cabin  to  shelter  his  family, 
he  opened  out  his  goods  in  one  room  of  it;  And  when  Charleston  sprang  into 
existence,  he  moved  his  store  to  town,  where,  like  his  horse-mill,  it  became  the 
first  store  in  the  village.  This  mercantile  effort  of  Morton's  was  perhaps  the 
only  one  in  the  township  outside  of  Charleston,  from  the  first  settlement  to  the 
present  time.  As  the  village  was  laid  out  so  soon  after  settlements  were  made 
in  the  township,  there  was  little  necessity  for  stores  outside  of  the  village.  And 
hence  the  mercantile  trade  centered  in  it  in  an  early  day. 

The  first  road  through  Charleston  Township  other  than  Ihe  pioneer's  wagon 
trails,  was  the  State  road  from  Shelbyville  to  Paris.  It  was  surveyed  and 
located  by  John  Flemming,  Thomas  Sconce  and  Thomas  Rhodes,  according  to 
the  following  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  January  28,  1831 :  "  Section  1. 
Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  That  John  Flemming,  of  Shelby  County,  Thomas  Sconce  of 
Coles  County  and  Thomas  Rhodes,  of  Edgar  County,  be,  and  they  are  hereby, 
appointed  Commissioners  to  view,  survey,  mark  and  locate  a  road  from  Shelby- 
ville, in  Shelby  County,  to  the  seat  of  justice  in  Coles  County,  and  from  thence 
to  Paris,  in  Edgar  County,  to  be  located  on  the  nearest  and  best  route,  doing 
as  little  damage  to  private  property  as  the  public  good  will  permit. 

"  Sec.  2.  The  said  Commissioners,  or  a  majority  of  them,  shall  meet  at  Shel- 
byville on  or  before  the  15th  day  of  October  next,  and  after  being  duly  sworn 
by  some  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  said  county  of  Shelby,  faithfully  to  view  and 
locate  said  road,  without  partiality,  favor  or  affection,  shall  immediately  there- 
after proceed  to  discharge  the  duties  required  of  them  by  this  act,  placing  in 
the  prairie,  through  which  the  same  shall  pass,  stakes  of  a  reasonable  size  of 
durable  timber. 

"  Sec.  3.  As  soon  as  practicable  after  said  road  is  located,  said  Commission- 
ers, or  a  majority  of  them,  shall  make  out  a  report,  accompanied  by  a  map  or 
plat  of  said  road,  denoting  the  courses  and  distances  from  point  to  point,  with 
such  other  remarks  as  they,  or  a  majority  of  them,  may  deem  necessary  and 
proper,  and  transmit  the  same  to  the  Secretary  of  State.  And  they,  or  a  ma- 
jority of  them,  shall  make  a  map  or  plat  of  so  much  of  said  road  as  lies  within 
the  respective  counties  and  transmit  it  to  the  Clerk  of  the  County  Commission- 
ers of  the  respective  counties  through  which  the  same  may  pass,  which  shall  be 
filed  and  preserved  in  the  office  of  said  court. 

"  Sec.  4.  When  said  road  shall  be  located,  it  shall  be  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses, a  State  road,  four  poles  wide,  and  shall  be  opened  and  kept  in  repair  as 
other  roads  are  in  this  State. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  303 

"  Sec.  5.  The  County  Commissioners'  Courts  of  each  county  through  which  the 
said  road  may  pass,  are  hereby  authorized  and  required  to  allow  said  Commis- 
sioners one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  day  for  the  time  necessarily  employed  in 
locating  the  said  road  in  each  of  their  respective  counties  ;  Provided,  that  noth- 
ing herein  contained  shall  be  so  construed  as  to  create  any  liability  on  the  part 
of  this  State  to  pay  said  Commissioners  for  their  services,  rendered  under  this 
act.     This  act  to  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  passage." 

Before  the  laying-out  of  this  road,  the  people  meandered  over  the  prairies 
and  through  the  openings  in  the  timber,  wherever  they  could  get  through  best 
and  easiest.  Often,  when  they  went  to  mill,  they  would  do  as  the  Rev.  Peter 
Cartwright  did  in  the  Astor  House  when  they  put  him  in  the  fifth  story.  He 
went  to  the  ofiice  and  asked  for  a  hatchet.  When  asked  what  he  wanted  with 
a  hatchet,  replied,  to  blaze  his  way  so  that  he  could  go  to  and  from  his  room 
without  getting  lost.  So,  would  the  people  take  their  hatchets  with  them  to 
mill,  and  blaze  the  trees  so  they  could  find  their  way  back  home.  The  same 
session  of  the  Legislature  at  which  the  foregoing  act  was  passed,  another  was 
passed  requiring  every  able-bodied  male  citizen,  under  fifty  years  of  age  and 
over  twenty-one,  to  perform  three  days'  labor  on  the  public  highways,  under  the 
superintendence  of  the  Supervisor  of  the  district.  An  interesting  feature  of 
this  act  was,  that  when  the  labor  provided  in  the  act  (three  days  of  each  able- 
bodied,  etc.)  was  insuflScient,  the  Supervisor  might  call  on  "  every  taxable  male 
inhabitant  "  in  the  district  to  perform  labor  on  the  road  at  the  rate  of  one  day 
for  "  every  $100  worth  of  real  and  personal  property  he  may  possess  in  the 
county."  The  township,  at  the  present  day,  is  well  supplied  with  roads  and 
bridges;  of  the  latter,  however,  there  are  a  few  eligibh  sites  still  left,  where 
they  might  be  located  with  advantage  to  the  people. 

One  of  the  early  industries  of  the  township  was  a  tan-yard,  upon  which,  or 
in  which,  or  at  which,  was  manufactured  the  material  for  the  understanding  of 
the  pioneer  inhabitants.  This  primitive  institution,  now  long  obsolete,  was 
opened  by  David  Eastin,  and  the  spot  whereon  it  was  located  is  now  inside  of 
the  corporation  of  the  city  of  Charleston.  It  finally  became  the  property  of 
Richard  and  Thomas  Stoddert,  who  operated  it  until  the  people  became  too 
proud  or  too  enlightened  to  wear  home-made  shoes,  when  they,  like  Othello, 
found  their  occupation  (in  that  line)  gone,  and  the  establishment  was  closed. 
Another  useful  industry  of  those  days  were  carding  machines.  John  Kennedy 
built  one  in  this  township  about  1880-31,  which  carded  the  wool  of  the  settlers 
(or  that  of  their  sheep,  rather)  into  rolls,  when  they  were  spun  and  woven  into 
cloth,  and  manufactured  into  clothing  by  the  industrious  ladies.  But  these, 
then  useful  establishments,  like  the  tanyards,  have  "gone  where  the  woodbine 
twineth."  Owen  and  Harman  were  the  first  blacksmiths,  and  sharpened  the 
old  Cary  and  barshare  plows  for  the  early  farmers.  These  smiths  were  "  mighty 
men,"  with  "  large  and  sinewy  hands  "  and  "  muscles  like  iron  bands,"  and  left 
their  imprint  upon  many  of  these  rude  old  implements  of  the  early  husbandmen. 


304  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

The  first  orchard  in  the  township  was  set  out  by  Benjamin  Parker  about 
1830.  Before  the  bearing  of  this  and  other  orchards,  set  out  soon  after,  the 
people  had  to  content  themselves  with  wild  crab-apples  and  such  other  fruits  as 
grew  in  the  country.  Strawberries,  we  are  informed,  grew  wild  in  great  abun- 
■dance,  and  of  an  excellent  quality. 

EDUCATIONAL    AND    RELIGIOUS. 

The  first  schoolhouse  in  the  township  was  built  near  what  is  called  the 
Decker  Springs,  about  a  mile  north  of  the  city  of  Charleston.  It  was  the  type 
of  the  pioneer  schoolhouse,  which  has  already  been  described  in  these  pages, 
and  was  built  in  1828.  John  McCombs  taught  the  first  school  in  this  humble 
temple  of  learning.  A  Mr.  Collora,  brother  of  William  Collom,  who  built  the 
first  house  and  kept  the  first  tavern  in  Charleston,  was  another  of  the  early 
school  teachers  of  this  township.  It  would  be  an  interesting  history  to  trace 
the  schools  of  the  town  from  this  puny  commencement  to  their  present  state  of 
perfection,  but  we  have  not  the  space  to  do  so,  and  as  we  shall  allude  to  the  sub- 
ject again  in  the  chapter  devoted  to  the  city  of  Charleston,  we  will  pass  on  now 
with  the  remark,  that  Charleston  Township  is  laid  off  in  convenient  districts, 
all  of  them  having  comfortable  school-buildings,  wherein  schools  are  maintained 
from  six  to  nine  months  during  the  year.  None  but  competent  teachers  are 
employed,  and  hence  the  schools  flourish  accordingly. 

The  first  preaching  in  the  neighborhood  was  by  the  Parkers,  as  noticed  in 
the  general  history,  several  of  the  family  being  preachers  of  the  ''  Hardshell  " 
persuasion.  Rev.  Mr.  Newport  was  another  of  the  early  divines  of  that  faith. 
The  Methodists  and  Presbyterians  also  were  early  in  the  field,  and  established 
classes  and  societies,  which  have  continued  down  to  the  present  day.  But  as  the 
first  church  in  the  township  was  erected  in  Charleston,  the  church  history  will 
be  given  under  that  head. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  Charleston  Township  is  supposed  to  have  been 
George  W.  Odell,  a  son  of  Isaac  Odell,  in  1830.  A  son  of  David  Eastin  was 
born  in  1832,  which  was  the  next  birth  recorded  in  the  neighborhood.  The 
first  wedding  remembered  was  Dr.  Ferguson  and  a  daughter  of  Charles  Mor- 
ton. We  are  unable  to  give  a  descriptix)n  of  the  ceremonies  attending  this  early 
marriage  in  the  wilderness,  the  wedding  presents,  appearance  of  the  bride,  etc., 
but  as  she  is  still  living,  our  young  lady  readers,  who  always  take  an  interest 
in  such  matters,  can  probably  learn  all  the  particulars  of  her.  The  first  death  is 
not  remembered,  but  the  "  well-peopled  "  grave-yards  tell  that  death  has  been 
here. 

Charleston  Township  lies  a  little  southeast  of  the  center  of  the  county,  and 
is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Hickory  Township,  on  the  west  by  La  Fayette,  on 
the  south  by  Pleasant  Grove  and  on  the  east  by  the  Embarrass  River.  It  is 
described  as  Township  12  north,  Range  9  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian, 
and  contains  a  few  sections  more  than  a  regular  Congressional  township.     The 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUIJTY.  805 

surface  is  generally  level,  with  slight  undulations,  except  along  the  Embarrass, 
where  it  is  rather  broken  and  hilly.  The  town  is  pretty  well  watered  and 
drained  by  the  small  streams  flowing  to  the  Embarrass  River,  among  which 
we  may  note  Kickapoo,  Riley  and  Cossell  Creeks,  and  with  the  Embarrass 
on  its  eastern  boundary,  it  lacks  neither  drainage  nor  irrigation.  The  Indian- 
apolis &  St.  Louis  Railroad  crosses  from  east  to  west  through  the  north 
part  of  the  town,  thus  affording  excellent  means  of  shipping  the  great  amount 
of  grain  and  stock  annually  produced.  The  history  of  the  above  railroad 
has  been  so  fully  given  in  the  general  county  history  that  we  shall  not 
repeat  it  here,  but  refer  the  reader  to  that  part  of  this  work. 

POLITICS    AND    PATRIOTISM. 

The  township  and  city  of  Charleston,  taken  together,  are  Democratic  in 
politics  by  a  small  majority.  Being  pretty  evenly  divided  in  point  of  numbers, 
usually  calls  forth  from  both  sides  considerable  wire-AVorking  and  "log-rolling" 
whenever  an  important  election  is  pending,  and  neither  party  leaves  a  stone 
unturned  to  accomplish  success ;  hence,  exciting  episodes  sometimes  take  place 
between  them  and  humorous  stories  are  told  on  each  side.  The  following  is 
narrated  at  the  expense  of  the  Republicans,  and  is  supposed  to  have  occurred 
about  the  time  of  the  organization  of  that  party  in  the  State.  We  do  not 
vouch  for  its  truth,  but  give  it,  subject  to  any  criticism  or  correction  it  may 
deserve.  A  little  party  was  formed,  consisting  of  seventeen  individuals,  to  go 
into  one  of  the  rural  towns  to  organize  the  sturdy  yeomanry,  and  they 
contributed  $1  apiece  for  the  purpose  of  providing  a  lunch  for  the  occa- 
sion, as  they  contemplated  being  out  all  day.  One  of  the  number  was  ap- 
pointed to  procure  the  lunch,  and  well  knowing,  perhaps,  the  appetites  of 
the  party,  he  invested  $16,  of  the  $17  appropriated,  in  whisky  and  $1  in 
crackers.  They  proceeded  on  their  mission,  and,  as  they  performed  their  very 
"arduous  labors,"  had  frequent  recourse  to  the  bottles  of  the  "all-healing  bal- 
sam of  life  and  comfort."  Toward  evening,  one  of  the  party  came  to  the 
"  butler,"  with  a  hungry,  thirsty  look  upon  his  alabaster  countenance,  and 
wanted  "  some  more  that  'ere  liquor."  He  was  informed  that  it  was  nearly  out, 
and  he  would  have  to  cut  down  his  potations,  to  some  extent,  and  take  crackers 
instead.  After  deliberating  over  the  matter  a  moment,  he  looked  up  and 
remarked,  "  Wh-what  in  the did  ye  (hie)  git  so  many  crackers  for  ? " 

The  following  illustrates  the  other  side  pretty  well :  "  Uncle  Billy  Hughs," 
as  everybody  called  him,  was  a  blood-red  Democrat.  He  lived  in  Pleasant 
Grove  Township,  and,  every  time  he  came  to  Charleston,  was  sure  to  get  drunk, 
•on  the  principle  that  that  was  one  of  the  first  duties  of  a  Democrat.  One  day, 
he  came  to  town  in  his  wagon,  with  two  large,  fine  horses  harnessed  to  it, 
and,  as  usual,  got  "  tight  as  a  tick ;  "  and,  as  he  started  for  home,  his  horses 
ran  away,  threw  him  out  of  the  wagon,  in  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  and  knocked 
the  old  fellow  senseless.     Several  persons,  both  male  and  female,  saw  the  acci- 


306  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

dent,  and  ran  to  his  assistance  and  found  him  apparently  dead.  The  ladies  set 
up  a  lamentation,  and  all  expressed  the  strongest  pity  ;  for  the  old  man  was 
much  beloved,  and,  aside  from  his  love  of  drink,  had  few  faults.  In  the  mean 
time,  a  physician  arrived,  felt  his  pulse,  and  observed  that  he  was  not  dead,  but 
would  be  all  right  soon.  Finally,  his  shoulders  moved,  his  lips  quivered,  and, 
with  a  gasp,  he  opened  his  eyes  and  looked  around.  Feebly  he  inquired  where 
he  was,  when  some  one  volunteered  the  information  that  his  team  had  run  off 
and  thrown  him  out  of  his  wagon.     "  Uncle  Billy"  raised  up  on  his  elbow  and 

looked  around  for  a  moment,  and  then  observed:  "Well,  by ,  I  am  (hie) 

the  best  Democrat  (hie)  in  Coles  County,  anyhow  I  " 

But  those  times  are  past,  and  we  will  observe,  right  here,  that  there  is  not  a 
licensed  saloon  in  Charleston  Township  nor  city,  a  fact  that  is  highly  creditable 
to  their  citizens. 

In  the  late  war,  Charleston  bore  no  inconsiderable  part.  Many  of  her  citi- 
zens left  their  homes,  kindred  and  all  that  was  dear  to  the  heart,  and  went  forth 
to  battle  for  the  Union  that  they  loved  better  than  all  things  else.  Several 
from  this  township  laid  down  their  lives  in  its  defense,  and  their  bones  lie 
mingled  with  the  dust  of  the  far-off  Southern  fields  where  they  met  the  foe.  It 
is  no  reproach  to  their  valor  that  they  fell  before  a  foe  as  brave  as  themselves. 
We  give  the  names,  herewith,  of  all  now  living  in  the  township  who  served  in 
the  late  war,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  get  them  :  W.  E.  Robinson  entered 
the  army,  in  1861,  as  Captain  of  Company  E,  Fifty-second  Illinois  Volun- 
teers. James  M.  Ashmore  entered  the  army  as  Captain  of  Company  C,  Eighth 
Illinois  Volunteers;  wounded  at  Shiloh.  G.  M.  Mitchell,  in  June,  1861,  as 
Captain  of  Company  C,  First  Illinois  Cavalry — the  first  three  years  regiment  to 
leave  the  State;  promoted  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  Fifty-fourth  Infantry  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1862,  and  in  October,  1863,  promoted  to  Colonel;  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran 
in  1864,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  was  brevetted  Brigadier  General.  H.  A. 
Neal,  in  fall  of  1864,  enlisted  in  Company  K,  First  United  States  Heavy 
Artillery,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  W.  E.  Adams,  in  1862,  as 
Captain  of  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Illinois  Volunteers, 
and  served  to  the  close  of  the  war.  A.  M.  Peterson  enlisted  in  Company  K, 
Twenty-first  (Grant's  old  regiment)  Illinois  Volunteers,  July,  1861  ;  rose  to 
the  rank  of  Captain,  and  resigned,  in  1862,  on  account  of  ill-health.  Isaac  Vail 
enlisted  August,  1862,  in  Company  E,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry ;  was  Orderly  Sergeant,  and  was  with  Sherman  in  the  march 
to  the  sea.  Charles  Cleary  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Twelfth  Kentucky  Cavalry 
( Union) ;  promoted  to  Orderly  Sergeant,  and  then  to  First  Lieutenant,  and  was 
detailed  as  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant  General ;  was  on  Col.  Crittenden's  stafl", 
and  served  until  close  of  the  war.  J.  A.  Connely  enlisted,  in  1862,  as  Major  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Illinois  Volunteers  ;  served  until  close  of 
the  war,  two  years  of  the  time  as  Inspector  General  of  the  Fourteenth  Army 
Corps,  and  was  on  the  "  march  to  the  sea."     Joseph  F.  Goar  enlisted,  in  1862,, 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  307 

in  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  served  until  close  of  the  war.  Eli  Huron  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Fifty- 
third  Indiana  Volunteers ;  promoted  to  Orderly  Sergeant,  and  lost  right  arm 
in  the  second  battle  of  Corinth.  E.  E.  Clark  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Seventy- 
third  Ohio  Volunteers,  and  served  about  two  years  ;  and  also  in  Adjutant  Gen- 
erals  office.  Thomas  A.  Marshall  entered  the  army  as  Colonel  of  First  Illinois 
Cavalry,  and  served  until  the  muster-out  of  the  regiment.  T.  E.  Tillotson 
enlisted  in  Company  H,  Fourth  Ohio  Volunteers,  in  April,  1861 ;  assisted  in 
raising  a  company,  and  was  appointed  Orderly  Sergeant ;  commissioned  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  before  leaving  the  State ;  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  in 
1862,  and  to  Captain  in  1864  ;  after  the  battle  of  Peach-Tree  Creek,  was 
brevetted  Lieutenant  Colonel  by  President  Lincoln  for  meritorious  service,  and, 
after  the  close  of  the  war,  was  brevetted  Major  by  President  Johnson.  John  H. 
Clark  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Fourteenth  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  promoted  to 
Orderly  Sergeant.  C.  Swarts  enlisted  in  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Six- 
teenth Indiana  Volunteers,  in  the  summer  of  1863.  Adam  Metzler  enlisted,  in 
the  fall  of  1862,  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-seventh  Ohio  Volunteers, 
served  nine  months,  and  then  enlisted  in  the  regular  army  (Fourth  United 
States  Cavalry),  and  served  three  years  on  the  frontier.  R.  P.  Hackett  enlisted 
in  Company  K,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- third  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  served 
three  years ;  severely  wounded  at  Milton,  Tenn.,  and  still  carries  the  ball. 
Christian  Schytt  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Thirty-second  Illinois  Volunteers. 
J.  W.  Evans,  enlisted  in  Company  K,  First  Tennessee  (Union)  Volunteers. 
Robert  L.  Reat,  Company  A,  Seventy-eighth  Indiana  Volunteers.  William 
A.  Jeffries,  Company  C,  Eighth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  three-months 
men ;  re-enlisted  in  Sixty-third  Infantry,  and  was  chosen  Second  Lieutenant 
of  Company  K.  Dr.  W.  M.  Chambers,  appointed  Brigade  Surgeon  by  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  in  1861,  and  served  until  1865.  Brevetted  Lieutenant  Colonel, 
and  then  Colonel,  for  meritorious  services.  As  will  be  seen  from  the  above  list, 
many  of  the  men  there  mentioned  enlisted  in  other  States,  but  are  now  resi- 
dents of  Charleston  (town  and  city) ;  while  many  of  those  living  here  at  the 
time  of  enlistment,  having  removed  to  other  sections,  we  have  been  unable  to 
learn  their  names. 

BLOODED    STOCK. 

In  the  general  county  history  we  noted  the  fact  that  considerable  attention 
was  being  paid  to  the  breeding  of  blooded  stock  in  the  county,  and  mentioned 
the  names  of  several  parties  who  are  engaged  in  improving  different  breeds  of 
animals,  viz. :  W.  A.  Whittemore,  J.  W.  Wright,  H.  M.  Ashmore  and  I.  U. 
Gibbs  engaged  in  breeding  fine  horses ;  William  Miller,  S.  C,  Ashmore, 
Ambrose  Edwards,  Isaac  Flenner,  R.  L.  Reat  and  R.  S.  Hodgen,  fine  cattle  ; 
and  Shepard  &  Alexander,  Poland-China  hogs.  The  fine  herds  of  this  excel- 
lent stock  of  hogs,  owned  by  Messrs.  Shepard  &  Alexander,  deserve  more  than 
a  mere  passing  notice.     In  a  pamphlet  which   they  have  published,  descriptive 


308  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

of  the  Poland- China  stock,  for  gratuitous  distribution  among  their  patrons,  we 
make  some  extracts,  which  will  be  found  of  interest  to  hog-raisers  generally. 
In  this  pamphlet,  they  take  up  the  history  of  the  hog,  almost  from  the  time 
Noah  let  him  out  of  the  Ark,  and  follow  it  in  a  concise  manner  to  its  "culmi- 
nation of  perfection  "  in  the  Poland-China  stock.  Speaking  of  this  fine  breed  of 
hogs,  they  say  :  "  The  Poland-China  is  a  breed  established  in  the  Miami  Val- 
ley, as  early  as  the  year  1835.  The  direct  and  careful  history  of  some  of  the 
original  breeds  from  which  this  splendid  animal  was  derived,  cannot  be  given  as 
fully  and  as  particularly  as  its  present  importance  and  fast-growing  popularity 
demand.  As  early  as  1820,  the  farmers  of  Ohio  obtained  some  hogs  of  an 
improved  breed  known  as  the  Poland,  and  crossed  upon  the  common  stock  of  the 
country,  and  upon  this  question  of  the  Poland  hog  several  bitter  controversies 
have  arisen;  but  that  such  a  breed  of  hogs  existed  at  that  day,  and  long  since, 
we  have  not  the  slightest  doubt.  *  *  *  *  ^j^g  Poland  hog 
used  by  these  fiirmers  and  stock-raisers  is  described  as  a  large  lop-eared,  dark 
colored  hog,  attaining  great  weight,  but  slow  in  maturing.  This  cross  produced 
by  the  Poland  was  again  crossed  by  the  Byfield,  a  breed  originating  in  New 
England;  but  being  of  mixed  breed  itself,  produced  but  little  change;  and  not 
satisfying  their  standard  of  a  practical  hog,  they  in  a  few  years  introduced  the 
big  spotted  China,  imported  from  England.  This  last  was  an  English  breed, 
the  result  of  crosses  with  the  original  Chinese.  The  infu?ion  of  the  blood  of 
this  spotted  China  produced  very  marked  and  important  changes  in  this 
famous  hog,  decreasing  the  size  and  increasing  the  fattening  qualities,  refining 
the  bone  and  perfecting  the  symmetry  of  form,  etc."  By  other  crosses,  as 
given  in  this  history,  with  the  Wobum,  Irish  Graziers  and  Berkshires,  has 
resulted  the  formation  of  a  breed  of  hogs  of  the  most  desirable  qualities,  and 
since  1834-35,  no  new  blood  has  been  infused  into  this  breed  of  Poland-China. 
Messrs.  Shepard  &  Alexander  conclude  their  history  of  this  famous  breed  as 
follows  :  "  They  have  been  fully  tested  m  all  the  various  climates  of  the  United 
States,  and,  under  all  circumstances,  have  proved  themselves  hardy,  prolific,  free 
from  disease,  with  great  action  and  constitutional  vigor,  and  always  bring  the 
highest  price  as  porkers  in  the  markets.  They  can  be  made  to  weigh,  at  ten 
months,  350  to  400  pounds  ;  at  eighteen  months,  from  500  to  940  pounds. 
The  best  average  fat  hogs  made  in  the  United  States  have  been  of  this  breed. 
One  lot  of  forty  head,  raised  by  one  man,  averaged  at  twenty-two  months,  613 
pounds.  In  color,  they  are  spotted  black  and  white,  with  occasionally  a  sandy 
tinge,  varymg,  however,  according  to  the  peculiar  fancy  of  the  breeder,  from 
almost  white  to  nearly  black." 

Shepard  &  Alexander,  well-known  citizens  of  this  township  have  made  a 
specialty  for  some  years  of  the  Poland-China  hog,  and  their  famous  herds  are 
extensively  and  favorably  known  all  over  the  country.  They  claim  that  the 
Poland  China  is  the  hog  for  the  farmer,  combining  more  excellence  than  any 
other  breed  of  swine,  having  great  size,  good  style,   docility,   fertility,  early 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  309 

maturity,  aptitude  foi'  taking  on  flesh,  and  great  constitutional  vigor.  As  show- 
ing that  they  will  fatten  at  any  age,  they  give  the  following  weights  of  two  lots 
of  pigs  fattened  at  eleven  months  old.  Thirty  head  averaged  389  pounds, 
thirty  head  384  pounds,  and  an  extra  lot  of  ten,  at  ten  months  old,  averaged 
410  pounds.  In  conclusion  of  their  pamphlet,  they  offer  the  following  sensi- 
ble advice  to  farmers :  ''Pork-raising  at  the  West  stands  pre-eminent  as  a 
branch  of  stock-raising,  and  there  is  no  better,  more  profitable  or  easier  wav 
for  a  farmer  to  make  his  grain  than  by  feeding  it  into  a  good  breed  of  hogs, 
and  it  is  time  that  the  farmers  of  the  West  and  South  gave  this  branch  of 
stock-raising  the  attention  that  its  fast-growing  importance  demands." 

As  stated  in  the  general  county  history,  the  county  Avas  first  divided  into 
districts  called  election  precincts,  and  so  remained  until  township  organization 
in  1859-60.  This  district  was  known  as  Charleston  Precinct,  and  under  town- 
ship organization  became  Charleston  Township,  and  was  originally  named  for  the 
county-seat,  which  had  been  given  in  honor  of  Charles  Morton,  who,  as  before 
stated,  donated  twenty  acres  of  land  to  the  county  for  the  purpose  of  defraying 
the  expenses  of  putting  up  the  necessary  public  buildings.  The  first  Super- 
visor of  Charleston  Township,  under  the  new  order  of  things,  was  Richard 
Stoddert.  At  the  present  time,  it  is  represented  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
by  E.  B.  Buck  and  G.  M.  Adkins.  The  Justices  of  the  Peace  of  the  towr- 
ship  are  Charles  Van  Derford,  J.  I.  Brown,  George  Tucker  and  J.  W.  Doty. 

Having  traced  the  history  of  Charleston  Township  from  the  period  of  i:s 
first  settlement  down  to  the  present  time,  showing  its  growth  and  development, 
we  come  to  notice 

THE    CITY    OF    CHARLESTON. 

Charleston  is  pleasantly  situated  on  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroad, 
very  nearly  the  center  of  the  county,  and  117  miles  from  Indianapolis,  14-) 
miles  from  St.  Louis  and  about  the  same  distance  south  of  Chicago.  It  is  a 
handsome  little  city  of  some  four  thousand  inhabitants,  and  noted  for  its  ener- 
getic business  men,  its  mills  and  manufactories,  and  its  excellent  schooh, 
churches,  and  the  genei'al  intelligence  of  its  inhabitants.  While  it  claims  i:o 
very  extensive  manufacturing  establishments,  yet  there  are  several  located 
within  its  limits,  which  will  receive  appropriate  mention  in  the  proper  place. 
It  is  well  supplied  with  water  works,  and  the  pure,  clear  water  of  the  Embar- 
rass River  is  thus  utilized  in  providing  its  people  with  a  bountiful  supply  of 
the  health-giving  element. 

Charleston  was  originally  surveyed  by  Thomas  Sconce,  the  first  Surveyor 
of  Coles  County,  and  laid  out  by  Commissioners  (William  Bowen,  of  Vermilioii 
County  ;  Jesse  Essarey,  of  Clark,  and  Joshua  Barber,  of  Crawford)  appointed 
by  the  Legislature  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  the  seat  of  justice  of  the 
county.  The  original  town  embraced,  as  shown  by  the  plat  on  file  in  the  Re- 
corder's office,  the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section  No.  11,  in 
Township  No.  12  north,  of  Range  9  east.     It  was  resurveyed  in  June,  1839, 


310  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

bj  Joseph  Fowler,  County  Surveyor,  and  in  this  resurvey  is  noted  the  addition 
of  Nathaniel  Parker,  of  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section  10,  etc. 
Since  the  first  laying-out  of  Charleston,  the  records  show  some  fifty  additions  and 
subdivisions  to  the  original  town  by  different  individuals,  giving  it  sufficient  area, 
one  would  suppose,  for  a  much  larger  city.  It  was  named  by  the  Commissioners 
who  located  the  county  seat,  in  honor  of  Charles  Morton,  one  of  the  proprietors  of 
the  land  on  which  it  is  situated,  and  who  donated  twenty  acres  of  land  for 
county  purposes.  In  naming  the  place,  they  added  the  last  syllable  of  Morton's 
last  name  to  his  first  name,  thus  forming  the  word  Charleston. 

The  first  house  was  built  in  Charleston  by  William  Collom,  who  i's  termed 
the  first  actual  settler  in  its  corporate  limits.  It  was  a  small  log  house  of  one 
room,  and  in  this  spacious  building  he  kept  the  first  tavern  in  the  future  city  of 
Charleston,  then  an  incipient  village.  Such  a  diminutive  hotel  would  scarcely 
supply  the  demand  of  the  wayfaring  men  of  Charleston  now.  The  city  is  well 
furnished  with  excellent  hotels.  The  Charleston  House,  with  its  genial  land- 
lord, Dan  Van  Sickle,  is  a  model  in  its  way,  and  is  a  cheerful  home  to  the 
weary,  wayworn  traveler.  Dan  is  an  old  commercial  traveler,  and,  as  such, 
has  been  the  guest  of  half  the  hotels  in  Illinois  and  Indiana,  and  the  experience 
thus  obtained  is  used  in  the  Charleston  House  to  the  advantage  of  his  guests. 
The  Maples  Hotel,  situated  near  the  railroad,  is  less  pretentious,  but,  withal,  an 
excellent  house.  The  first  brick  residence  was  built  by  Col.  Norfolk,  about 
1835-36.  James  Wiley  was  the  contractor,  and  superintended  its  erection.  It 
is  still  standing,  and  being  used  as  a  residence  by  the  widow  of  Col.  Norfolk. 
Charles  Morton  was  the  first  merchant  in  the  village.  As  mentioned  in  the 
history  of  the  township,  he  brought  a  stock  of  goods  with  him  when  he  moved 
to  the  country,  and  opened  them  out  in  a  cabin  where  he  first  settled.  After 
the  laying  out  of  Charleston,  he  had  reserved  a  choice  "corner  lot,"  in  his 
donation  to  the  county,  and  upon  this  he  erected  a  storehouse.  It  was  near 
the  present  post  office.  He  also  erected  a  number  of  "  pole  cabins  "  near  his 
storehouse,  in  the  rude  style  of  architecture  of  that  day.  They  stood  all  in  a 
line,  like  the  "nine  little  Injuns,"  and  these  he  was  in  the  habit  of  "  letting  "" 
to  new-comers,  three  months  free  of  rent,  which  time  was  sufficient  to  build  a 
cabin  of  their  own,  if  they  were  at  all  energetic.  The  second  store  in  Charles- 
ton was  kept  by  Baker  &  Norfolk,  and  was  opened  as  soon  after  the  town  was 
laid  out  as  the  population  of  the  place  would  justify. 

The  first  post  office  was  kept  by  Charles  Morton,  and  was  established  about 
1830-31.  It  was  called  "  Coles  Court  House,"  and,  after  the  town  was  laid  out 
and  christened,  the  name  of  the  post  office  was  changed  to  that  of  Charleston. 
The  mail  came  from  Terre  Haute,  via  Paris,  and  passed  on  west  through  Shel- 
byville,  Taylorville  and  Springfield  to  Quincy.  It  was  carried  by  a  man 
named  Moke,  Avho  was  over  six  feet  high,  and  rode  a  very  small  pony,  his  feet 
almost  touching  the  ground.  His  weekly  trips  were  hailed  as  an  event  of  vast 
importance,  and  everybody  gathered  at  the  post  office  then,  just  as  they  do  now 


y/yiyfjuxrlvK 


KLAND 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  313 

(except  the  "  small  boy,"  who  was  not  invented  then,  and  who  is  the  grandest 
nuisance  to  be  found  about  the  country  post  office  at  mailtime  in  this  fast  age), 
eagerly  looking  for  the  longed-for  letter  from  absent  friends,  although  they  cost 
a  quarter  then,  payable  at  the  office  of  delivery.  Col.  G.  M.  Mitchell  is  the 
present  representative  of  Uncle  Sam  in  the  post  office  department  at  Charles- 
ton, and,  we  may  add,  that  his  duties  are  somewhat  heavier  than  were  Mr. 
Morton's,  when  Moke  used  to  bring  the  mail  once  a  week  on  his  little  pony. 

Owens  and  Harman  were  the  first  blacksmiths  in  Charleston,  and  are 
noticed  elsewhere  as  the  first  in  the  township.  David  Eastin  opened  a  tan-yard 
soon  after  the  laying-out  of  the  village,  which  is  also  noted  in  the  township  his- 
tory, as  is  the  carding  machine  of  John  Kennedy.  Albert  Compton  and  a 
man  named  Hanks  were  the  first  shoemakers,  and  to  them  the  people  were  for 
some  time  indebted  for  a  substantial  "  understanding."  The  former  is  still  a 
resident  of  the  city,  but  long  since  retired  from  the  shoemaking  business.  Col. 
Dunbar  was  the  first  practicing  lawyer,  and  had  the  field  all  to  himself  for 
awhile.  He  is  still  living,  but  has  quit  the  law.  Drs.  Carrico  and  Ferguson 
were  the  first  physicians,  and  both  now  sleep  in  the  church-yard. 

Charles  Morton  had  the  first  mill  in  the  village,  which  was  the  horse-mill 
mentioned  in  the  township  history  as  built  by  Morton,  in  the  vicinity  of  his 
first  settlement.  When  the  village  was  laid  out,  he  moved  it  within  the  corpo- 
ration. The  first  steam-mill  in  Charleston  was  built  by  Byrd  Monroe,  which 
ran  for  several  years,  and  was  then  burned.  He  at  once  rebuilt  it,  and,  after 
several  years,  having  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Gages,  was  again  burned, 
when  they  built  the  large  and  elegant  brick  mill  near  the  Depot,  at  a  cost  of 
about  $40,000.  The  City  Mills  were  built  some  two  years  ago,  by  Alvey  & 
Van  Meter,  a  large,  substantial  brick  edifice,  with  all  the  new  and  im- 
proved machinery.  A  mill  was  built  in  the  west  part  of  town,  years 
ago,  which  finally  passed  into  the  hands  of  Ashmore,  and  was  burned  some 
time  afterward,  and  has  never  been  rebuilt.  Charleston  has  just  cause  to  be 
proud  of  h«r  mills,  for  but  few  cities  of  her  size  can  boast  of  two  more  excellent 
mills  than  the  two  mentioned  above. 

THE    COURT    HOUSE. 

The  first  brick  house  erected  in  Charleston  was  the  present  Court  House, 
which  was  built  some  time  before  Col.  Norfolk's  residence,  mentioned  a  little 
space  ago.  As  noticed  in  the  general  county  history,  the  first  Court  House  in 
Coles  County  was  built  in  the  south  part  of  the  town,  near  where  the  Christian 
Church  now  stands,  and  was  a  log  structure.  The  present  brick  Court  House 
was  built  in  1835,  by  Leander  Munsell,  of  Edgar  County.  His  agreement 
with  the  County  Commisioners  is  dated  December  4,  1834,  and  covers  nearly 
four  pages  of  the  record-book.  The  original  building  was  the  then  prevailing 
style  of  architecture  of  an  old  Kentucky  tobacco-barn ;  was  perfectly  square 
with  the  roof,  running   up  from  all  sides  to  a  point  in  the  center.     "A  steeple 


314  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

to  extend  five  feet,  with  a  ball  about  ten  inches  in  diameter,  to  be  covered  with 
gold  leaf,  and  a  spear  to  extend  six  feet  above  the  ball  with  a  fish  or  chicken  on 
the  top."  The  contract  price  for  the  building  was  $5,000,  and,  at  the  next 
March  term  of  the  Court,  Munsell  was  to  receive  "  one-half  for  the  labor  per- 
formed and  material  furnished,  provided  there  are  sufficient  funds  in  the  treasury 
to  do  it."  The  foundation  of  the  house  was  built  of  the  rock  taken  from  the 
cut  through  the  Embarrass  River  hills  of  the  grade  for  the  old  Terre  Haute  & 
Alton,  now  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroad.  This  building  served  the 
county  many  years  as  its  temple  of  justice  without  alteration;  but  as  the  people 
increased  in  wealth  and  importance,  and  became  proud  and  high-strung  in  their 
notions,  they  were  at  length  seized  with  an  extravagant  fit,  and  had  the  old 
building  renovated  and  "  rejuvenated,"  until  the  very  rats,  that  had  grown 
gray  under  its  floors,  did  not  know  it.  The  building  was  enlarged,  porticoes 
added  and  the  entire  structure  modernized  generally,  so  that  it  now  presents  a 
very  attractive  and  imposing  appearance,  and  is  quite  an  elegant  and  commo- 
dious Court  House.  The  court-room  is  in  the  second  story,  is  large,  airy  and 
well  furnished,  with  jury-rooms,  consultation-rooms,  etc.,  adjacent,  while  on  the 
first  floor  are  the  offices  of  the  County  and  Circuit  Clerks,  the  County  Treasurer 
and  Sheriff",  and  also  the  Jail.  The  "  square "  is  filled  with  young  sugar 
maples,  well  set  in  blue  grass  and  surrounded  by  a  substantial  iron  fence. 

Charleston  makes  no  pretensions  to  a  wholesale  mercantile  trade,  but  its 
retail  business  in  this  line  is  excellent,  and  its  merchants  are  live,  wide-awake, 
energetic  business  men,  who  are  well  up  to  the  times,  with  large  and  complete 
stocks  of  goods  sufficient  to  fill  all  demands.  But  few  cities  of  its  population 
have  as  good  a  class  of  business  houses  as  Charleston,  many  of  them  being  of  a 
style  and  quality  that  would  look  well  in  more  pretentious  cities.  Our  space 
will  not  admit  of  the  particularization  of  the  diff"erent  mercantile  houses,  and 
we  pass  with  this  general  compliment  to  their  worth  and  honesty. 

The  banking  business  was  begun  in  Charleston  as  early  as  1853.  In  the 
fall  of  the  vear  mentioned,  T.  A.  Marshall  and  others  established  "  The 
Farmers'  &  Traders'  Bank."  This  bank  flourished  until  1857-58,  when  in 
the  great  financial  crash  that  swept  over  the  land  in  those  dark  and  gloomy 
years,  it,  like  hundreds  of  others,  went  down.  About  1860-61,  Marshall  & 
McCrory  commenced  a  private  bank,  which,  with  some  changes  in  its  name 
and  partners,  finally  became  the  Second  National  Bank,  and  as  such  is  still  in 
existence.  The  President  of  this  bank  is  Isaiah  H.  Johnston,  and  Charles, 
Clary,  Cashier. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Charleston  was  developed  from  the  private 
banking  firm  of  T.  G.  Chambers  &  Co.  This  firm  had  been  doing  a  general 
banking  business  since  1866,  and,  about  1868,  together  with  another  private 
banking  firm,  consolidated  and  formed  the  First  National  Bank,  with  Thomas 
G.  Chambers,  President,  and  William  E.  McCrory,  Cashier,  which  positions 
both  gentlemen  still  hold.     Both  the  First  and   Second  Nationals  are  sound. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  315 

healthy  establishments,  officered  by  men  who  have  a  long  experience  in  banking 
and  who  possess  the  entire  confidence  of  the  people  and  the  community  at  large. 

MANUFACTORIES. 

One  of  the  largest,  perhaps  the  largest,  manufacturing  establishment  in 
Charleston  is  the  Broom-Factory  of  Traver  &  Nixon.  Although  it  has  been 
in  operation  but  a  few  years,  their  business  has  increased  almost  beyond 
belief.  They  manufacture  many  thousand  dozen  of  brooms  annually,  which 
are  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  country,  but  principally  south — New  Orleans 
being  one  of  the  best  points,  Georgia  and  Texas  next.  Three  salesmen  are 
continually  on  the  road.  Their  business  sums  up  about  |60,000  a  year  ; 
seventy  hands  are  employed  at  an  expense  of  $15,000  per  year.  They  culti- 
vate about  five  hundred  acres  of  broom-corn  in  addition  to  v/hat  they  buy. 
Since  the  establishment  of  this  factory  by  these  energetic  men,  the  cultiva- 
tion of  broom-corn  has  become  an  extensive  business  among  the  farmers.  A 
dozen  years  ago,  there  were  scarcely  so  many  acres  of  broom-corn  grown  in 
the  county ;  now  thousands  of  acres  are  annually  produced,  and  the  business 
is  increasing  every  year.  The  firm  owns  the  Charleston  elevator  and  broom- 
corn  compress  for  baling  and  rebaling  broom-corn  for  shipping,  and  are 
the  only  parties  in  this  section  owning  such  a  machine.  R.  A.  Traver,  the 
senior  member  of  the  firm,  is  the  author  of  "  Traver's  Broom-corn  Cultur- 
ist  and  Broom-maker's  Manual,"  an  interesting  work  devoted  to  the  raising, 
cutting,  curing  and  preparing  broom-corn  for  market,  from  which  we  make  a  few 
extracts,  as  being  of  general  interest  to  our  readers.  Speaking  of  the  cultiva- 
tion of  broom-corn,  he  says:  "  At  the  present  time  Illinois  is  the  acknowledged 
head-center  of  broom-corn  growing  in  the  United  States,  its  rich  and  fertile 
prairies  being  well  adapted  to  its  growth  and  development.  Chicago,  Cleve- 
land and  Philadelphia  broom  manufacturers  say  that  the  finest  and  best  broom- 
corn  comes  from  the  section  of  country  bordering  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
between  Charleston,  Coles  County,  and  Champaign  City.  It  appears  the  soil 
is  naturally  adapted  to  it  so  as  to  grow  a  fine  article  of  hurl  and  brush  corn, 
just  as  some  sections  of  the  United  States  are  better  adapted  to  the  raising  of 
tobacco  than  others.  Chicago  has  become  the  acknowledged  broom-corn  market 
of   the  United  States,  and  at  present  controls  the  market.  *  *  * 

In  raising  broom-corn,  the  first  thing  necessary  is  good  land ;  that  is,  what  is 
considered  good  Indian  corn  land,  and  it  will  always  pay  to  plow  the  land  just 
before  the  planting,  so  that  the  broom-corn  can  get  a  start  of  the  weeds.  In 
fact,  it  never  ought  to  be  planted  on  weedy  land.  The  best  land  for  a  certain 
crop  is  a  sod,  subsoiled,  and  then  there  is  no  trouble  with  weeds.  The  land 
should  be  thoroughly  harrowed  and  in  fine  condition,  and  then  the  seed  should 
never  be  put  into  the  ground  until  the  soil  is  thoroughly  warm,  so  that  it 
will  come  up  soon  and  keep  ahead  of  the  weeds.         *  *  *  * 

As  soon  as  the    blossom  begins  to  fall  off,  then  it  is  time  to  begin  cutting 


816  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

the  broom-corn,  and  the  sooner  it  is  cut  the  better,  so  that,  when  dried,  it 
will  be  a  bright  pea-green  color,  as  that  color  commands  the  highest  price 
in  the  market ;  the  brush  also  weighs  heavier,  and  is  tougher  and  wears  bet- 
ter when  made  into  brooms.  The  ditFerence  in  price  in  all  of  the  large  markets 
between  bright-green  and  ripe  red  brush  generally  runs  thus :  red,  per  lb.,  2 
cents  ;  green  hurl,  per  lb.,  8  cents — or  in  about  that  proportion;  so  it  will  be 
seen  that  it  is  of  very  great  importance  that  it  be  cut  and  cured  so  as  to  be  of  a 
bright-green  color."  A  great  deal  more  of  valuable  information  is  given  in  this 
interesting  little  pamphlet. 

The  Charleston  Foundry,  owned  by  A.  N.  Bain,  are  quite  an  extensive 
establishment.  In  1857,  he  and  his  brother,  William  Bain  (now  dead),  came  to 
Charleston  and  erected  a  small  frame  building  for  a  foundry  and  machine-shop. 
For  several  years,  their  receipts  were  small,  and,  it  was  not  until  1863  that  they 
commenced  the  manufacture  of  stoves,  which  they  continued  until  their  popu- 
larity and  business  increased  to  a  voluminous  extent,  and  they  manufactured 
fifty-two  different  kinds  and  sizes  of  stoves.  A  trade  was  built  up  that  extended 
from  Indianapolis  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  House-fronts  and  ornamental  ver- 
anda work  was  added  to  their  business,  and  many  towns  in  Illinois  show  fair 
specimens  of  this  line  of  work.  William  Bain  died  in  1875,  since  which  time 
the  business  has  been  owned  by  A.  N.  Bain  alone. 

The  Woolen-Mills  of  Messrs.  Weiss  &  Frommel,  are  quite  a  large  institution 
of  the  kind.  It  was  originally  established  by  Henry  Weiss,  at  whose  death 
Gruenther  Weiss,  one  of  the  present  proprietors,  purchased  an  interest.  His 
partner,  Frederick  Frommel,  first  engaged  with  Henry  Weiss  as  a  traveling 
salesman,  and,  after  Mr.  Weiss'  death,  he  also  purchased  an  interest  in  the  mills, 
since  which  time  the  firm  has  been  Weiss  k  Frommel.  They  do  a  large  busi- 
ness in  the  manufacture  of  woolen  goods,  and  are  highly-respected,  energetic 
business  men  of  the  city. 

The  pork-packing  establishment  of  I.  H.  Johnston  is  a  large  concern,  and 
in  the  days  gone  by  did  a  large  business,  but  for  the  last  year  or  two  has  not 
been  operated  to  its  full  capacity,  but  during  the  winter  season  does  a  good  deal 
in  its  way. 

Among  the  early  munufacturing  establishments  of  Charleston  might  be 
mentioned  the  brickmaking  of  George  Tucker.  He  was,  some  years  ago,  the 
largest  brick  manufacturer  in  Coles  County,  and  large  building  contractor ;  has 
built  a  majority  of  the  brick  buildings  in  Charleston.  He  is  a  prominent  Mason 
and  Odd  Fellow,  and  to  him  we  are  indebted  for  a  history  of  these  fraternities. 

There  are  several  other  manufactories  of  less  note,  such  as  plow,  wagon  and 
carriage  factories,  which  do  quite  a  thriving  business,  but  do  not  manu- 
facture on  a  large  scale.  Charleston,  we  have  no  doubt,  will,  in  time,  become 
quite  a  manufacturing  city.  All  that  is  needed  is  a  little  capital  to  develop  the 
coal-fields,  which  lie  but  a  few  hundred  feet  below  the  surface.  Time  will  do 
the  balance. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  317 

VILLAGE     ORGANIZATION. 

Charleston  was  organized  as  a  village  in  1853,  and,  of  the  first  Board  of  Vil- 
lage Trustees,  Nathan  Ellington  was  President.  In  1865,  it  was  incorporated 
as  a  city,  with  L.  P.  Tomlin  as  the  first  Mayor,  and  the  old  Board  of  Trustees 
acting  as  Aldermen.  The  Council  and  city  officers  at  present  are  as  follows, 
viz.:  Hon.  W.  R.  Patton,  Mayor.  Aldermen — R.  Alexander,  R.  A.  Traver, 
Harvey  Said,  E.  H.  Clark,  W.  S.  Coon,  Robert  Stewart,  H.  M.  Ashmore  and 
James  Skidmore.  The  City  Clerk  is  Andrew  Kershaw;  George  Steigman, 
Treasurer  ;  A.  C.  Ficklin,  Attorney  ;  William  Jeff"ries,  Marshal,  and  W.  Good- 
man, Superintendent  of  Streets.  The  city  has  an  excellent  Fire  Department, 
consisting  of  Engine,  Hose  Company  and  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  well- 
organized  and  equipped.  Water  Works  have  been  added  to  the  city's  con- 
venience, welfare  and  safety,  which,  in  connection  with  its  splendid  Fire  Depart- 
ment, have  saved  the  city  many  thousands  of  dollars.  The  Water  Works  were 
built  in  1875,  and  are  of  a  substantial  character.  The  water  is  brought  two 
miles,  from  the  Embarrass  River,  thus  utilizing  that  beautiful  little  stream  in 
another  capacity  than  mills  and  navigation. 

The  bar  of  Charleston  (not  the  one  where  you  look  upon  the  wine  when  it 
is  red,  for  Charleston  is  a  red-ribbon  town)  stands  high,  and  combines  an  array 
of  legal  talent  that  will  compare  with  any  community.  Space  will  not  permit 
particular  mention  of  all  as  they  deserve,  hence  we  shall  not  attempt  it.  But 
the  names  of  Connely,  Cunningham,  Ficklin,  Wiley,  Neal,  Peterson,  Adams, 
and  others  will  be  recognized  as  men  of  eminence  and  ability. 

The  medical  fraternity,  too,  is  able  and  deserving  of  a  more  particular  men- 
tion than  our  space  will  allow.  It  embraces  men  who  stand  high  in  their  pro- 
fession, and  have  held  high  positions  in  the  medical  societies  and  institutions  of 
the  community. 

•'  THE    CHURCH    HISTORY. 

The  religious  history  of  Charleston  is  as  old  as  the  town  itself.  The  first 
religious  services  were  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  old  Predestinarian  Bap- 
tists, who,  at  one  time,  were  quite  numerous  in  the  town  and  county,  but  are 
rather  scarce  at  the  present  day.  Once  they  had  a  church-building  in  Charles- 
ton, with  a  flourishing  society  and  several  ministers,  among  whom  were  two  or 
three  of  the  Parkers  and  Elder  Newport.  The  organization,  we  believe,  is  still 
kept  up,  but  they  have  no  regular  preacher,  nor  regular  church  services,  and 
but  few  members. 

A  society  of  the  Old- School  Presbyterians  was  organized  June  13,  1835,  by 
Rev.  John  McDonald  and  John  Montgomery,  with  thirteen  members,  as  follows, 
viz.:  James  Lumbrick,  Thomas  0.  Roberts  and  wife,  Rosina  Letner,  Adam 
Mitchell  and  wife,  James  Mitchell  and  wife,  William  Collom  and  wife,  Eugenia 
Campbell,  Arthur  G.  Mitchell  and  wife,  of  whom  only  three  are  now  living, 
viz.:       Mrs.  Esther  Mitchell  (widow  of  James  A.  Mitchell,  afterward  married 


318  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

to  James  Lumbrick,  and  again  a  widow),  Mrs.  Eliza  CoUom  and  Mrs.  Arthur 
Mitchell.  The  following  preachers  have  administered  to  the  Church  since  its 
organization,  mostly  as  "stated  supply  "'  :  Rev.  John  McDonald,  from  organ- 
ization to  the  spring  of  1843,  with  the  exception  of  about  one  year  in  1840-41, 
when  Stephen  A.  Hodgeman  preached  as  stated  supply.  Rev.  H.  I.  Venable 
supplied  the  pulpit  for  about  one  year  in  1844-45,  when  Rev.  Joseph  Adams 
was  called,  and  preached  from  1846  to  1849.  Rev.  Robert  A.  Mitchell  was  then 
called,  and  labored  as  stated  supply  from  1849  to  the  spring  of  1853.  Rev.  H. 
I.  Venable*  was  recalled  in  the  spring  of  1853,  and  continued  in  charge  until  the 
close  of  1855,  when  Rev.  R.  A.  Mitchell  was  again  called,  and  labored  as  stated 
supply  from  early  in  1856  until  1858,  when  he  was  installed  Pastor,  upon  the 
completion  of  the  new  house  of  worship.  He  continued  as  the  Pastor  until 
April,  1870,  when  he  resigned  the  charge,  having  labored  in  this  Church,  alto- 
gether, for  about  sixteen  years.  Rev.  R.  F.  Patterson  was  then  called,  and 
commenced  his  labors  in  October,  1870,  and  continued  until  the  close  of  the 
year  1873,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  the  ill-health  of  his  wife.  Rev. 
James  A.  Piper  was  then  called  to  the  charge,  and  labored  one  year  as  stated 
supply,  when  he  was  elected  and  duly  installed  Pastor,  a  position  he  still  holds, 
beloved  by  all,  making  the  seventh  minister  who  has  served  this  Church  since 
its  organization. 

The  first  church  edifice  was  commenced  about  1842,  and  finished  in  1845 — 
a  frame  building,  costing  about  $1,000.  The  second  building  was  commenced 
in  1857  and  completed  in  the  summer  of  1858,  and  was  dedicated  to  the  service 
of  God  in  August  of  that  year.  The  dedicatory  sermon  and  prayer  was  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Newell,  of  Paris,  111.  It  is  a  brick  structure,  and  cost,  originally, 
about  |!9,000,  with  an  additional  cost  of  $5,000,  for  improvements,  made  the 
"memorial  vear,"  in  which  the  two  churches — the  new  and  the  old — were  united, 
thus  making  the  sum  total  of  the  cost  of  building  and  improvements  about 
$14,000.     Membership,  about  two  hundred  and  ten. 

The  following  persons  have  acted  as  ruling  Elders  of  the  Church  since  its 
organization,  in  the  order  mentioned,  viz.:  James  A.  Mitchell  and  James  Lum- 
brick, elected  at  organization  ;  William  Collom  and  Stephen  B.  Shellady,  elected 
October  14,  1837  ;  James  M.  Miller  and  Dr.  R.  H.  Allison,  elected  April  26, 
1845  ;  George  S.  Collom  and  James  E.  Roberts,  elected  October  25,  1851 ; 
John  A.  Miles,  elected  in  1853;  John  McNutt  and  William  Miller,  elected 
December  9,  1854;  A.  Carroll  and  Richard  Roberts,  elected  February  27,  1864; 
Robert  F.  McNutt  and  T.  C.  Miles,  elected  October  13,  1866  ;  Willliam  E. 
Adams  and  T.  C.  Miles  (the  latter  re-elected),  March  28,  1871. 

The  Sunday  school  was  organized  about  1842  or  1843,  and  has  been  kept 
up  nearly,  or  quite  all  the  time  since,  except  during  the  winter  season  prior  to 
the  completion  of  the  first  church-building  in  1845.  W.  J.  Ashmore  is  the 
present  Superintendent,  and  there  are  on  the  roll  the  names  of  about  two  hun- 

*  None  labored  more  than  one-half  of  the  time  previous  to  Rev.  Mr.  Venable's  second  call. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  319 

dred  and  fifty  children.  Mr.  J.  M.  Miller  is  Clerk  of  the  Session,  and  to  his 
courtesy  and  kindness  we  are  indebted  for  the  interesting  history  of  this  vener- 
able Church. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Charleston  was  organized  in 
1837.*  Robert  Lightfoot  and  family  settled  in  the  neighborhood  in  1836, 
and  Mrs.  Barthenia  Lightfoot,  his  wife,  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  Being  joined  by  parties  who  had  recently  moved  from  Ohio,  and 
James  Y.  Brown  and  others,  who  were  members  of  the  society  which  had  been 
organized  east  of  town,  they  united  in  forming  the  first  Methodist  Church  of 
this  city.  The  name  of  the  minister  who  originally  organized  the  society  can- 
not now  be  ascertained.  The  first  church  edifice  erected  was  a  large  frame 
building,  very  large  for  that  early  day,  and  was  built  about  the  year  1839,  on 
the  block  where  Dr.  Van  Meter's  residence  now  stands,  and  was  of  so  frail  a 
construction  that  it  was  only  used  about  two  years,  when  it  was  pulled  down  to 
give  place  to  a  much  more  elegant  and  durable  frame  building.  The  Church 
worshiped  in  this  temple  until  1857,  when  the  present  brick  edifice  was  erected, 
under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Timothy  B.  Taylor,  Pastor  in  charge.  It  is  a  very 
neatly  constructed  building,  two  stories  high — the  basement  containing  one  large 
room  and  two  small  class-rooms.  The  entire  cost  of  this  building,  including 
the  spire,  was  about  $10,000.  It  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Hiram  Buck,  who  is 
still  a  leading  member  of  the  Illinois  Conference.  There  has  recently  been 
added  to  this  church  property  a  convenient  and  valuable  parsonage.  The  pres- 
ent active  membership  is  201,  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Wolfe. 
The  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  1840,  and  has  an  average  attendance  of 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  ;  the  Superintendent  is  Charles  Clarey. 

The  history  of  the  Christian  Church  in  Charleston  is  of  more  modern  date 
than  that  of  the  societies  already  given.  It  was  originally  organized  about  1842, 
by  Elder  Samuel  Peppers.  The  first  church  was  built  in  1846-47,  which  was 
used  for  a  number  of  years  and  then  sold  to  the  Catholics,  and  the  present  brick 
edifice  erected  in  the  south  part  of  the  city,  a  short  time  previous  to  the  begin- 
ning of  the  late  war.  We  were  unable  to  obtain  the  names  of  all  the  Pastors, 
but  of  those  who  have  administered  to  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  Church  since 
its  organization  are  Elders  Tyler,  Tully,  Young  and  Peppers.  The  present 
Pastor  is  Elder  Walter  S.  Tingley,  formerly  of  Indiana,  and  he  has  in  his  charge 
over  two  hundred  members.  The  Sunday  school  was  organized  about  the  same 
time  as  the  Church.  It  has  a  large  attendance,  and  is  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  William  Wright. 

The  Universalist  Church  is  of  comparatively  recent  organization  in  Charles- 
ton. The  society  was  originally  formed  in  1868,  by  Rev.  W.  W.  Curry,  and 
the  church  edifice  erected  in  1870.  The  only  two  regular  Pastors  since  the 
organization  of  the  Church  were  Revs.  Curry  and  D.  P.  Bunn.  Death  and 
removals  have  reduced  the  membership  to  thirty-six,  though  it  has  far  exceeded 

*There  had  been  an  organization  previous  to  this,  one  and  a  half  miles  east  of  Charleston,  but  of  it  we  were  unable 
to  obtain  anything  definite. 


320  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

this  number.     The  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  1870,  and  has  an  average 
attendance  of  eighty-seven  ;  Joseph  Gtiffitli,  Superintendent,  and  Neil. S.  Dew, 
.Assistant  Superintendent. 

The  Missionary  Baptist  Church  was  organized  by  Rev.  Mr,  Riley,  now  of 
Paris.  They  have  an  excellent  Church  and  Sunday  school,  of  which  Harvey 
Said  is  Superintendent ;  but,  as  the  minister  does  not  reside  in  Charleston,  we 
were  unable  to  learn  much  about  it. 

The  St.  Charles  Roman  Catholic  Church  was  organized  a  number  of  years 
ago.  Their  first  church  was  bought  from  the  Christian  society,  and  after  being 
used  a  short  time  was  blown  down  in  a  storm.  In  1871,  their  present  brick 
church  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  about  $5,000,  and  is  60x30  feet  in  size.  The 
present  Pastor  is  Rev.  Father  C.  Kuhlmann,  and  about  sixty  families  worship 
at  this  church.  The  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  1871,  is  well  attended  and 
is  superintended  by  Mrs.  J.  W.  Dikob. 

There  is  also  a  society  of  the  Episcopalians  in  the  city,  but  they  have  no 
church  edifice,  and,  we  believe,  no  regular  pastor.  They  keep  up  the  organi- 
zation, however,  and  have  occasional  preaching. 

BENEVOLENT    ORGANIZATIONS. 

Freemasonry  was  introduced  in  Charleston  at  an  early  day.  Charleston 
Lodge,  No.  35,  was  organized  October  9.  A.  D.  1845,  A.  L.  5845.  The 
charter  members  were  William  D.  Gage,  Edmund  Roach,  Adam  Mitchell, 
Green  G.  Guthrie,  Thomas  C.  Moore,  James  Watson  and  Jacob  Linder.  of 
whom  William  D.  Gage  was  Worshipful  Master ;  Edmund  Roach,  Senior 
Warden,  and  Adam  Mitchell,  Junior  Warden.  The  present  officers  are :  E. 
B.  Buck,  Worshipful  Master  ;  Harvey  Said,  Senior  Warden  ;  J.  W.  Tucker, 
Junior  Warden  ;  Charles  Clary,  Treasurer ;  J.  I.  Brown,  Secretary ;  H.  C. 
Barnard,  Senior  Deacon  ;  John  A.  Ricketts,  Junior  Deacon ;  George  Burton, 
Tiler,  and  George  Tucker  and  H.  M.  Chadwick,  Stewards.  The  records  show 
about  seventy  members.  The  Lodge  sustained  a  heavy  loss  by  fire  some  years 
ago,  but  has  recovered  from  its  eifects,  and  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

Keystone  Chapter,  No.  54,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  was  organized  August  4, 
1859,  by  virtue  of  a  dispensation  issued  by  the  Most  Excellent  Grand  High 
Priest  of  the  State.  The  first  officers  were  :  H.  P.  H.  Brorawell,  High  Priest ; 
G.  W.  Teel,  King,  and  N.  W.  Chapman,  Scribe.  The  present  officers  are : 
S.  B.  Walker,  High  Priest;  G.  W.  Burton,  King;  George  Tucker,  Scribe; 
W.  W.  Fisher,  Captain  of  Host ;  William  Chambers,  Principal  Sojourner  ;  W. 
S.  Coon,  Royal  Arch  Captain  ;  C.  J.  Endsly,  Third  Vail ;  Jo  Watkins,  Sec- 
ond Vail:  Benjamin  Dawson,  First  Vail  ;  I.  Winters,  Treasurer;  J.  I.  Brown, 
Secretary,  and  J.  A.  Ricketts,  Tiler,  with  twenty-three  members  on  the  roll. 
H.  P.  H.  Bromwell,  mentioned  as  the  first  High  Priest  of  this  Chapter,  and  now 
a  resident  of  Denver,  Colo.,  was  one  of  the  brightest  and  most  talented  Masons 
of  Southern  Illinois,  and  once  served  the  craft  as  Grand  Master  of  the  State. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  321 

Kickapoo  Lodge,  No.  90,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  organized  October  17,  1851,  by 
Grand  Master  H.  S.  Rucker.  The  charter  members  were  B.  M.  Hutchason, 
Elijah  C.  Banks,  A.  D.  Walker,  D.  S.  Gales  and  A.  M.  Henry,  of  whom  B. 
M.  Hutchason  was  Noble  Grand,  and  E.  C.  Banks,  Vice  Grand.  The  present 
officers  are :  Moses  Kershaw,  N.  G.  ;  John  W.  Mock,  V.  G.,  and  J.  I.  Brown, 
R.  S.     Number  of  members  admitted  since  organization,  250. 

Charleston  Lodge,  No.  609,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  organized  March  8,  1876,  by 
Grand  Master  John  H.  Oberley.  Ten  members  were  embraced  in  the  charter, 
and  Dr.  Denman,  of  Kickapoo  Lodge,  was  appointed  Special  Deputy  by  the 
Grand  Master,  and  instituted  the  new  Lodge.  The  present  officers  are  :  E. 
H.  Clarke,  N.  G. ;  Andrew  Stimmols,  V.  G. ;  J.  C.  Hall,  R.  S.  Coles  En- 
campment, No.  94,  was  organized  several  years  ago,  and  is  the  highest  body  of 
the  Odd  Fellows.  The  officers  are :  F.  Frommel,  C.  P. ;  John  Rail,  H.  P., 
and   J.   I.  Brown,   Secretary. 

THE    PUBLIC    SCHOOLS.  ' 

The  following  are  the  statistics  of  the  public  schools  for  1877-78  : 

Whole  number  of  persons  in  district  under  twenty- one 1,596 

Number  between  the  ages  of  six  and  twenty-one 1,087 

Whole  number  of  different  pupils  enrolled 754 

Greatest  number  enrolled  in  any  month 690 

Least  "  "  "  "      550 

Number  of  Teachers  employed 14 

Superintendent 1 

High  school  was  organized  January,  1871.  First  graduating  class,  June, 
1873.  Total  number  of  graduates,  125;  of  these,  54  are  teachers,  or  have 
been,  4  lawyers,  3  doctors,  1  dentist,  2  druggists,  4  merchants,  9  clerks,  3  have 
died,  and  all  are  conducting  themselves  in  such  a  manner  as  to  win  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  the  community.  The  high-school  course  embraces  three 
years. 

In  pursuit  of  such  an  education,  the  studies  of  our  schools  serve  as  efficient 
means  toward  an  end,  but  they  are  not  the  end  sought.  The  higher  and  better 
uses  of  all  studies  are  their  indirect  uses,  the  benefits  that  flow  through  their 
proper  prosecution,  in  greater  power  of  attention,  enlarged  comprehension, 
quickened  curiosity,  greater  self-control,  and  wider  and  more  far-reaching  influ- 
ence over  others.  Our  schools  are  striving  to  attain  these  results.  They  are 
divided  into  three  departments — high  school,  grammar,  primary.  The  primary 
is  divided  into  four  grades,  and  each  grade  into  three  classes ;  the  grammar 
into  three  grades,  and  each  grade  into  two  classes. 
The  present  corps  of  teachers  are : 

Western  Seminar^/ — Miss  Mary  Hampton,  Principal ;  Miss  Ettie  Allison, 
First  Assistant ;  Miss  Emma  Fancier,  Second  Assistant,  and  Miss  Louisa 
Houriett,  Third  Assistant. 


322  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

Eastern  Seminary — Miss  Sallie  Blankenbaker,  Principal ;  Miss  Florence 
Moore,  First  Assistant ;  Miss  Kate  Waters,  Second  Assistant,  and  Miss  Anna 
Teel,  Third  Assistant. 

Central  Building — Mrs.  Nellie  Bain,  Principal,  high  school ;  Miss  Emma 
Bain,  Assistant,  high  school ;  Miss  Kate  Whittemore,  third  grammar  depart- 
ment ;  Mrs.  J.  T.  Terrill,  second  grammar  department ;  Miss  Stella  Hitch- 
cock, first  grammar  department;  Miss  Sarah  Gray,  primary  department. 

Of  the  present  corps  of  teachers,  eight  are  graduates  of  the  high  school. 
An  Alumni  Association  was  formed  in  1874,  and  meets  every  June.  Present 
Superintendent,  Prof.  M.  Moore,  is  now  serving  his  ninth  year. 

The  public-school  buildings  of  Charleston  are  all  elegant  brick  edifices,  of 
modern  architecture,  and  present  a  very  fine  and  imposing  appearance,  partic- 
ularly that  in  the  Central  District.  It  was  built  in  1870-71.  The  corner- 
stone was  laid  in  the  spring  of  1870,  by  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  the 
building  was  completed  in  time  for  the  session  of  1871.  It  cost  about 
$50,000 ;  is  well  arranged  for  school  purposes,  and  supplied  with  all  modern 
improvements  in  the  way  of  school  furniture. 

THE    NEWSPAPERS. 

The  press  of  the  present  day  may  be  styled  "  the  power  behind  the  throne 

that  is  greater  than  the  throne  itself."      The  same  might  be  said  of  it  that  has 

been  said  of  gold — that  it  is  the  "  Archimedean  lever  that  moves  the  world," 

and,  unquestionably,  the  press  of  to-day  is  of  almost  unlimited  power  in  the 

land.     We  sometimes  wonder  if  the  world  would  not  cease  to  move  were  the 

newspapers  all  suppressed.     They  are  one  of  the  luxuries  that  we  could  not 

well    get  along  without,  having  once  known   their  usefulness.     Think  of  it ' 

we  read  to-day  the  news  from  the  capital  of  the  Russias;    from  the  south- 
ern extremity  of  the    Grecian  Archipelago,  from  Athens,   from    Paris,  from 

London,  and  from  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth.     It  is,  indeed,  wonderful 

to    contemplate.      And,  aside   from  this,   the   press   is   a   true  record   of   a 

nation's  greatness.       Every  day,  the  history  of  the  country  is  inscribed  upon 

the  page  of  the  newspaper,  and  without  its  influence  ignorance  would  reign 

supreme. 

The  first  permanent  newspaper  established  in  Charleston  was  the  Courier^ 

now  known  as  the  Plaindealer.     One  or  two  eft'orts  had  been  made  previous  to 

this  to  start  a  paper,  but  a  few  issues  comprised  the  efibrt.     The  first  edition  of 

the   Courier  was  issued  in   1840.     The  proprietors   were   William  Harr  and 

William  Workman.     Harr  bought  out  Workman,  who  afterward  sold  an  interest 

to  George   Harding,  now  connected  with  the  press  of  Indianapolis.     Harding 

remained  with  the  Courier  until  1857,  when  he  sold  his  interest  to  Harr,  who 

conducted  the  paper  until  a  short  time  after  the  emancipation  proclamation  of 

President  Lincoln,  when  he  sold  it  to  Eli  Chittenden,  who  changed  its  name  to 

Plaindealer.     Chittenden  ran  the  paper  for  about  two  years,  when  he  sold  it 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY,  323 

to  John  S.  Theaker,  who  published  it  till  October,  1866,  and  sold  it  to  Dunbar 
BrothBrs.  Albert  Dunbar,  one  of  the  proprietors,  died  in  1875,  when  Lucian 
Dunbar  continued  to  publish  it  until  in  May,  1878,  when  he  sold  it  to  McCon- 
nell  &  Co.,  the  present  proprietors.  It  is  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  live, 
energetic  newspaper. 

George  Harding,  after  his  retirement  from  the  old  Courier  in  1857,  estab- 
lished the  Charleston  Ledger,  which  he  published  about  two  years,  and  sold  it 
to  John  M.  Eastin.  He  sold  it  to  McHenry  Brooks,  who  published  it  until 
1867,  and  sold  it  to  Shoaff  and  Underwood.  About  this  time  the  name  of  the 
Courier  had  been  changed  to  that  of  Plaindealer,  and  ShoafF  &  Underwood 
changed  the  Ledger  into  the  Courier.  Shoaff  sold  his  interest  in  about  a 
year  to  Major  Miller,  who  now  publishes  a  paper  in  Tuscola,  and  in  about  a 
year  more,  Miller  sold  to  E.  B.  Buck,  who,  with  Underwood,  published  the  paper 
until  about  1873-74,  when  Buck  bought  out  Underwood  and  has  published  it 
ever  since.  Mr.  Buck  is  an  editor  of  considerable  experience  and  an  able  news- 
paper man,  and  has  filled  the  oflBce  of  President  of  the  State  Press  Association. 
His  paper  is  true  blue  Democratic,  and  a  faithful  exponent  of  the  principles  of 
that  party. 

The  grain  trade  of  Charleston  is  not  very  extensive,  from  the  fact  that  a 
large  proportion  of  it  is  fed  to  stock  by  the  farmers.  Among  the  grain-buyers 
of  the  city  is  the  firm  of  Messrs.  McDonald  and  Zink,  who  use  the  elevator  on 
the  railroad  owned  by  Traver  k  Nixon,  and  who,  in  the  grain  season,  do  a  very 
large  business. 

A  feature  of  Charleston  is  the  studio  of  Charles  Briggs.  He  was  the  first 
house  and  sign  painter  in  Charleston,  and  from  that  has  taken  up  portrait  paint- 
ing. We  have  seen  several  portraits  of  old  citizens  of  Charleston,  which  show 
considerable  talent  of  the  artist  for  this  kind  of  work.  He  has  made  a  specialty 
of  painting  fine  stock  bred  in  this  county,  in  which  he  excels.  Specimen  paint- 
ings of  hogs  from  Shepard  &  Alexander's  herds  look  so  natural  that  one  natu- 
rally expects  to  hear  them  grunt  and  squeal. 

The  Infirmary  of  Dr.  Van  Meter,  mentioned  in  another  page,  was,  some 
years  ago,  one  of  the  largest  institutions  in  Charleston.  But  years  of  labor, 
and  ill-health  compelled  the  doctor  recently  to  close  it  and  retire  from  active 
business  life. 

Mound  Cemetery,  Charleston's  beautiful  little  city  of  the  dead,  is  located 
about  one  mile  west  of  town,  and  is  well  adapted  for  cemetery  purposes.  The 
name  is  well  chosen,  being  a  large  mound  in  the  center,  and  the  land  sloping 
down  in  all  directions.  The  first  cemetery  is  now  in  the  city  limits  and  becom- 
ing pretty  well  filled.  Mound  Cemetery  was  laid  off,  as  stated,  one  mile  west 
of  the  city. 


324  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 


MATTOON    TOWNSHIP. 


This  township,  named  from  the  city  of  Mattoon,  is  the  middle  one  in  the 
western  tier  of  townships  in  the  county.  It  contains  thirty-six  sections  of  land 
— one  Congressional  township — and  is  principally  prairie  land. 

The  Little  Wabash  courses  through  the  southern  part,  flowing  southward  until 
it  finds  an  outlet  in  the  larger  stream  of  that  name.  In  the  southern  part, 
skirting  this  stream,  is  a  strip  of  timber,  known  as  the  Wabash  Point  Timber, 
and  is  the  locality  where  the  earliest  settlements  were  made.  It  is  the  only 
grove  of  native  forest-trees,  of  any  size,  in  the  township.  The  best  timber  has 
long  been  cut  away  for  use  in  the  settlement  of  the  country,  what  is  left  being 
used  chiefly  for  firewood. 

The  Little  Wabash  aff'ords  the  principal  drainage  in  the  township.  Its  east^ 
ern  part  is  known  as  the  "Divide,"  as  the  water  naturally  runs  in  opposite 
directions  from  that  point.     It  is  almost  the  highest  land  in  Illinois. 

Away  from  the  timber  to  the  north,  the  face  of  the  country  is  generally 
quite  level,  broken  only  by  long  undulations.  It  is  almost  entirely  prairie  land 
in  this  part,  and  was  allowed  to  remain  uncultivated  until  after  the  opening  of 
the  railroads.  It  was  largely  used  for  pasturage  during  this  period,  and  often 
presented  signs  of  great  animation  as  the  herds  of  cattle,  under  the  care  of  their 
drovers,  moved  about  over  its  grassy,  slightly  undulating  surface. 

The  prairies  are  now  the  chief  producing  part  of  the  township.  They 
easily  admit  of  good  drainage  and,  though  to  some  extent  rather  level,  are  ex- 
ceedingly productive.  Corn  is  the  principal  cereal  grown.  The  others  do  w^ell, 
but  throughout  this  part  of  Central  Illinois  are  not  the  staple  article  of  agricult- 
ure. Cattle  and  hogs  are  raised  quite  extensively.  Mr.  Elisha  Linder  and  a 
few  others  have  been  for  many  years  prominently  engaged  in  this  business. 
The  railroads  at  Mattoon  give  a  direct  outlet  to  all  the  chief  markets  of  the 
world  and  should  maintain  a  constant  sale  for  farm  produce. 

A  curious  phenomenon  exists  on  the  farm  of  W.  M.  Champion,  in  the  south- 
west part  of  this  township.  When  digging  for  a  well  in  March,  1871,  after 
attaining  a  depth  of  thirty-one  feet,  a  drill  was  used  which  was  sunk  a  few  feet 
farther,  and  a  vein  of  carbonate  gas  struck.  It  was  observed  that  Avhen  the 
drill  was  withdrawn  the  water  gurgled  up  at  irregular  intervals,  and  as  a  vein 
Avas  supposed  to  be  found  preparations  were  made  to  wall  the  well.  No  smell 
was  attached  to  the  gas,  and  no  thoughts  of  it  being  then  entertained.  From 
the  peculiar  motion  of  the  water  it  was  feared  by  one  of  the  men  that  there 
might  be  poisonous  gases  in  the  well,  and"bne  of  them  went  after  a  wisp  of  hay 
and  another  for  some  shavings.  The  latter  returned  first,  and,  lighting  his 
bunch,  was  hallooed  to  by  the  other  to  "  Throw  it  down."  /.  e.,  on  the  ground. 
Thinking  he  meant  throw  it  in  the  well  he  did,  and  a  frightful  report  and  sheet 
of  flame  burst  forth.  Mr.  Tremble  and  one  or  two  others  who  were  near  were 
severely  scorched  about  the  face,  and  all  were  tremendously  amazed.     The  gas 


H  [STORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  325 

soon  burned  out,  but  would  soon  accumulate.  Various  experiments  were  made 
with  it.  An  iron  tube  was  inserted  and  the  gas  allowed  to  escape  in  a  small 
stream.  When  lighted  it  burned  with  a  brilliant  light.  The  well  soon  became 
notorious  and  was  visited  by  scores  of  people  from  all  sections  of  the  West. 
Finally,  Mr.  Champion  bethought  himself  to  utilize  the  gas,  and,  conducting  it 
by  pipes  to  his  house,  soon  had  it  in  use  in  his  kitchen  to  cook  by,  and  in  other 
stoves  it  was  used  as  fuel.  It  made  an  excellent  light,  and  he  has  all  the  ap- 
pliances of  a  city  in  that  regard.  He  walled  the  well,  and  now  water  stands 
in  it,  all  seasons,  so  that  from  one  well  he  gets  light,  fuel  and  water,  all  without 
any  tax  or  license. 

Attempts  have  been  made  to  obtain  petroleum  in  the  township,  but  all  have 
proved  unsuccessful.  Coal  can  be  had  as  it  was  found  in  exploring  for  oil,  but 
at  such  a  depth  that  it  will  hardly  pay  to  work. 

With  this  brief  outline  of  the  topographical  features  of  the  township,  we 
will  pass  to  that  part  of  more  interest  to  all — the 

EARLY    SETTLEMENTS. 

As  has  been  intimated,  the  earliest  settlement  in  this  township  was  made 
near  the  timber  on  the  Little  Wabash,  in  the  south  part  of  the  township. 
Emigration  to  this  part  of  the  county  came  after  that  part  along  the  Embarrass 
River  had  received  its  first  influx  of  settlers,  hence  the  locality  was  known 
before  any  came  to  live. 

In  the  summer  of  1826,  Mr.  Charles  Sawyer,  a  resident  of  Kentucky, 
came  to  this  part  of  Illinois  looking  for  a  home.  He  remained  a  short 
time  with  the  Trues,  in  what  is  now  La  Fayette  Township,  and  examined  the 
country  to  the  south  and  west  of  them.  Selecting  a  location  at  the  north  side 
of  the  timber,  on  the  Little  Wabash,  he  returned  to  the  True  settlement, 
and  hired  a  man  named  Bates,  for  $10,  to  build  him  a  cabin,  while  he  should 
return  to  Kentucky  for  his  family.  Mr.  Bates  hired  Levi  Doty,  a  young  man 
living  in  the  neighborhood,  to  build  the  cabin,  and,  by  winter,  a  very  comfort- 
able home  was  ready  for  "  Uncle  Charley  "  when  he  should  return.  This  cabin 
was  the  first  habitation  for  a  white  man  known  to  have  been  built  in  the 
bounds  of  either  Mattoon  or  Paradise  Township.  It  stood  near  the  site  of 
Mr.  John  Sawyer's  house  in  Section  28,  and  until  a  few  other  pioneers  could 
erect  similar  habitations,  was  the  home  of  the  emigrant  while  he  was  selecting 
and  preparing  his  own  fireside. 

During  the  interval  from  the  completion  of  the  cabin  by  Mr.  Doty,  and 
what  few  pioneers  he  could  call  to  his  aid,  and  Mr.  Sawyer's  return  in  the 
spring  of  1827,  one  family  made  it  a  temporary  home  until  they  could  build 
their  own  cabins.  The  family  was  that  of  James  Nash.  They  were  living  in  the 
cabin  when  Mr.  Sawyer  arrived.  Some  among  the  early  residents  state  that 
another  family,  that  of  Miles  Hart,  occupied  the  cabin.  Mr.  John  Sawyer  is, 
however,  not  of  this  opinion.     It  may  be  that  Mr.  Hart  remained  in  it  only  a 


326  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

few  days,  while  Mr.  Nash  seems  to  have  used  it  longer.  Which  of  the  two 
statements  is  accurate,  it  is  now  difficult  to  determine,  but  we  are  inclined  to 
the  opinion  that  only  Mr.  Nash  lived  in  the  cabin,  and  that  Mr.  Hart  did  not 
come  until  later,  as  is  mentioned  further  on.  When  "Uncle  Charley,"  as  he 
Avas  afterward  always  known,  returned,  he  brought  with  him  his  two  sons-in- 
law,  John  Young  and  Henry  Cole,  who  each  brought  a  small  family.  Mr. 
Young  settled  where  B.  F.  Mooney  now  lives,  and  Mr.  Cole  immediately  north 
and  adjoining  Uncle  Charley.  These  three  pioneers  had  not  been  long  in  their 
frontier  homes  until  they  were  joined  by  John  Houching,  known  as  "Uncle 
Jack,"  who  settled  the  farm  now  owned  by  Azariah  Sanders.  The  Hart  fam- 
ilies, one  of  whom,  Miles  H.,  has  already  been  noticed,  came  about  the  same 
time,  and  joined  the  infantile  settlement.  Miles  H.  ^as  joined  by  his  father, 
Thomas,  and  his  brothers  Silas,  Jonathan,  Moses  and  Thomas,  Jr.,  all  of  whom 
brought  families  but  the  last  named,  who  was  yet  a  single  man.  The  Hart 
family  settled  in  what  is  now  Paradise  Township,  and  will  be  found  noticed 
there  more  fully.  If  they  all  came  at  once,  then  the  assertion  of  Mr.  John 
Sawyer,  that  Miles  H.  did  not  live  in  his  father's  cabin  prior  to  the  latter's 
permanent  removal,  is  correct.  These  families,  with  James  T.  Cunningham 
and  Jefferson  Coleman  came  together,  and  were  the  pioneers  of  Paradise  Town- 
ship.    The  entire  settlement  at  that  date  was,  however,  counted  as  one. 

These  persons  were  about  all  that  came  in  1827.  They  formed  the  first 
settlement  and  may  be  truly  named  the  pioneers  of  that  part  of  the  county. 

The  next  year,  John  Sawyer,  brother  of  Charles,  located  on  the  east  side 
of  the  timber.  About  the  same  time  that  he  came,  George  M.  Hanson  and 
Dr.  John  Epperson,  the  first  physician  in  the  county,  arrived.  Mr.  Hanson 
settled  the  farm  now  owned  by  John  E.  Tremble,  and  the  Doctor  located 
farther  south,  just  over  the  line  in  what  is  now  Paradise  Township.  Though 
an  early  settler  there,  and  one  whose  history  properly  belongs  to  that  township, 
some  account  of  him  here  will  not  be  out  of  place. 

He  w^as  for  many  years  the  only  physician  of  all  this  part  of  the  country, 
often  riding  twenty  and  thirty  mile^i  to  visit  his  patients.  He  was  uniformly 
kind  and  faithful  in  his  attentions  to  the  sick,  and  was  greatly  respected.  Even 
after  old  age  came  on  and  he  earnestly  requested  none  to  call  on  him  for  pro- 
fessional advice  or  aid,  his  old  neighbors  and  acquaintances  would  not  give  him 
up,  but  came  again  and  again  for  him.  If  he  could  not  go  to  the  patient,  they 
would  ask  for  prescriptions  and  advice,  and  as  long  as  the  old  Doctor  lived,  he 
could  not  deny  them  this.  He  remained  at  his  old  home  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  only  a  little  over  a  year  ago.  The  old  settlers  of  this  part 
remember  well  the  golden  wedding  which  he  and  his  faithful  wife  were  privi- 
leged to  celebrate  a  few  years  ago. 

About  a  year  after  the  settlement  of  the  Doctor  and  Mr.  Hanson,  came 
James  Graham  and  family,  Avho  located  a  little  east  of  Charles  Sawyer.  Mr. 
G.  was  a  local  Methodist  preacher  of  commendable  zeal,  and  a  faithful,  earnest, 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  327 

Christian  man.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  ministers  in  the  western  part  of  the 
county,  and  was  a  man  extensively  known.  Soon  after  he  settled,  Elisha 
Linder  arrived  with  his  mother,  two  sisters  and  one  brother,  and  settled  south 
and  adjoining  Mr.  Graham.  Mr.  Linder  had  been  out  here  in  1829,  and 
selected  a  location,  remaining  about  two  months.  Early  in  1831,  he  returned, 
planted  a  crop,  raised  a  cabin,  and  then  returned  for  his  mother  and  family, 
arriving  with  them  in  October.  They  were  from  Hardin  County,  Ky., 
where  many  of  those  we  have  mentioned  had  lived,  and,  like  their  predecessors, 
came  to  Illinois  to  find  a  new  home,  and  where  they  could  grow  with  the  growth 
of  the  county.  Mr.  Linder  is  still  living  on  his  old  homestead,  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  comforts  a  long,  busy  life  has  gathered  around  him. 

James  Nash,  of  whoiii  mention  has  been  made,  died  soon  after  his  settlement. 
His  was  the  first  death  in  the  community,  and,  for  want  of  better  tools,  his 
coffin  was  made  of  split  walnut  puncheons.  Mr.  John  Sawyer,  Sr.,  now  an  old 
man,  states  that  he  was  among  those  who  made  the  coffin  and  dug  the  grave. 
He  was  a  boy  then,  but  distinctly  remembers  the  circumstances.  No  train  of 
carriages  or  gilded  hearse  bore  his  remains  to  their  last  resting-place.  The  few 
neighbors,  true  to  one  another,  gathered  silently  at  the  cabin  of  their  late  asso- 
ciate, and,  after  a  prayer,  a  song,  and  a  few  remarks  by  the  good  old  Elder,  laid 
him  away  in  his  rough  coffin  and  lonely  grave.  Mr.  Nash's  death  was  the 
result  of  an  injury  received  from  carrying  a  log,  with  which  to  make  a  bee  gum, 
on  his  shoulder.  His  death  occurred  on  December  24,  1829.  He  was  buried 
on  Christmas  Day,  on  a  small  bluff  on  the  Little  Wabash,  near  what  is  now  the 
home  of  John  Thomas,  on  the  road  from  Mattoon  to  Paradise.  This  was  the 
first  grave  dug  for  a  white  settler  at  the  Wabash  Point.  One  of  his  children 
has  since  been  buried  near  him.  The  place  Mr.  Nash  settled  fell  into  the 
hands  of  William  Langston,  another  early  settler.  It  is  now  owned  by 
William  Clark.  George  Morris  settled  west  of  Mr.  Langston's,  his  farm  being 
the  one  now  owned  by  the  widow  Langston.  Next  west  of  Mr.  Morris  was  old 
Mr.  Champion,  father  of  Richard  and  William  Champion.  Further  on  south 
and  west  of  the  timber,  in  what  is  now  Paradise  Township,  were  the  Curry s. 
Moores,  Mclntoshes,  Alexanders,  Crosses,  Brinegers  and  the  Drakes.  These 
were  among  the  early  settlers  in  this  neighborhood,  and  in  Paradise  Township, 
where  they  are  more  particularly  noticed. 

On  November  11,  1830,  Mr.  Hiram  Tremble  came  to  the  infantile  settle- 
ment, pitching  his  camp  near  the  cabin  of  "  Uncle  Charley."  He  says  it  was 
the  common  camping-ground  for  all,  and  Uncle  Charley  was  looked  upon  as  the 
center  of  the  little  group.  He  was  always  a  true  friend  to  all  who  came  ;  was 
a  devout,  earnest  Christian,  a  Methodist,  and  was  among  the  first  to  aid  in 
planting  that  church  at  the  Point. 

Mr.  Tremble  is  a  local  minister  in  that  denomination,  and  is  now  living  on 
his  old  homestead.  He  has  been  quite  active  in  advancing  the  interests  of  this 
part  of  the  county  ;  was  a  contractor  and  builder  of  part  of  the  two  railroads 


328  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

centering  at  Mattoon  ;  helped  build  the  first  grain  warehouse  there,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  merchants  in  the  town.  He  will  be  well  remembered  by  many 
residents  in  his  sketches  of  the  early  times  here,  published  in  the  Mattoon 
Journal,  under  the  title,  "  Forty  Years  Ago,"  and  ft-om  which  we  have 
obtained  much  of  our  information  respecting  the  early  days  of  the  western  part 
of  the  county. 

The  settlers  mentioned  include  about  all  who  came  prior  to  1882.  During 
this  interval.  Coles  County  was  formed,  and  a  voting-place  established  in  this 
neighborhood.  The  first  who  came  generally  lived  in  their  wagons  until  they 
could  erect  a  cabin.  These  cabins  were  built  of  round  logs,  notched  at  the 
ends,  so  as  to  fit  closely  together.  They  were  generally  cut  the  required  length 
in  the  woods,  and,  on  the  "raising-day,"  were  hauled  to  the  place  selected  for 
the  future  home  of  the  pioneer.  As  fast  as  they  were  brought  to  the  ground, 
they  were  notched  and  rolled  into  their  place,  two  of  the  best  men  in  the  party 
acting  as  "end  men." 

When  the  cabin  had  reached  the  required  height,  the  four  last,  or  top,  logs 
were  often  made  three  or  four  feet  longer  than  the  rest,  thereby  projecting  over 
their  fellows.  The  end  pieces  forming  the  cone  were  made  each  one  shorter 
than  its  predecessor,  until  an  apex  was  reached.  On  this,  from  end  to  end,  was 
laid  a  stout  center-pole,  projecting  like  its  fellows  three  or  four  feet  at  either 
end.  About  two  feet  below  it,  another  was  placed,  and  on  down  until  the  ends 
of  the  outstretching  logs  were  reached.  These  were  covered  with  split  oak 
slabs,  one-half  inch  thick,  about  a  foot  wide  and  often  four  feet  long.  They 
were  held  in  their  places  generally  by  "  weight  poles,"  /.  e.,  poles  placed  over  each 
"  lap"  of  the  clapboards,  held  in  their  places  by  short  sticks  placed  endways 
between  them.  Sometimes  stones  were  laid  on  the  roof  in  addition  to  these- 
The  cabin  was  now  a  simple  pen,  with  no  means  of  ingress  and  egress,  and  no 
apertures  for  light,  save  the  cracks  between  the  logs.  They  must  not  be  left 
unclosed,  as  but  little  or  no  protection  could  be  afforded  with  them  open.  A 
bed  of  "  mud  "  mortar  was  made,  the  heart  pieces  of  the  oak,  from  which  the 
clapboards  or  "shakes"  had  been  made  for  the  roof  and  puncheons  for  the 
floor  and  doors,  were  taken,  inserted  edgways  between  the  logs  and  held  in  their 
places  by  pins  driven  into  auger-holes  in  the  logs,  and  all  covered  well  with  the 
mud  mortar  ;  when  thoroughly  dry,  the  chinking  and  daubing  completely  covered 
the  cracks  and  rendered  the  cabin  comfortable. 

An  opening  for  the  door  was  made  in  the  side  of  the  house  by  cutting  a 
space  about  three  feet  in  width  by  six  feet  in  height,  leaving  the  upper  and  lower 
logs  half  cut  through,  one  to  form  a  door-step,  the  other  a  secure  upper-part. 
'•  Jambs  "  were  next  pinned  to  the  ends  of  the  logs,  both  to  hold  them  in  their 
places  and  to  form  a  better  door-frame.  The  door  was  made  of  split  puncheons 
pinned  to  cross-pieces  and  hung  on  wooden  hinges.  The  latch  was  made  on  the 
inner  side  of  the  door,  and  was  raised  from  the  outside  by  means  of  a  leather 
thong  passing  through  a  gimlet-hole  a  few  inches  above  the  latch.     At  night, 


OAKLAND 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  381 

it  was  drawn  in  and  the  door  was  practically  locked.  It  was  always  out  in  the 
daytime,  and  was  considered  by  the  pioneer  an  open  invitation  to  all  to  enter 
and  partake  of  his  hospitality.  It  was,  in  its  mute  way,  a  sign  of  welcome,  and 
gave  rise  to  the  popular,  earnest  proverb,  "  My  latch-string  is  always  out."  This 
was  exemplified  by  the  fact  that  when  it  was  withdrawn  it  was  considered  that, 
for  some  reason,  the  invitation  was  for  the  time  also  withdrawn. 

A  window  for  the  humble  home  was  made,  commonly  opposite  the  door,  bv 
cutting  out  a  space  about  two  feet  square  and  placing  therein  a  window  contain- 
ing two  or  four  window-lights.  In  early  pioneer  times  in  the  West,  when  glass 
could  not  be  obtained,  either  owing  to  the  distance  to  the  settlements  or  the 
poverty  of  the  pioneer,  greased  paper  answered  the  place  of  glass,  the  windows, 
however,  having  only  a  dimension  of  the  width  of  one  log,  and  probably  two 
feet  long.  Sometimes,  especially  in  schoolhouses,  several  feet  in  length  of  a 
log  was  cut  out  and  a  window  made  in  this  manner.  The  next  thing  necessarv 
to  complete  the  cabins  was  the  chimney  or  fire-place.  That  was  always  at 
one  end  of  the  cabin,  aitd  was  often  five  or  six  feet  wide  and  nearly  three  feet 
deep. 

An  aperture  was  made  in  the  logs  of  the  required  length,  and  a  space  meas- 
ured off  outside,  and  covered  either  with  clay  or  more  often  with  flagstones. 
Split  pieces  of  oak  were  made,  one  end  of  which  was  placed  just  inside  the  logs 
of  the  wall,  the  other  projecting  outward,  where  it  was  crossed  by  a  similar 
stick,  both  notched  to  fit  closely  together.  The  inclosure  was  built  up  in  this 
manner  until  the  required  height  was  reached.  The  inside  was  securely  covered 
with  stones  or  a  thick  layer  of  mud,  more  commonly  the  former,  to  prevent  the 
chimney  from  burning.  On  the  top  of  this  pen,  a  chimney  was  made  of  stipks 
and  mud  firmly  cemented  together.  At  the  bottom,  it  was  of  the  same  size,  or 
nearly  so,  of  the  fire-place,  but  grew  narrower  as  it  neared  the  top,  where  it  was 
often  not  more  than  one  foot  square.  This  chimney,  when  properly  constructed, 
was  perfectly  safe,  and  possessed  an  excellent  draught.  On  the  inner  side,  a 
crane  was  hung,  to  which  were  suspended  the  various  pots  and  kettles  used  by 
the  good  wife  or  her  daughters  in  their  cooking.  No  stoves  at  this  date  were  to 
be  seen.  Even  had  they  been  easily  obtained,  the  poverty  of  the  average  pio- 
neer would  have  prevented  him  from  obtaining  one. 

The  floor  was  laid  with  puncheons  split,  like  the  clapboards  for  the  roof, 
with  a  frow,  from  a  clean,  straight-grained  oak-tree.  They  were  from  four  to 
six  or  eight  feet  in  length,  and  were  laid,  commonly,  on  short,  round  poles,  a 
few  inches  above  the  ground.  Often  the  pioneer's  cabin  did  not  possess  even 
the  luxury  of  such  a  floor,  the  earth,  tramped  hard,  answering  the  purpose.  If 
a  loft  was  desired,  it  was  made  by  running  stout  poles,  three  or  four  feet  apart, 
from  the  top  of  the  last  round  of  logs  on  one  side  of  the  cabin  to  the  other,  and 
on  these  were  laid  puncheons  similar  to  the  ones  on  thfe  floor  beneath.  A  lad- 
der, leading  from  below,  stood' in  one  corner  of  the  cabin,  generally  just  behind 
the  door  and  near  the  fire-place. 


332  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

The  early  emigrants  rarely  brought  an  extensive  outfit  for  housekeeping. 
They  were  mostly  poor,  and  in  this  regard  were  all  equal.  The  cabin  had  been 
built,  it  will  be  observed,  without  a  single  piece  of  iron  being  put  into  its  con- 
struction, pegs  answering  the  place  of  nails.  Where  beds,  tables,  chairs  and 
other  such  articles  were  needed,  they  were  made.  The  bed  was  a  rude,  strong 
affair,  made  in  one  corner  of  the  room,  by  placing  an  upright  post  about  four 
feet  from  one  wall,  and  six  or  seven  from  the  other.  Poles  were  laid  from  this 
post  to  both  walls,  slats  laid  thereon,  whose  outer  end  extended  through  between 
two  logs,  and  on  them  the  bed  was  spread.  Dried  prairie-grass  was  often  used 
until  feathers  could  be  obtained.  Under  this  bed,  a  smaller  one  was  made  that 
could  be  pulled  out  at  night,  and  shoved  under  again  in  the  morning.  We 
have  seen  them  in  this  manner,  and  have  also  seen,  about  two  feet  above  the 
main  bed,  another  made,  and  at  the  same  distance  above  that,  another,  not 
unlike  the  berths  in  a  steamboat.  A  table  was  made  of  a  stout  oak  plank,  or 
two  of  them  fastened  together  with  cross-pieces  pegged  on  and  supported  by 
four  upright  posts  inserted  at  auger-holes  near  each  corner.  Stools  were  made 
in  the  same  manner,  only  they  were  small  and  commonly  three-legged.  Pegs 
were  driven  in  auger-holes  in  the  wall,  on  which  the  wearing  apparel  of  each 
one  could  be  hung,  or  where  any  article  not  needed  could  find  a  resting-place, 
were  it  something  adapted  to  that  way  of  support.  Shelves  for  dishes  were 
made  from  small  split  boards,  placed  either  on  pegs  or  inside  two  uprights  made 
in  the  same  way,  and  held  to  their  place  by  means  of  notches. 

These  were  the  main  features  of  the  cabin-home.  Many  did  not  possess 
as  many  articles  as  we  have  enumerated,  and  some  had  more,  and  often  much 
better  habitations.  The  luxuries  of  life  were  generally  not  seen  the  first  years 
of  the  settlement,  but  appeared  as  the  residents  could  obtain  them. 

After  the  neighborhood  had  become  established  in  this  part  of  Mattoon 
Township — for  by  such  boundaries  must  they  be  designated,  even  though  the 
townships  did  not  then  exist — some  of  the  young  men  and  women  concluded 
they  could  get  along  better  together,  and  a  new  home  was  to  be  provided  for 
them.  Land  was  plenty  and  cheap,  and  not  so  much  was  required  then  to  com- 
mence married  life  as  now.  A  cabin,  similar  to  the  one  we  have  described,  was 
erected  for  the  young  couple,  and  was  commonly  dedicated  with  a  dance  or  frolic, 
in  which  all  the  young  folks  of  the  community  joined. 

When  the  young  couple  repaired  to  their  new  home,  generally  on  horse-back 
or  on  foot  (if  by  the  former  method,  both^  on  one  horse),  they  found  it  ready 
for  use,  with  its  puncheon  table,  tripod  stools,  slab  cupboard  and  wide  chimney. 
It  would  contain  a  few  articles  of  household  utility  given  by  the  parents  of  the 
pair ;  for  a  bride's  dower  consisted  then  of  a  few  such  articles,  some  good 
advice,  and,  mayhap,  a  horse  and  side-saddle.  The  young  husband  had  an  ax, 
a  few  other  tools,  a  few  farming  implements,  and,  possibly,  a  horse.  Thus 
equipped,  they  started  in  life.  The  young  bride  had  no  confidential  friend  ; 
knew  nothing  of  milliners  and  mantua-makers ;  did  not  take  a  fashion-journal 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  333 

or  the  New  York  Weekly  to  beguile  leisure  hours  and  give  her  foolish  nothings 
to  think  about.  She  entered  on  life  conscious  of  a  duty,  fully  prepared  to  do 
her  part,  with  a  healthy  body,  vigorous,  crude  mind,  and  earnest  purpose. 
Before  a  few  years  elapsed,  other  tripods  were  needed  for  the  children  that  had 
come  to  the  frontier  home ;  and  comforts  and  blessings  of  life,  though  they 
entailed  hardship  and  toil,  came  to  the  rude,  cheerful  home. 

As  much  as  old  people  love  to  dwell  upon  these  pleasant  memories,  we  can- 
not but  think  there  are  equally  brave  and  willing  brides  to-day,  who,  though 
they  do  not  meet  trouble  in  the  way  our  ancestors  found  it,  find  it  in  other 
ways, -calling  for  as  much  resolve  and  resolution  as  of  old,  whose  trials  are  met 
as  bravely  as  those  met  and  overcome  by  their  grandmothers  of  the  early  day 
of  Central  Illinois. 

As  soon  as  the  old  cabin-home  had  been  established,  the  next  care  was  the 
planting  and  cultivation  of  a  crop.  A  space  was  cleared  in  the  woods  (as  they 
had  no  plows  that  would  turn  the  prairie  sod),  and,  after  being  turned  by  the 
barshare  plow,  was  planted  in  corn,  potatoes  and  a  few  other  garden  vegetables, 
while  a  portion  was  sown  in  wheat,  could  any  be  obtained.  Corn,  however, 
then,  as  now,  was  the  main  staple.  It  furnished  the  meal  for  food,  and,  by 
boiling  in  strong  lye,  made  by  filtering  water  through  wood  ashes,  an  excellent 
and  nutritious  hominy  was  produced.  Honey  was  abundant  at  this  day,  the 
woods  abounding  in  bee-trees.  In  a  year  or  two  after  the  first  settlers  located, 
maple-sugar  and  molasses  were  additional  articles  of  food,  and  most  excellent 
ones,  too.  No  molasses  brings  as  high  a  price  as  maple-sirup  now,  owing  to 
its  scarcity ;  the  sugar,  however,  is  not  considered  possessing  the  same  qualities 
as  other  kinds,  hence  is  not  much  in  demand.  These  articles,  found  so  abun- 
dantly in  frontier  life,  added  much  to  its  comforts.  Cornmeal  could  be  made 
on  the  old  grater  or  mortar,  and,  when  baked  as  the  native  Kentucky  house- 
wife knew  how,  made  a  most  nutritious  and  palatable  article  of  food.  The 
appetites  of  the  pioneers  were  generally  sharpened  by  violent  exercise  in 
their  daily  vocations,  and  did  not  need  any  tempting  viands  to  induce  them 
to  eat. 

Pork  was  obtained  by  allowing  the  hogs  to  run  wild  in  the  woods,  subsisting 
on  the  mast  then  so  plenty.  To  prevent  them  from  roaming  over  the  cultivated 
fields,  a  brush  fence  was  made  by  felling  a  great  number  of  small  trees  with 
their  tops  altogether  in  a  continuous  line  around  the  field.  Hogs  fattened  on 
the  mast  made  good  pork,  and  as  corn  was  not  so  abundant  then  as  now,  and 
mast  plenty  and  free,  they  were  allowed  undisturbed  access  to  it.  They  often 
became  in  a  measure  quite  wild  when  allowed  to  roam,  and  when  wanted  at 
killing  season  generally  had  to  be  shot.  While  young,  they  were  kept  near  the 
house  and  securely  penned,  as  the  wolves  soon  evinced  a  fondness  for  fresh, 
tender  pork,  and  did  not  scruple  in  the  slightest  to  take  all  they  could  get. 
When  the  pigs  were  large  enough  to  resist  the  wolf,  they  were  allowed  their 
freedom. 


334  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

Deer,  bears,  wild  turkeys  and  prairie  chickens  provided  an  abundant 
supply  of  wild  meat  for  the  settlers.  Deer  were  as  plenty  as  cattle  now, 
and  it  was  not  an  uncommon  affair,  for  the  pioneer  to  shoot  one  from 
his  cabin-door  did  he  want  a  fresh  venison  steak  for  his  breakfast.  So 
common  was  the  article  it  was  not  considered  the  luxury  it  is  now,  and  was  not 
thought  as  much  a  company  dish  as  pork  or  beef.  Turkeys  grew  very  fat  when 
the  mast  became  ripe,  and  were  very  tender  eating.  Prairie  chickens  were  not 
often  eaten,  their  flesh  not  being  considered  very  palatable.  Bears,  while  they 
were  not  so  plenty  here  as  in  some  parts  of  the  West,  were  by  no  means  a 
rarity,  and  often  furnished  food  for  the  settlers.  Buffaloes  were  very  scarce, 
even  if  any  were  to  be  found.  Their  bones,  old  settlers  tell  us,  were  thickly 
strewn  over  the  prairies  when  they  came,  but  the  live  animal  was  a  rarity.  ■ 

Wolves  were  the  most  troublesome  animals  to  be  found.  They  would  kill 
the  young  pigs,  depopulate  chicken-roosts,  carry  off  young  lambs,  slay  their 
mothers,  and  all  the  time  render  night  hideous  with  their  bowlings.  They  were 
very  numerous,  too,  so  mnch  so,  that  grand  hunts  were  organized  to  extermi- 
nate them.  Mr.  Elisha  Linder  tells  how  that  in  one  winter  he  killed  one  hundred 
of  them,  generally  by  riding  them  down  and  clubbing  them,  or  shooting  them. 
The  wolf  was  generally  a  great  coward,  preferring  to  pillage  at  night.  During 
the  day  they  would  retire  to  their  dens  on  some  little  knoll  or  in  the  edge  of  the 
timber.  After  the  country  began  to  settle,  bounties  were  offered  by  the  coun- 
ties for  wolf-scalps,  whereby  many  paid  their  taxes.  Now  they  are  all  gone 
from  this  part  of  Illinois,  and  should  one  adventurous  wolf  show  himself,  such 
a  hunt  would  be  organized  to  capture   him,  as  would  almost  rival  the  hunts  of 

early  times. 

We  have  departed,  somewhat,  from  the  direct  thread  of  the  narrative,  to 
notice  the  accidents  to  which  the  first  pioneers  were  liable  in  the  erection  of 
their  cabins,  and  their  start  in  their  new  homes.  We  will  now  return,  in  part, 
to  the  narrative  of  the  settlement,  and  note  a  few  subsequent  events. 

We  had  brought  the  story  down  to  the  year  1832.  About  this  year,  Charles 
W.  Nabb,  now  a  resident  of  Mattoon,  came  up  from  Lawrence  County,  111., 
purchased  the  farm  of  George  M.  Hanson,  and  became  one  of  the  permanent 
settlers.  Mr.  Hanson  went  to  Whitley's  Point  and  settled  on  the  farm  where 
now  Deck  Dole  lives.  Among  other  old  settlers  of  this  date,  may  be  reckoned 
David  Hanson,  from  Virginia,  who  may  have  been  a  year  or  two  earlier  than 
1832;  John  Young,  from  Kentucky;  William  Moore,  who  removed  first  from 
Kentucky  to  Cumberland  County,  then  to  Coles ;  James  Waddill,  an  early 
teacher  ;  Barton  Randall ;  James  James,  another  early  local  preacher  ;  Nathan 
Curry,  who  came  in  the  spring  of  1830,  raised  one  crop,  then  moved  to  Shelby 
County,  where  he  lived  many  years ;  and  a  few  others,  whose  names  we  have 
not  been  able  to  obtain.  These  are,  however,  the  majority,  of  those  who  came 
to  this  settlement  prior  to  the  Black  Hawk  war.  Until  after  that  event,  there 
were  very  few  residents  in  the  territory  included  in  the  present  bounds  of  Mat- 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  335 

toon  Township.  The  settlement  was  all  one,  though  it  extended  over  many 
miles  of  country.  All  were  neighbors  ;  all  were  poor  ;  all  were  ambitious,  and 
nearly  all  came  to  enjoy  the  comforts  of  life  they  expected  to  find  as  the  fruit 
of  their  privation  and  toil. 

Thewinter  of  1830  and  1831  was  one  of  unusual  severity.  It  is  known 
in  the  annals  of  the  West,  especially  in  the  northern  part,  as  the  "  winter  of 
the  deep  snow."  The  snow  fell  almost  continuously  from  the  latter  part  of 
November  till  late  in  January,  covering  the  ground  in  Northern  Illinois  to  the 
depth  of  nearly  four  feet.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  it  was  not  so 
severe  or  lasting,  and  was  a  little  more  than  half  that  depth.  The  winter  wa^, 
hoAvever,  very  cold,  and  as  the  settlers  were  generally  poorly  provided  against 
any  such  contingencies,  much  suffering  ensued.  About  the  latter  part  of  Feb- 
ruary,  a  warm  spell  came,  which  quickly  melted  the  snow,  covering  the  entire 
face  of  the  country  with  water.  At  this  juncture,  a  reverse  of  temperature 
arose,  and  a  continuous  glare  of  ice  was  the  result.  People  could  not  go  any- 
where with  horses  or  oxen,  as  they  were  not  able,  in  a  majority  of  cases,  to  shoe 
their  teams.  Had  skates  been  as  common  then  as  now,  what  glorious  sport  the 
boys  would  have  enjoyed  ?  While  this  ice  was  on  the  ground,  a  few  emigrants 
arrived,  after  a  tedious  journey  over  the  icy  prairies.  Often  the  women  were 
obliged  to  walk,  the  emigrant  teams  scarcely  able  to  draAV  the  wagons.  The 
ice  was  succeeded  in  the  spring  by  another  thaw,  the  like  of  which  has  rarely 
been  seen  since.  The  people  were  obliged  to  resort  to  various  measures  to 
obtain  meal,  fuel,  meats,  etc.,  while  they  were  compelled  to  carry  water  and 
food  to  their  stock,  none  of  which  could  travel  over  the  smooth  surface  every- 
where presented.  During  this  time,  the  old  mortar  and  grater  came  vigor- 
ously into,  use  to  supply  cornmeal,  and  many  evenings  did  the  male  mem- 
bers of  the  family  devote  their  energies  to  one  or  the  other,  generally  the 
former,  to  supply  food  for  the  rest.  Neither  was  an  easy  task.  The  grater  was 
made  by  puncturing  the  bottom  of  an  old  tin  pan  with  a  nail  a  great  many  times. 
On  the  outer  edges  of  the  rough  pieces  of  tin  thus  presented,  the  ear  was  rubbed 
until  worn  to  the  cob.  This  could  be  successfully  done  only  when  the  corn  was 
a  little  soft.  When  hard,  it  would  shell  from  the  cob  too  easily.  Then  the 
mortar  came  into  use.  This  instrument  w^as  made  by  burning  a  hollow 
in  a  block  or  stump,  of  a  sufficient  depth  to  hold  about  a  peck  of  shelled  corn. 
A  pestle  was  then  made  of  a  heavy  piece  of  wood,  that  would  fit  the  cavity  toler- 
ably closely.  Sometimes,  to  give  it  more  weight,  an  iron  wedge  was  fixed 
securely  in  the  end.  Corn  would  now  be  placed  in  the  hole  and  pounded  fine 
with  the  pestle.  Ofttimes,  to  render  the  task  easier,  the  pestle  was  rigged  to  a 
pole,  not  unlike  a  well-sweep,  and  worked  in  this  way.  When  rigged  to  the 
sweep,  it  was  a  great  saving  of  labor,  and  could  be  made  much  more  effective. 
The  meal  made  in  this  manner  was  not  very  fine,  it  was  true,  but  it  could  be 
sifted,  what  went  through  the  sieve  being  taken  as  the  meal  while  the  rest  was 
made  into  what  was  known  us  beaten  hominy. 


336  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

Before  the  pioneers  made  outdoor  ovens,  bread  was  baked  in  a  skillet  or 
on  a  board  before  the  fire.  Corn-bread  made  in  this  way  had  a  peculiar  relish, 
it  is  claimed  by  the  old  settlers.  Probably  their  appetites  had  much  to  do 
with  the  relish.  Mush  and  milk  was  also  a  favorite  which  even  yet  has  not 
lost  its  strength. 

The  season  following  the  "deep  snow  "  produced  a  very  fair  crop.  A  few 
more  emigrants  came  to  the  settlement,  and  helped  swell  its  numbers.  No 
troubles  with  the  Indians,  who  were  very  few,  had  been  experienced  in  this  part 
of  Illinois,  and  everything  here  seemed  in  a  fair  way  to  prosperity.  The 
northern  portions  of  the  State  had,  however,  not  been  so  fortunate  in  this 
regard.  The  Sac  and  Fox  Indians,  whose  villages  were  near  the  junction  of 
the  Mississippi  and  Rock  Rivers,  had  refused  to  leave  their  homes  and  remain 
beyond  the  Father  of  Waters.  Black  HaWk  was  chief  of  the  Sac  nation,  whose 
principal  village  was  on  a  romantically  commanding  site  just  above  the  mouth 
of  Rock  River.  It  had  been  their  home  for  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years,  and  was  endeared  to  them  by  all  the  ties  of  home  and  human  nature. 
By  the  seventh  article  of  the  treaty  of  1804,  the  lands  belonging  to  this  nation 
were  actually  to  accrue  to  the  United  States  whenever  they  were  sold  to  private 
individuals.  Until  such  a  time  the  Indians  could  remain  on  them  and  hunt  as 
usual.  In  1816,  Black  Hawk  recognized  the  validity  of  this  treaty  ;  but  when, 
in  1829,  some  of  the  land  in  his  native  home  was  sold  by  the  General  Govern- 
ment and  became  thereby  the  property  of  others,  he  refused  to  recognize  the 
treaty  and  to  leave  his  village.  Adjacent  to  it  was  a  large  field  of  nearly  seven 
hundred  acres  which  had  been  the  common  field  for  the  cultivation  of  corn, 
pease  and  squashes.  This  field  some  of  the  more  lawless  whites  seized  before 
they  had  a  right  to  it,  and  by  wanton  acts  of  cruelty  to  the  Indian  women  and 
children  provoked  the  savages  to  retaliatory  measures.  The  whites  also  brought 
considerable  whisky,  which  they  sold  and  traded  to  lawless  Indians,  against  the 
law  and  the  express  commands  of  the  chiefs,  which  so  enraged  them  at  the 
carousals  it  produced,  that  in  one  or  two  instances  the  exasperated  chieftains 
went  to  the  houses  of  the  settlers,  and,  knocking  in  the  heads  of  the  whisky 
barrels,  emptied  their  contents  on  the  ground.  One  thing  brought  on  another 
until  war  was  declared.  The  first  call  for  volunteers  was  made  by  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds early  in  the  spring  of  1831.  No  county  south  of  St.  Clair  and  east  of 
Sangamon  was  included  in  this  call,  as  it  was  thought  the  Indians  could  be 
easily  driven  across  the  Mississippi,  where  they  had  been  for  a  time  living. 
Black  Hawk  refused  to  go,  and  force  was  used.  At  first  the  Indians  conquered 
the  whites,  and  more  calls  were  made  for  volunteers.  Numbers  responded  from 
every  part  of  the  State.  In  these  calls,  Coles  County  furnished  but  few  men, 
and  the  Wabash  Point  less  than  a  dozen.  Those  that  went  were  required  to 
furnish  their  own  guns,  ammunition,  horses,  etc.,  and  provisions  enough  to  last 
them  to  one  of  the  forts  where  the  general  rendezvous  took  place.  There  they 
were  supplied  with  ammunition  and  food,  and  were  attached  to  some  regiment. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  337 

The  recruits  generally  went  in  companies  under  self-appointed  leaders.  The 
State  militia  law  was  then  in  force,  and  each  man  knew,  or  thought  he  knew, 
the. tactics  of  war.  The  sequel  showed  some  ludicrous  sides  of  human  nature. 
Many  brave  men  at  home  were  cowards  on  the  field,  and  ready  to  run  at  the 
first  opportunity.  It  was  observed,  then,  that  the  bravest  were  the  modest 
ones,  and  those  that  commonly  had  the  least  to  say  about  their  own  valiant 
deeds  were  the  ones  who  merited  praise. 

It  might  not  be  amiss  to  mention  the  "  old  muster-days,"  as  they  were 
called.  They  were  days  of  a  general  gathering,  when  all  able-bodied  men  were 
required  to  meet  at  some  designated  point  and  drill.  The  day  began  to  be 
regarded  as  one  of  general  frolics,  rather  than  muster,  for,  as  the  danger 
from  the  Indians  decreased,  the  need  of  the  militia  diminished,  until,  so 
apparent  did  its  uselessness  become,  and  so  obnoxious  to  those  who  could  not 
spare  the  time,  that,  by  a  common  decree  of  the  people,  who  ridiculed  the  day 
in  every  way  they  could,  it  was  abolished  by  the  General  Assembl3^  From  the 
return  of  the  troops  from  the  Black  Hawk  war  down  to  the  opening  of  the 
railroads  in  1855,  but  few  things  occurred  out  of  the  regular  course  of  events. 
That  war  settled  the  Indian  question  in  Illinois,  and  peace,  with  the  red  men  in 
her  borders,  was  the  result.  They  were  gradually  withdrawn  from  their  homes 
in  the  Prairie  State,  and,  in  a  few  years,  none  were  to  be  seen.  They 
followed  the  course  of  the  westward  sun,  and  seem  destined,  erelong,  to  be 
swallowed  up  by  the  mighty  race  which  has  taken  their  country. 

Emigration  set  in  anew  to  the  West,  and  throughout  the  entire  length  and 
breadth  of  Illinois  a  continuous  train  of  settlers  poured  in.  Chicago  was  now 
coming  into  prominence,  and  Utopian  visions  of  wealth  began  to  dazzle  the  eyes 
of  the  denizens  of  Illinois.  Before  proceeding  to  note  the  rise  of  the  improve- 
ment system  and  its  inglorious  end,  we  will  notice  two  events  of  unusual  occur- 
rence which  happened,  and  which  many  of  the  old  residents  in  Mattoon  Town- 
ship will  remember.     The  first  of  these  is 

THE     METEORIC    SHOWER. 

A  most  remarkable  phenomenon  occurred  on  the  night  of  November  12, 1833, 
known  as  the  "  Falling  Stars,"  which  it  will  be  well  to  notice  here.  It  appears 
to  have  occurred  all  over  the  Western  country,  if  not  over  the  entire  United 
States.  Mr.  Tremble  gives  a  stirring  account  of  it  in  his  sketches,  which 
we  here  reproduce.     He  says  : 

"  I  was  on  my  way  home  from  a  mill,  west  of  Shelbyville,  and  had  arrived 
at  the  cabin  of  an  early  friend  and  brother  in  the  ministry,  about  four  miles 
west  of  the  town,  then  a  village  of  about  two  hundred  inhabitants.  As  I  was 
twenty-six  miles  from  home,  and  had  only  an  ox-team,  I  desired  the  brother  to 
get  me  up  at  3  o'clock  in  the  morning,  so  that  I  could  get  home  that  night. 
After  a  pleasant  evening,  we  retired.  My  landlord  was  up  at  the  designated 
hour,  and,  going  out  of  the  cabin-door,  saw  a  sight  that  utterly  bewildered  him 


338  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

for  a  moment.  All  the  stars  seemed  to  be  falling,  and  he  at  once  concluded  the 
heavens  were  falling  and  that  the  final  day  had  come.  Returning  into 
the  cabin,  he  aroused  the  family  and  myself,  assuring  us  that  the  day  of 
judgment  had  come,  and  for  us  to  prepare  to  settle  our  accounts  with  our  Maker. 
We  were  all  up  in  a  few  moments,  and  beheld  a  sight  never  to  be  forgotten. 
The  air  was  full  of  falling  drops  of  fire,  that  immediately  expired  as  they 
neared  the  ground.  Sometimes  they  would  alight  on  a  leaf  of  a  bush  or  tree, 
and  go  out  with  a  peculiar  noise,  difficult  to  delineate  in  orthography.  It 
sounded  something  like  "  tchuck,"  given  with  the  shortest  possible  sound  of  the 
vowels.  After  gazing  on  the  grand  sight  awhile,  I  asked  the  good  lady  to 
prepare  me  a  little  breakfast,  while  I  fed  and  yoked  my  cattle.  While  I  was 
eating  my  breakfast,  the  good  minister  remarked  that  he  could  not  understand 
how  I  could  eat  so  unconcernedly,  when  on  the  threshold  of  eternity.  I  noticed 
he  was  indeed  in  deep  earnest,  and  sat  part  of  the  time  with  his  head  bowed 
between  his  knees,  clasped  in  his  hands,  and  apparently  engaged  in  earnest 
thought.  He  arose  when  I  prepared  to  go,  protesting  against  my  journey  on 
such  a  solemn  occasion,  as  the  world  would  soon  be  on  fire  and  the  end  of  all 
all  things  be.  I  told  him  that  if  his  conjectures  proved  correct,  I  might  as 
well  be  out  on  the  highway,  driving  my  ox-team,  as  anywhere  else.  Bidding 
them  adieu,  I  rigged  my  team,  bestrode  the  near  ox,  and,  with  a  flourish  of  ray 
whip,  started.  It  was  noAv  about  4  o'clock,  the  air  was  a  little  cool,  and  a  slight 
frost  lay  on  the  ground.  At  the  start,  I  had  nearly  a  mile  of  timber  to  pass 
through.  The  meteors  were  falling  all  around  me  as  thick  as  hail  or  as  rain- 
drops in  an  ordinary  shower.  Some  of  them  were  so  large  they  cast  shadows 
on  the  trees.  Many  of  them  came  in  contact  with  trees  in  falling,  and  burst, 
throwing  off"  a  myriad  of  sparks,  illuminating  the  forest  all  about  me.  It  was 
the  grandest  freak  of  nature  I  ever  beheld,  and  passes  my  poAvers  of  descrip- 
tion. Emerging  from  the  timber  to  the  prairie,  the  sight  was  even  more  grand 
and  inspiring.  A  rain  of  fire-drops  came  down.  All  about  and  above  me,  the 
air  was  full  of  the  falling  sparks,  none  of  which  touched  me  or  my  oxen.  They 
would  frequently  fall  nearly  to  the  ground  on  some  bush,  but  none  touched  me 
that  I  saw  or  felt,  though  I  endeavored  to  catch  some  on  my  hand  to  experience 
a  personal  contact.  None  reached  the  ground  that  I  saw  ;  all  expired  as  they 
neared  it.  The  storm  of  fire  continued  with  no  abatement  that  I  could  see  until 
the  approach  of  day,  when  the  light  caused  it  to  gradually  disappear,  just  as 
the  stars  retire  on  the  approach  of  the  morning  sun. 

"  Just  at  daylight,  I  entered  the  village  of  Shelbyville,  where  I  found  the 
inhabitants  grouped  about  the  corners,  discussing  the  strange  wonder.  Many 
appeared  to  be  greatly  alarmed.  The  opinion  that  the  end  of  the  world  was  at 
hand  strongly  prevailed.  T  did  not  stop  to  discuss  the  question  with  them,  but 
left  them  to  solve  it  as  best  they  could,  and  Avent  on  my  way.  All  along  my 
journey  homeward,  wherever  I  met  any  settlers  or  travelers,  the  "  fire  "  was 
the  theme.     I  could  not  explain  it,  nor  could  they.     I  could  only  think  it  was 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  339 

some  freak  of  nature  scientists  might  some  day  explain  ;  but  that  the  world  was 
coming  to  an  end,  I  did  not  much  credit." 

These  various  meteoric  showers  have  never  been  very  satisfactorily  ex- 
plained. They  have  occurred  at  different  intervals  for  ages,  and  for  many 
years  were  regarded  with  supernatural  awe  by  all  classes  of  people.  It  is  a 
common  practice  among  the  inhabitants  of  any  part  of  the  earth  to  so  regard 
any  unnatural  phenomenon,  which  they  cannot  readily  explain.  The  commonly 
accepted  theory  among  modern  scientists  is  that  they  originate  in  certain  nebu- 
lous bodies  revolving  in  space  in  a  elliptical  orbit  about  the  sun,  the  aphelion 
of  which  meets  the  orbit  of  the  earth  at  the  time  of  its  annual  exhibitions. 
This  is  in  a  measure  verified,  as  the  showers  appeared  in  less  brilliancy  for 
three  successive  seasons  after  1833,  and  agai^i  in  1841,  and  in  1846.  None 
were  so  brilliant  by  fiir,  however,  as  the  exhibition  of  1833,  whose  grandest 
display  was  at  Niagara,  where  it  is  said  to  have  been  of  such  remarkable  vigor 
as  to  surpass  comprehension. 

The  fall  of  meteoric  stones  is  an  occurrence  often  noted  in  the  history 
of  the  country.  The  appearance  of  comets  are  also  mentioned,  which  caused 
wide-spread  alarm,  many  preparing  to  meet  the  judgment  which  it  was  positively 
asserted  they  portended.  That  event  has  never  visibly  occurred  yet,  and  it  is 
safe  to  conclude  comets,  meteors  and  other  irregular  heavenly  bodies  have  noth- 
ing whatever  to  do  with  it.  They  are  now  pretty  satisfactorily  explained,  and 
only  the  ignorant  fear  them.  To  those  who  study  the  heavenly  bodies  they  are 
objects  of  great  interest  and  are  studiously  watched. 

THE   "sudden    freeze." 

This  curious,  and  yet  unexplained  phenomenon  happened  on  the  20th   day 

of  December,  1836.     By  many,    the  cold   winter  of   1830-31  is  confounded 

with  this  event.     A  great  many  births,  deaths  and  other  family  matters  are 

""now  settled  as  to  date,  by  their  occurrence  before,  at  or  after  the  "deep  snow  " 

or  the  "sudden  freeze." 

The  20th  day  of  the  month  referred  to  had  been  rather  warm.  A  slight 
rain  fell  during  the  forenoon,  turning  the  few  inches  of  snow  on  the  ground 
into  slush,  and  filling  the  creeks  and  ponds  with  water.  About  the  middle 
of  the  afternoon,  a  heavy  cloud  was  noticed  coming  rapidly  from  the  northwest. 
It  came  at  the  rate  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  per  hour,  as  was  afterward 
ascertained,  and  was  accompanied  with  a  terrific,  roaring  noise.  As  it  passed 
over  the  country,  everything  was  frozen  in  its  track  almost  instantly.  Water 
that  was  running  in  little  gullies  or  in  the  streams  was  suddenly  arrested  in  its 
career,  blown  into  eddies  and  small  waves  by  the  wind,  and  frozen  before  it 
could  subside.  Cattle,  horses,  hogs  and  Avild  animals  exposed  to  its  fury  were 
soon  chilled  through  and  many  frozen  in  their  tracks.  Where  a  few  moments 
before  they  walked  in  mud  and  slush,  was  now  frozen,  and  unless  moving 
about  they  were  frozen   fast.      In  some  instances  where  individuals  were  ex- 


340  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

posed  to  the  fury  of  this  wave  and  unable  to  reach  shelter,  their  lives  were  lost. 
One  man  was  found  afterward  standing  frozen  in  the  mud,  dead,  and  still  hold- 
ing the  rein  of  his  horse  in  his  hand.  He  had  apparently  become  bewildered 
and  chilled,  and  freezing  fast  in  the  mud  and  slush,  remained  standing. 

Mr.  Elisha  Linder,  in  speaking  of  this  storm,  says  :  "  I  was  near  my  house 
feeding  some  stock,  when  I  noticed  the  storm-cloud  approaching.  Thinking  it 
would  be  a  severe  windstorm  and  possibly  rain,  as  it  was  misting  at  the  time,  I 
started  to  the  house.  I  went  as  quickly  as  I  could,  but  the  storm  caught  me 
before  I  reached  the  door.  It  was  so  piercing  in  its  coldness  and  so  strong  I 
could  not  walk  against  it.  The  water  was  frozen  as  it  blew  into  little  ridges, 
and  the  mud  and  slush  soon  became  as  hard  as  stone.  A  good  many  chickens 
and  other  fowls  perished.  No  little  suffering  was  experienced  by  many  persons 
who  were  illy  prepared  for  such  an  unlooked-for  event." 

It  is  related  of  a  young  man  named  Samuel  Munson,  in  the  western  part  of 
the  county,  who  had  gone,  or  was  going  for  his  marriage-license,  that,  while  on 
the  journey  he  was  overtaken  by  the  wave,  and,  finding  he  could  not  cross  the 
Okaw  or  one  of  its  tributaries,  turned  his  horse's  head  up  the  stream  and  partly 
against  the  storm.  He  could  not  make  the  horse  travel  in  the  face  of  the  storm 
and,  dismounting,  tried  to  lead  him.  He  could  not  do  this  either.  When  he 
tried  to  mount  the  horse  again,  he  found  his  clothing,  especially  his  overcoat, 
wet  with  the  rain  of  the  forenoon,  frozen  so  he  could  not  mount.  He  threw  it 
off,  then  hastily  mounted  his  horse  and  started  at  a  full  gallop  in  the  course  of 
the  storm,  determined  to  find  shelter  before  it  was  too  late.  Coming  to  a  grove 
of  trees,  possibly  Dead  Man's  Grove,  he  saw  a  cabin,  and,  riding  up  to  it,  dis- 
mounted and  went  in.  His  hands  and  feet  were  by  this  time  partially  frozen,  and 
he  was  so  benumbed  he  could  hardly  talk.  He  was  obliged  to  remain  there 
overnight  and  to  postpone  the  wedding  a  day  or  two. 

Mr.  Tremble  and  other  old  settlers  who  experienced  this  "sudden  freeze," 
all  give  a  similar  description  and  corroborate  the  statements  made.  The  wave 
came  from  the  northwest,  passing  over  the  central  part  of  Illinois,  lower  down 
in  Indiana,  and  is  last  heard  of  about  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  it  arrived  at  9 
o'clock  in  the  night,  freezing  some  emigrant  wagons  and  teams  in  front  of  a 
tavern  at  Lebanon,  a  few  miles  above  Cincinnati,  while  their  owners  were  bar- 
gaining for  a  night's  lodging.  Its  width  was  from  about  where  Ottawa  in  Illi- 
nois now  is,  then  barely  started,  to  a  short  distance  below  Coles  County.  It  is 
not  heard  of  much  above  or  below  either  place.  Its  origin  has  never  been 
found,  to  our  knowledge,  nor  has  it  been  satisfactorily  explained  that  we 
know  of.  Iowa  was  thinly  settled  then,  and  as  it  came  across  its  northern 
border,  we  have  only  meager  accounts  concerning  it  there.  It  originated  some- 
where in  the  vast  northwest,  and  only  lost  its  force  and  fury  when  it  encoun- 
tered a  warmer  clime. 

Returning  again  to  the  subject  of  emigration,  the  growth  of  the  State  and 
the  internal  improvements,  we  find  Coles  County,  especially  its  western   part, 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  341 

gradually  filling  with  settlers.  The  scheme  of  building  railroads  and  canals 
came  now  prominently  before  the  people,  and  roused  their  expectations  of 
future  wealth  and  power  to  the  highest  pitch.  As  early  as  1835,  the  subject 
received  the  attention  of  the  Illinois  Legislature,  and  in  the  message  of  Gov. 
Joseph  Duncan  to  that  body  at  the  session  of  1835-36,  mention  is  made  of  it, 
and  the  General  Assembly  urged  to  act  upon  it.  It  responded  in  a  manner 
exceeding  the  Governor's  highest  anticipations.  Immense  preparations  were 
made,  great  sums  of  money  appropriated,  and  work  began  on  the  Illinois  & 
Michigan  Canal,  and  on  several  proposed  railroads,  among  them  the  Illinois 
Central  and  the  Terre  Haute  &  Alton.  The  issue  of  so  much  money,  based  on 
the  faith  of  the  State,  and  its  entrance  into  all  channels  of  business,  had  the 
effect  to  draw  an  immense  flood  of  emigration  to  Illinois,  all  anxious  to  share 
in  the  general  prosperity.  Somehow,  the  more  the  money  was  issued,  the  cheaper 
it  became,  and  the  dearer  everything  else  grew.  Acts  of  the  Legislature  in  vain 
tried  to  hold  it  at  and  above  par;  but  it  steadily  declined,  until  it  reached  16 
cents  on  the  dollar  in  gold,  and  in  some  instances  14.  Either  the  feith  of  the 
State  was  correspondingly  below  par  or  the  money  was  cheap  because  it  was 
too  plenty.  From  the  Solons  of  the  day  down  to  the  most  common  class  of 
people,  all  saw,  in  the  start,  wealth  created  out  of  nothing,  only  to  see  it  grad- 
ually vanish  before  their  eyes.  As  it  declined  in  value,  work  began  to  stop 
here  and  there  on  detached  parcels  of  the  railroads,  until  finally  on  every  rOad 
it  was  abandoned,  and  only  with  the  wisest  financiering  was  it  kept  going  on 
the  canal.  State  banks  grew  out  of  the  scheme,  and  a  currency,  as  fluctuating  as 
varied,  appeared  all  over  the  country.  Merchants  in  New  York  were  obliged 
to  accept  notes  on  banks  in  Illinois  and  Indiana,  which  they  could  only  realize 
on  by  returning  them  through  brokers  to  some  place  in  the  West,  and  get  all 
they  could  out  of  them.  The  fall  of  the  system  and  the  conse(iuent  depression 
of  business  was  keenly  felt  all  over  the  State.  Exorbitant  values  had  arisen 
on  every  class  of  property,  and  when  the  shrinkage  occurred,  the  losses  were 
felt.  No  work  was  done  on  either  the  Central  or  the  Terre  Haute  &  Alton 
Railroads  in  Coles  County  ;  but  the  eff'ects  of  the  rise  and  fall  of  values  were 
noted  here  as  well  as  elsewhere.  Money  was  as  scarce  as  in  the  earliest 
pioneer  times,  and  for  awhile  it  looked  as  though  ruin  would  be  the  result. 
The  prairies  were,  however,  naturally  very  productive,  and  though  emigration 
for  awhile  shunned  the  State  as  if  struck  by  a  pestilence,  it  soon  began  to  rally, 
and  before  a  decade  of  years  had  passed  the  enormous  debt  was  safely  provided 
for,  and  prosperity  of  a  real  kind  again  came  over  the  land. 

It  was  not  until  after  1850 — more  than  twelve  years  after  the  first  rail  was 
laid  on  the  track  at  Meredosia,  on  the  Illinois  River,  on  what  is  now  the 
Wabash  Railway — that  the  subject  of  railroads  assumed  a  permanent,  tangible 
form.  In  February  of  that  year,  the  Chicago  ct  Galena  road  was  finished  as 
far  as  Elgin,  and  a  train  of  cars  made  the  first  trip  from  the  city  on  the  lake  to 
the  one  on  the  Fox  River.     From  this  date,  the  erection  of  other  roads  began — 


342  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

this  time,  by  individuals.  The  State  had  enough  of  this  experience,  and  did 
not  care  to  venture  again  into  such  schemes.  The  Terre  Haute  &  Alton  was 
among  those  sharing  in  the  revival,  and,  as  some  work  had  been  performed  on 
it,  chiefly  on  the  eastern  and  western  divisions,  a  new  company  took  the  work, 
and,  in  about  four  years'  time,  had  it  in  running  order.  About  the  same  time, 
the  Illinois  Central,  through  its  magnificent  grant  of  land  from  the  General 
Government,  came  to  a  completion.  These  roads,  crossing  in  Mattoon  Township, 
formed  the  nucleus  for  a  new  town  which  capitalists  were  not  slow  to  take  advan- 
tage of,  and  the  city  of  Mattoon  was  the  result.  Indeed,  they  had  been  watch- 
ing to  see  where  the  crossing  would  be,  and  had  located  the  town  as  soon  as  the 
question  was  decided,  not  waiting  for  the  completion  of  the  roads.  As  the  his- 
tory of  railroads  in  the  county  forms  a  separate  chapter,  we  will  only  refer  to 
them  briefly  here. 

When  they  were  completed,  much  of  the  prairie-land  in  the  township,  and, 
in  fact,  all  this  part  of  the  county,  was  yet  open.  It  was  still  used  for  pastur- 
age, and  the  settlements  confined  exclusively  to  the  timber.  The  railroads 
opened  the  country,  however,  and  from  that  time  until  all  was  taken,  it  was 
rapidly  settled.  The  growth  of  the  country  went  steadily  forward  from  the 
time  of  the  improvement  period  until  the  late  war.  By  that  time,  it  was  pretty 
thickly  settled.  Mattoon  Township  furnished  her  quota  of  men  for  the  fray, 
and  the  city  saw  a  regiment  depart  from  her  midst  gathered  almost  wholly  in 
the  surrounding  country. 

When  the  war  closed,  another  season  of  great  commercial  prosperity  ensued, 
owing  to  the  sudden  circulation  of  a  vast  amount  of  currency,  based  on  the 
faith  of  the  General  Government.  From  this  arose  another  series  of  fictitious 
values,  and  many  farmers  mortgaged  their  land  to  capitalists  at  a  semi-annual 
interest  of  10  per  cent,  expecting  the  '"flush  times"  to  continue.  When  the 
value  of  money  came  to  the  recognized  standard,  a  shrinkage  in  values  occurred, 
causing  at  the  present  time  great  difficulty  among  many  to  pay  debts  contracted 
on  the  currency  basis.  Many  farms  in  this  part  of  Coles  County  have  been 
sold  to  meet  these  claims,  realizing  little,  if  anything,  more  than  the  amount 
loaned.  The  effect  of  all  this  will  be  to  divide  the  large  farms,  and,  ultimately, 
it  will  in  that  way  be  for  th^  good  of  the  county.  The  people  of  Mattoon 
Township  are  all  engaged  in  agriculture,  and,  if  a  steady  purpose  in  this  pur- 
suit is  adhered  to,  no  debts  contracted  beyond  their  ability  to  pay,  and  the 
same  study  devoted  to  that  pursuit  as  is  given  to  that  of  the  law  or  medicine, 
abundant  success  is  sure  to  crown  the  effort.  Take  it  all  in  all,  no  occupation 
is  so  sure  of  a  living,  so  independent  and  so  safe  as  intelligent  agriculture. 

We  will  now  retrace  our  steps  somewhat,  and  note  the 

RELIGIOUS    AND    EDUCATIONAL    INTERESTS. 

We  have  purposely  omitted  any  mention  of  churches  and  schools  in  the 
foregoing  pages,  intending  those  subjects  for  a  separate  chapter. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUIJTY.  343 

The  first  settler  in  Mattoon  Township,  "Uncle  Charley,"  was  a  devout 
Methodist,  and  in  hia  cabin  the  first  praise  and  thanks  to  the  Giver  of  all  good 
were  heard.  Many  of  the  others  who  came  in  1827  were  "members  of  the 
same  religious  body,  and,  as  soon  as  they  could  arrange  their  temporal  matters, 
steps  were  taken  toward  the  establishment  of  a  church.  James  Graham, 
George  M.  Hanson,  Miles  H.  Hart,  Samuel  Thompson,  Barton  Randall, 
George  W.  Rollins,  and  others  among  the  early  pioneers  of  Wabash  Point, 
were  in  the  local  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  all  were  earnest 
workers.  The  "circuits  were  large,  yet  these  men,  laboring  faithfully  to  supply 
their  own  wants,  and  avoid  being  any  burden  on  the  infantile  settlement,  went 
regularly  on  their  rounds  of  preaching. 

The  places  of  worship  at  first  were  in  the  pioneers'  cabins  centrally  located, 
or,  when  the  weather  would  permit,  in  some  pleasant  spot  in  the  woods.  The 
first  benches  were  simply  split  logs,  the  flat  side  dressed  smooth  with  a  broad-ax, 
and  supported  by  stout,  short  sticks  for  legs.  No  backs  were  made.  When 
not  in  use,  the  benches  were  piled  in  a  corner  of  the  cabin-yard,  until  the  time 
of  service,  when  they  were  carried  into  the  cabin  and  arranged  to  the  best  pur- 
pose that  habitation  furnished.  The  most  interesting  time  among  the  adher- 
ents of  this  church  was  the  regular  camp- meeting.  That  was  almost  always 
held  in  the  woods,  as  no  cabin  could  hold  a  tithe  of  the  crowd  that  gathered. 
A  rude  pulpit  or  platform  was  made,  where  three  or  four  trees  aff"orded  a  good 
place  for  one,  benches  were  made  and  arranged  over  the  ground  in  front,  and 
the  place  was  ready. 

We  have  mentioned  James  Graham  as  one  of  the  pioneer  Methodist  ministers 
in  this  part  of  the  county.  He  was  little  a  eccentric  in  his  ways,  and,  withal, 
was  not  afraid  to  speak  what  he  deemed  right,  even  if  the  remarks  touched 
closely  on  some  weak  brothers  or  sisters.  A  good  anecdote  is  preserved  of  him 
by  his  colleague,  Mr.  Tremble,  another  local  minister,  yet  living.  As  it  illus- 
trates other  modes  of  life,  we  think  it  well  worth  a  place  in  the  history  of  the 
county. 

Among  the  class  of  wandering  tradespeople,  or  peddlers,  were  a  set  known 
as  the  "wooden-clock  peddlers."  These  were  nearly  all  Yankees,  regarded  by 
the  Southern  people  as  a  trafiicking,  tricky  set,  ready  to  sell  a  wooden  nutmeg 
or  any  other  sham.  They,  in  turn,  looked  on  the  Kentuckians  as  a  lazy,  shift- 
less class,  subsisting  on  hog,  hominy  and  corn-bread,  and  willing  tools  in  their 
hands.  The  peddlers  did  not  scruple  in  the  slightest  to  cheat  them,  or  any 
one,  whenever  they  could.  The  cheating,  in  their  opinion,  was  all  right ;  the 
detection  was  what  they  feared.  It  seems  these  itinerant  tradesmen  had  become 
a  nuisance  to  the  good  residents  of  this  part  of  the  county,  and  had  merited  their 
disapprobation.  Father  Graham,  among  the  rest,  had  suffered  at  their  hands, 
and  rather  smarted  under  the  treatment. 

Their  common  mode  of  procedure  was  first  to  canvass  a  district,  selling  all 
the  clocks  they  could,  warranting  them  for  a  year  or  any  length  of  time  suitable 


344  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

to  their  scheme.  In  a  month  or  so,  they  would  retrace  their  route,  starting 
from  where  they  began  with  one  clock,  pretty  well  regulated.  It  would  run 
three  or  four  days  very  well,  and  that  was  all  they  wanted.  Part  of  the  origi- 
nal agreement  was  to  replace  the  clock  first  sold  in  case  it  did  not  fulfill  the 
warrant.  In  that  lay  the  trick.  When  they  reached  the  first  customer,  they 
found,  as  they  expected  and  hoped,  that  the  clock  did  not  fulfill  the  contract,  and 
they  at  once  replaced  it  with  the  one  they  had,  charging  a  small  fee  for  the 
transfer  and  repair.  Taking  the  clock  they  obtained  here,  they  went  on  to 
the  next  place,  where  the  process  was  repeated,  and  so  on  till  the  end  of  the 
route.  For  a  few  days  the  clocks  went  all  right,  and  every  one  was  delighted. 
But  after  awhile,  when  they,  too,  began  to  keep  all  sorts  of  time,  the  settlers 
began  to  grumble,  and  on  comparing  notes,  discovered  the  cheat.  The  lesson, 
however,  did  not  always  bear  fruit,  as  erelong  they  were  caught  on  the  wooden 
nutmeg,  gilded  jewelry  and  kindred  appliances.  They,  like  every  one  else, 
seemed  often  to  forget  that  nothing  good  can  be  obtained  for  less  than  its  value, 
however  plausible  the  arguments  in  its  favor  may  be. 

While  Father  Graham  was  holding  one  of  his  camp-meetings,  he  was  some- 
Avhat  disturbed  by  one  of  these  itinerant  merchants,  who  not  only  being  a  cheat 
in  business,  was  also  a  worthless  character,  and,  as  such,  disturbed  the  meeting. 
Father  G.,  after  vainly  endeavoring,  by  private  means,  to  reform  or  get  rid  of 
him,  determined  to  use  decisive  methods  with  him.  At  the  morning  service  on 
the  Sabbath,  the  good  minister,  in  his  prayer,  closed  as  follows  : 

"  0  Lord,  thy  servants  have  been  wonderfully  annoyed  by  the  bad  actions 
and  wicked  conduct  of  a  fellow  known  all  over  this  camp-ground  as  '  Wooden- 
Clock  Peddler.'  0  Lord,  if  it  is  possible  there  be  mercy  lor  such  a  wicked 
wretch,  may  he  find  that  mercy  to-day,  so  that  he  repent  of  his  great  wicked- 
ness, turn  about  and  do  better.  But,  0  Lord,  if  he  is,  as  he  appears  to  be,  a 
doomed  wretch,  why  suff"er  him  to  stay  here  as  a  hindrance  to  Thy  great  work  ? 
0  Lord,  may  he  see  that  '  discretion  is  the  better  part  of  valor,'  and  leave 
forthwith.  But,  0  Lord  God,  if  he  will  not  leave,  kill  him  a  little  on  the  spot, 
and  save  us  from  all  wooden-clock  peddlers  forever.     Amen  !  " 

"If  ever  I  saw,"  says  Mr.  Tremble,  "the  eyes  of  a  congregation  turned 
in  search  of  an  object,  in  was  the  eyes  of  that  congregation,  when  they  arose 
from  their  knees  at  the  close  of  the  prayer."  But  the  "  wooden-clock  peddler  " 
was  seen  only  in  the  distance  making  rapid  strides  for  some  other  locality.  He 
was  seen  no  more  on  that  camp-ground. 

Enough  adherents  to  this  denomination  had  arrived  by  the  year  1832  to 
warrant  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship.  A  site  was  chosen  near  the  pres- 
ent Capp's  Mill,  and  the  people  gathering  together  erected  a  log  church.  This 
was  rather  a  primitive  affair,  and  for  awhile  served  its  purpose.  The  settlement 
formed  a  kind  of  nucleus  around  which  gathered  three  churches,  not  to  speak  of 
those  in  Mattoon.  This  fact,  in  a  measure,  caused  the  Church  here  to  disband, 
and  gather  into  three  others,  all  out  of  the  township,  save  one,  which   again. 


HISTORY'  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  345 

about  five  years  ago,  erected  the  brick  church,  known  as  the  "Little  Wabash 
Methodist  Church."      It  is  near  the  creek  of  that  name,  about  four  miles  south- 
west of  Mattoon.     It  is  a  very  comfortable  church,  while  near  it  Avas  built  a  neat 
brick  parsonage.     The  congregation  numbers  now  about  one  hundred  members. 

Among  the  early  settlers  were  several  professing  the  Baptist  and  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  creeds.  The  former  of  these  built  a  church  in  Paradise 
Township,  the  first  church  there.  It  is  referred  to  in  the  history  of  that  Town- 
ship. The  Cumberland  Presbyterians  have  maintained  pretty  regular  services 
since  their  emigration,  commencing  before  1830.  They  have  attended  church 
at  Paradise  generally  until  lately  and  did  not  build  a  church  in  Mattoon  Town- 
ship until  about  1873,  when  they  completed  a  very  neat  frame  edifice,  at  an 
expense  of  $1,600,  which  they  now  occupy.  Theirs  and  the  Little  Wabash 
Methodist  Church  are  the  only  two  houses  of  worship  in  the  township  outside 
of  Mattoon. 

It  has  been  rather  difficult  to  determine  the  first  year  school  was  taught  in 
the  Wabash  Point  settlement,  and  by  whom.  There  was  probably  a  school 
taught  in  a  cabin  in  the  winter  of  1827-28,  or  the  next  spring.  Mrs.  Elisha 
Linder  says  she  recollects  going  to  a  school,  she  thinks,  the  next  summer,  and  that 
James  Waddill  was  the  teacher.  Mr.  Tremble  says  in  his  sketches,  that  about 
1831,  Ujicle  Jack  Houching,  with  a  few  other  neighbors,  undertook  to  burn 
brick,  and  built  a  small  cabin  for  the  benefit  of  the  hands,  just  north  of  Mr. 
John  Thomas'  spring.  The  brick  project  proved  a  failure  and  the  cabin  was 
abandoned.  The  settlers  not  long  after  appropriated  the  cabin  for  school  pur- 
poses and  fitted  it  for  that  purpose.  Long  slab  seats,  puncheon  floor,  and  a 
writing-desk  from  "end  to  end"  at  one  side,  were  put  in,  the  fire-place  made 
safe,  and,  taking  out  one  of  the  side  logs,  covered  the  place  left  with  greased 
paper,  and  the  house  was  ready.  The  teacher,  Mr.  Tremble,  too,  thinks  was 
James  Waddill.  He  was  paid  so  much  per  scholar,  the  idea  of  taxation  for 
education  not  then  prevailing.  The  price  per  scholar  depended  on  the  number 
of  scholars  promised.  If  twenty-five  or  thirty  were  subscribed  the  price  was 
generally  $2.50  or  $3  each.  The  teacher  commonly  "  boarded  'round,"  a 
practice  not  now  indulged  in.  Teachers  were  always  hired  by  the  quarter — 
three  months — and  when  they  were  not  paid  in  money,  accepted  common 
articles  of  barter.  Capt.  W.  E.  Adams,  in  his  Centennial  Address,  refers 
to  this  school  as  follows:  The  first  schoolhouse  in  that  section  was  a 
cabin,  built  in  1830.  Before  it  was  occupied  as  a  school,  a  man  named 
Ledbetter  moved  his  family  into  it.  Soon  after  this,  George  Hanson  went  down 
to  order  him  out.  Ledbetter,  however,  was  master  of  the  situation,  and  chased 
Hanson  oS"  with  a  meat- ax.  Hanson,  in  his  fiight,  stubbed  his  toe  and  fell 
down,  and  in  his  fall  Ledbetter  split  the  back  of  his  coat-tail  open  with  the  ax. 
After  school  had  been  held  in  this  cabin  a  term  or  two,  it  was  removed  to  the 
old  log  church,  built  on  the  site  of  Capp's  mill  or  near  it,  and  referred  to  in  the 
history  of  churches  just  noted.     This  school  was,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind,  in 


346  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

Paradise  Township.  School  was  kept  here,  or  in  the  cabins,  until  about  1844 
or  1845,  when  the  first  schoolhouse,  built  expressly  for  such  purposes,  was 
erected  in  Mattoon  Township.  That  was  about  the  dawn  of  the  present  school- 
system  of  Illinois.  It  had  been  agitated  as  early  as  1827,  renewed  in  1835- 
86.  and  a  few  subsequent  Legislatures,  but  so  distasteful  was  the  idea  of  tax- 
ation to  the  southern  portion  of  the  State,  that  not  until  1844-45  did  the  first 
permanent  school  law  come  into  force. 

This  schoolhouse  was  used  until  the  present  one,  erected  during  the  war  on 
its  site,  superseded  it.  It  was  not  alone  possessor  of  the  field  long.  Other 
parts  of  the  township  began  to  fill  rapidly  witli  settlers,  especially  when  the 
railroads  were  opened,  and,  as  necessity  required,  houses  were  built.  The  open, 
ing  of  high  schools  in  Mattoon  gave  additional  facilities  for  instruction,  which 
have,  in  a  measure,  been  well  improved. 

EARLY    MILLS,    MILLING,    ETC. 

We  have  incidentally  noticed  the  grater  and  mortar,  and  described  their 
modes  of  use.  Following  these  primitive  mills,  we  will  notice  those  that  suc- 
ceeded, viz.,  the  hand  and  horse  mills.  The  hand-mill  was  quite  an  improve- 
ment on  the  hominy-block.  It  consisted  of  two  small  circular  stones,  14  or  16 
inches  acros  the  face,  and  made  something  like  the  millstones  of  to-day.  The 
lower  stone  was  made  fast  to  some  timbers,  with  a  hoop  bent  around  it  and  pro- 
jecting some  three  or  four  inches  above,  forming  a  receptacle  for  the  upper  stone. 
This  had  a  hole  in  the  center,  through  Avhich  the  corn  was  dropped  by  the  hand, 
and  was  made  to  fit  the  under  stone  as  well  as  the  tools  of  the  day  could  dress 
it.  Near  the  outer  rim,  a  hole  was  drilled  into  it  about  1 J  inches  across,  and  of 
the  same  depth.  Into  this  an  upright  was  fastened,  its  upper  end  secured  in 
the  ceiling,  or  to  some  immovable  piece  of  timber.  The  lower  stone  had  a  |- 
inch  hole,  drilled  from  2  to  3  inches  in  depth,  in  the  center,  and  a  round  piece 
of  iron  driven  firmly  in.  Its  top  projected  about  the  same  distance  above.  The 
top  formed  a  pivot,  and  by  the  aid  of  a  flat  piece  of  iron,  was  cut  to  a  half 
circle,  with  flanges  on  each  end,  so  as  to  fit  the  notches  cut  in  each  side  of  the 
"  runner."  This  iron  was  placed  in  the  "  eye  "  of  the  upper  stone,  generally 
called  the  "runner,"  with  the  concave  side  down.  Its  under  side  was  so 
notched  as  to  fit  the  pivot  and  balance,  so  that  when  forced  around  it  kept  its 
place.  These  simple  arrangements  completed  the  outfit.  When  meal  was 
wanted,  a  measure  of  shelled  corn  was  placed  near,  from  which  the  corn  was 
dropped  in  by  the  left  hand,  while  the  stone  was  turned  by  the  right.  It  was 
given  a  rapid  motion,  and,  if  heavy,  both  hands  were  used,  and  an  attendant 
dropped  the  corn  into  the  center  hole.  At  one  place,  the  under  stone  was 
sometimes  made  slightly  sloping,  and  a  spout  inserted  in  the  iron  rim  surround- 
ing the  stone,  through  which  the  meal  was  forced  as  it  was  ground. 

It  will  be  observed  by  the  reader,  that  this  kind  of  mill  is  spoken  of  in  the 
Bible,  only  that  the  handle  was  commonly  a  foot  or  more  in  height.    It  is  as  old  as 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  349 

the  world,  almost,  and,  in  ancient  times,  was  almost  always  operated  by  women. 
The  Savior  referred  to  the  custom  of  women  grinding  at  the  mill,  when  He  said, 
"  The  one  shall  be  taken  and  the  other  left." 

The  horse-mill  was  simply  the  hand-mill  made  too  large  and  heavy  for  one 
person  to  turn,  and  was  rigged  something  after  the  manner  a  common  circu- 
lar sweep  is  now  made.  To  this  a  horse  or  mule  was  hitched  and  driven  in  a 
circle.  It  was  often  rigged  with  a  pulley  made  of  a  leather  band,  and  thereby 
given  an  increased  motion.  The  hand-mill  was  also  rigged  with  cogs  and  bands, 
and  arranged  so  two  or  four  men  could  turn  it  with  a  crank.  It  was  toler- 
ably hard  work,  but  it  was  often  the  case  that,  when  properly  rigged  in  this  way, 
a  bushel  of  grain  could  be  ground  in  forty  minutes. 

After  the  horse-mills  came  into  use,  the  hand-mills  were  largely  abandoned. 
They  were  too  slow  when  a  better  way  was  known,  and  gradually  came  to  be  a 
a  thing  of  the  past. 

It  is  not  stated  that  any  horse-mills  were  built  in  Mattoon  Township.  The 
older  parts  of  the  county  had  them  first,  and  to  them  the  settlers  were  accus- 
tomed to  go.  Many  of  the  old  settlers  now  living,  well  remember  getting  up  at 
3  or  4  o'clock  in  the  morning,  preparatory  to  getting  early  to  the  mill,  hopino- 
to  get  there  in  advance  of  any  one  else,  only  to  find,  perchance,  a  whole  "  string 
of  wagons  ahead  of  them,"  as  they  express  it,  and  being  obliged  to  remain  a 
day  or  two  awaiting  their  turn.  No  water  or  steam  mills  were  built  in  Mattoon 
Township  till  after  the  city  was  started,  when  they  were  erected  there.  As 
their  history  properly  belongs  to  the  history  of  the  city,  the  reader  is  refer-red 
to  that,  where  the  subject,  as  concerns  this  township,  is  concluded. 

EARLY    MAILS    AND    THE    OLD    STAGES. 

The  first  mail  facilities  enjoyed  in  this  part  of  the  country  were  indeed  quite 
meager.  Letters  were  few  and  far  between,  while  newspapers  were  a  rarity. 
The  postage,  was,  in  the  early  days  of  post-routes,  governed  by  the  distance  the 
letter  was  sent,  ranging  from  five  to  twenty-five  cents.  After  the  express  com- 
panies started  and  began  to  carry  them  at  a  cheaper  rate,  the  Government  low- 
ered the  cost  from  time  to  time  until  the  present  rate  was  established.  The  first 
post  office,  says  Mr.  Hiram  Tremble,  for  the  Little  Wabash  Point  settlement 
was  established  at  George  M.  Hanson's,  who  drew  up  a  petition  for  one,  obtained 
the  necessary  signatures  and  sent  it  on  to  Washington.  Capt.  Adams  states 
also,  that  this  was  the  first  post  office  in  the  county,  and  that  it  was  established 
by  George  M.  Hanson,  who  was  the  Postmaster.  The  office  was  named  Paradise, 
in  memory  of  Paradise  Post  Office  iuVirginia,  in  the  county  where  Mr.  Hanson  was 
born.  These  two  were  the  only  post  offices  of  that  name  in  the  United  States. 
The  office  was  located  here  in  1829,  and  remained  with  Mr.  Hanson  about  two 
years,  when  it  was  removed  to  the  State  Line  Road,  just  then  being  opened.  There 
it  was  kept  by  Mr.  William  Langstou,  who  had  what  was  known  as  the  "  Relay 
House,"  i.  e.,  where  the  stage-horses  were  changed.     This  stage-road,  or,  more 


350  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

properly.  State  Road,  had  formerly  been  a  trace  or  trail,  simply  a  bridle-path, 
and  led  from  Charleston  to  Shelbyville  and  on  to  Vandalia,  the  old  State  capi- 
tal. At  first  the  mail  was  carried  on  horse-back,  and  made  a  weekly  trip. 
The  road  passed  through  Mattoon  Township,  a  little  north  of  the  present 
village  of  Paradise :  hence,  when  the  post  office  was  removed  to  Mr.  Langs- 
ton's,  it  was  still  in  Mattoon  Township.  It  remained  at  the  "  Relay  House  " 
about  two  years,  when  it  was  taken  to  a  little  embryo  town  located  on  the 
Houtchin  Farm,  called  Richmond,  where  G.  W.  Nabb  had  quite  a  store,  in 
which  the  office  was  kept ;  Mr.  Nabb,  Postmaster.  The  office  remaiiicd  there 
till  the  Alton  &  Terre  Haute  Railroad  was  completed  and  Mattoon  founded. 
There  is  considerable  dispute  among  the  old  settlers  concerning  this  post 
office  and  its  frequent  removals.  We  have  given  Mr.  Tremble's  recollections, 
which  some  pronounce  correct,  while  others  think  a  little  differently.  It 
seems  impossible  to  reconcile  all  the  statements  regarding  it.  The  subject  is 
further  treated  in  Paradise  Township. 

After  the  stages  began  running,  the  mail  was  changed  to  a  bi-weekly,  then 
to  a  tri-weekly,  and  when  the  railroad  came,  to  a  daily  mail.  The  old  stage- 
coach was  as  much  an  improvement  on  the  modes  of  travel  preceding  it,  as  the 
railway  of  to-day  is  an  improvement  on  the  coach.  It  was  generally  quite 
gorgeously  painted,  were  made  secure,  and  would  carry  just  as  many  passen- 
gers as  could  get  inside  and  on  its  top.  This  propensity  to  crowd  stages  has 
given  rise  in  this  day  to  the  trite  proverb,  "  There  is  always  room  for  one 
more  in  a  stage."  They  were  drawn  by  four  horses  commonly,  but  in  times  of 
bad  roads  six  or  eight  would  be  hitched  to  it.  The  driver  was  perched  on  top 
in  a  comfortable  seat  at  the  front,  and  nearly  always  had  a  passenger  with  him. 
In  times  of  good  roads  and  fine  weather,  the  driver's  seat  was  often  sought,  as 
it  gave  such  commanding  views  of  the  country.  When  the  fierce  prairie 
storms  abounded,  and  winter  set  his  icy  hand  on  everything,  it  required  a  brave 
man  to  face  the  contest.  Not  unfrequently  drivers  perished  at  their  post  in 
unusually  severe  weather.  The  most  interesting  time  was  probably  in  the 
spring,  when  the  ground  was  thawing  out.  The.  soil  of  the  prairies  would 
sometimes  freeze  two  or  three  feet  deep,  especially  in  low,  wet  places,  conse- 
quently the  thawing-out  process  reached  down  that  depth,  where  it  com- 
monly met  the  perpetually  wet  undersoil,  producing  what  was  termed,  in 
the  common  parlance  of  the  day,  a  road  with  "no  bottom."  Then  it  was, 
indeed,  interesting  to  the  passengers.  First  one  side  of  the  coach  was 
down,  then  the  other,  alternately  pitching  the  passengers  right  and  left. 
About  as  soon  as  they  got  used  to  this  mode  of  travel,  the  fore  wheels  would 
go  suddenly  down  to  the  axle,  and  a  forward  lurch  of  the  passengers  followed. 
As  they  came  up,  the  hind  wheels  went  down,  and  a  retrograde  movement 
on  the  part  of  the  passengers  was  the  result.  Relief  from  this  alternate 
pitching  arose  only  when  an  eminence  was  reached,  or  when  the  passengers 
walked. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  851 

Sometimes  exciting  drives  occurred,  especially  when  the  driver  wanted  to 
give  a  team  "  all  the  running  they  wanted."  He  would  ply  them  with  the 
whip,  and  keep  them  at  a  full  gallop  until  completely  broken  of  their  desire  to 
run  away.  If  the  road  was  a  few  inches  deep  in  mud,  the  condition  of  the  pas- 
sengers, unless  securely  inclosed,  can  be  well  imagined.  They  came  out  of  the 
race  considerably  sprinkled  with  the  prairie  soil.  These  days  of  the  stage  con- 
tinued till  the  opening  of  the  railroads  in  1855,  when  they  it  farther  west, 
only  in  time  to  be  obliged  to  give  way  to  the  fleet  iron  horse,  destined  in  time 
to  entirely  supersede  it. 

•^        ^  EARLY    COURTS. 

From  the  first  settlement  until  society  became  established,  the  settlers  were 
generally  a  law  unto  themselves.  They  were  too  remote  from  the  county  seat 
before  Coles  County  was  erected,  and  settled  disputes  among  themselves.  They 
were  exceeding  honorable  in  their  dealings  with  each  other,  and  rarely  did  occa- 
sion require  of  them  recourse  to  law.  When  it  did,  the  punishment  was  sure 
and  swift.  They  abhorred  the  petty  vices,  stealing,  lying,  etc.,  and  would  com- 
pletely ostracize  any  one  found  guilty.  As  all  were  poor  and  mutually  depend- 
ent on  each  other,  they  were  strict  in  their  observance  of  the  right,  and  would 
aid  one  another  to  the  farthest  extent  of  their  ability,  did  he  show  any  disposi- 
tion to  try  to  do  for  himself.  At  every  house-raising  all  did  their  part ;  all 
wanted  to,  and  should  any  one  evince  a  disposition  to  shirk,  he  was  made  to  feel 
his  dependence  whenever  he  wanted  any  help  from  his  neighbors.  Mr.  Trem- 
ble says  he  does  not  remember  of  but  one  theft  occurring  in  the  neighborhood 
from  the  date  of  its  first  settlement  in  1827,  till  after  the  first  election  in  1831. 
The  theft  and  its  punishment  were  characteristic  of  the  times,  and  will  suffice  as  a 
good  illustration  for  the  "  court  proceeding  "  of  the  day. 

One  of  the  settlers  had  killed  a  beef,  and,  to  secure  the  hide,  bent  down  a 
small  sapling,  attached  the  hide  to  the  top  branch,  and  allowed  the  tree  to 
spring  back  to  its  place,  bearing  the  hide  aloft,  far  out  of  the  reach  of  wolves 
or  any  other  species  of  thieves.  He  never  once  thought  of  any  person  stealing- 
it,  and  hence  allowed  it  to  remain  in  the  tree-top  over  night.  The  next  morn- 
ing it  was  gone.  By  what  means,  he  coiild  not  determine,  but  he  felt  sure 
nothing  but  a  human  being  could  have  secured  it.  He  sent  word  to  a  few  of 
the  neighbors,  and  soon  word  was  all  over  the  settlement  that  a  theft  had 
occurred;  something  so  unusual,  that  all  left  their  work  and  gathered  at  the 
settler's  cabin,  determined  to  find  the  off"ender  and  give  him  his  merits.  By 
some  means,  the  hide  was  tracked  to  its  place  of  concealment.  The  guilty  man 
was  now  to  be  apprehended,  in  case  they  c6uld  find  him.  He  had  been  sus- 
pected, it  seems,  from- the  start,  for,  in  a  scattered  community  like  this,  every 
one  was  pretty  well  known,  and  two  citizens  were  deputed  to  search  his 
premises.  They  returned  in  an  hour  or  so,  with  the  information  that  they 
could  not  find  him,  though  they  had  given  the  cabin  and  its  contents  a  thor- 
ough examination.     The  settlers  were  not  satisfied,  and  a  second  search  was 


352  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

instituted,  in  which  all  took  a  part.  Under  the  bed,  a  puncheon  was  found 
displaced,  and  a  lot  of  rags  and  old  quilts  substituted.  Removing  these,  tlie 
thief  was  discovered  between  the  floor  and  the  sill  of  the  cabin.  He  was  at 
once  brought  forth,  and  a  trial  held.  The  tears  of  his  wife  and  children  could 
not  avail  now  :  the  pioneers  were  determined  to  punish  theft  whenever  found. 
One  among  their  number  was  appointed  Judge,  another  Sherift",  another  Prose- 
cutor, and  a  fourth,  counsel  for  the  defense.  The  trial  was  held  under  a  large 
elm-tree  in  the  east  side  of  Dry  Grove.  Everything  was  conducted  decorously, 
and,  at  its  close,  the  prisoner  was  sentenced  to  receive  thirty  lashes  on  his 
naked  back,  at  the  hands  of  the  Sherift' — and  that  at  the  close  of  the  next  two 
hours.  Court  was  held  about  a  mile  from  the  prisoner's  cabin,  and,  before  the 
execution  of  the  sentence  was  carried  into  eft'ect,  he  begged  to  be  allowed  to  see 
his  family.  This  was  granted,  and  the  Sherift'  ordered  to  see  him  safely  home 
and  back.  On  the  way  to  his  cabin,  he  was  informed  by  the  officer  that  if  he 
would  leave  the  country  that  night,  '■  hook  and  line."  with  the  promise  never 
to  be  seen  in  those  parts  again,  he  would  let  him  escape.  The  Sherift'  informed 
him  that  he  must,  however,  run  for  life,  for  as  soon  as  he  started  he  (the 
Sherift")  would  shout  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "  Stop  thief!  Stop  thief!"  By 
this  time,  they  were  out  of  sight  of  the  Court,  and  the  Sherift",  pointing  one  way, 
remarked,  ''  That's  your  course,"  and  away  he  went  at  the  top  of  his  speed. 
The  Sheriff"  appeared  to  be  after  him,  yelling  with  all  his  might.  ""  Stop  thief !  " 
The  Court,  of  course,  heard,  and,  immediately  forgetting  its  dignity,  started, 
pell-mell,  in  pursuit.  The  prisoner,  however,  had  the  start,  and  made  good  his 
escape.  He  was  joined  by  his  family  afterward,  and  was  never  seen  again  in 
these  parts.  He  had,  doubtless,  learned  a  lesson  he  never  forgot,  and.  it  is 
hoped,  one  he  heeded.  It  was,  undoubtedly,  part  of  the  plan  to  allow  him  to 
escape,  but  to  so  thoroughly  intimidate  him  that  others  would  heed  the  lesson. 

Whether  the  trial  was  just  in  its  conclusions  or  nut,  and  its  mode  of  action 
commendable,  can  hardly  be  doubted,  in  the  condition  society  then  existed. 
Even  were  such  methods  adopted  now,  so  thoroughly  prompt  and  decisive,  it  is 
hardly  an  open  question  but  that  it  would  sometimes  be  better.  After  the 
county  was  organized,  the  processes  of  civil  law  were  carried  out,  and,  from 
that  date  down,  we  are  not  informed  of  any  impromptu  courts  and  court  pro- 
ceedings. 

We  have  thus  fiir  narrated  the  leading  events  in  the  history  of  Mattoon 
Township.  The  history  of  its  organization  is  given  in  the  general  county 
history,  and,  as  it  did  not  occur  until  four  years  after  Mattoon  village  was 
established,  we  will  proceed  directly  to  the  history  of  the  city,  and,  in  like 
manner,  note  its  important  events. 

The  town  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  crossing  of  the  two  railroads,  and  dates 
its  beu"inning  from  tiiat  occurrence.  When  the  original  surveys  for  the  rail- 
roads were  made,  it  was  predicted  that  a  town  would  grow  up  at  their  crossing; 
but   until  the  exact  location  of  the  routes  was  determined,  no  one  ventured  to 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  C0UI1TY.  853 

purchase  the  ground  and  prepare  for  the  expected  village.  It  was  at  one  time 
thought  that  the  crossino;  would  be  made  about  two  miles  north  of  the  site  of 
Mattoon,  and  a  town,  to  be  called  Arno,  was  laid  out  there  by  David  A.  Neal, 
of  Massachusetts,  owner  of  the  land.  The  survey  was  made  by  John  Meadows, 
March  14,  1855. 

The  routes  of  the  roads  were  pretty  certainly  established  by  1852,  and  in 
that  year  a  company  of  persons,  prominent  among  whom  were  Elisha  Linder, 
Ebenezer  Noyes,  James  T.  Cunningham,  Stephen  D.  Dole,  John  L.  Allison 
and  John  Cunningham,  purchased  Section  13,  in  Township  12,  and  concluded 
to  plat  thereon  a  town.  Two  years  elapsed  before  this  was  done,  during  which 
interval,  Davis  Carpenter,  Usher  F.  Lrnder,  H.  Q.  Sanderson,  Harrison  Mes- 
ser,  Samuel  B.  Richardson,  W.  B.  Puell,  Josiah  Hunt  and  Charles  Nabb 
obtained  an  interest,  and,  by  direction  of  all  these  persons,  a  town  was  laid  out 
on  December  12,  1854,  by  John  Meadows,  then  County  Surveyor.  It  must  be 
borne  in  mind  that  the  grant  of  land  given  by  the  Government  in  aid  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Bailroad  (a  full  history  of  which  appears  elsewhere),  included 
only  alternate  sections  in  the  belt,  and  that,  to  equalize  the  I'evenue  from  the 
remaining  sections,  the  price  was  doubled.  These  men,  then,  paid  for  Section 
12  $2.50  per  acre,  which,  considering  the  location,  was  certainly  cheap  enough. 

No  sooner  was  the  survey  made  than  preparations  for  building  began.  Men 
did  not  wait  for  a  sale  of  lots,  but  went  to  the  proprietors  and  selected  such  lots 
as  they  desired,  began  building  on  them,  with  the  understanding  that  they  be 
allowed  them  as  their  choice  on  the  day  of  sale  ;  that  then  they  really  be  con- 
firmed in  their  purchase.  The  first  building  brought  on  the  town  site  w^as  an 
old  structure  moved  here  from  La  Fayette  Township  by  Blueford  Sexton,  and 
used  as  a  kind  of  lodging-house,  boarding-house  and  toolhouse.  Anything  that 
would  in  any  way  shelter  a  person  w\as  acceptable,  and  Avas,  as  they  termed  it, 
"better  than  nothing."  On  the  28th  day  of  March,  1855,  the  next  spring 
after  the  survey.  Mr.  R.  H.  McFadden  raised  the  first  house  erected  on  the 
site  of  Mattoon.  It  stands  on  its  original  site,  on  the  south  side  of  First 
street,  just  east  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  track,  and  is  now  occupied  by 
Mrs.  Cartmell.  The  house,  when  built,  contained  two  front  rooms,  one  of 
which  was  intended  for  a  store,  and  in  it  Flemming  &  Sexton  opened  the  first 
stock  of  goods  offered  for  sale  in  the  town.  This  was  done  early  in  April,  and 
by  that  time  several  other  buildings  were  in  course  of  erection.  Afterward, 
Cartmell  and  Dr.  Camp  had  a  small  drug  store  in  the  room,  and  when  Mr. 
Noyes  built  a  small  brick  store  west  of  the  railroad,  the  stock  was  moved  there. 
Dr.  Camp  was  deaf  and  dumb,  and  lived  awhile  in  one  half  of  Mr.  Cunningham's 
warehouse,  built  on  the  north  side  of  the  Terre  Haute  &  Alton  Railroad,  before 
the  sale  of  lots,occurred.     The  pioneer  drug  store  was  closed  out  in  the  little  brick. 

Two  days  after  Mr.  McFadden  raised  his  house,  an  enterprising  individual 
set  up  a  little  board  shanty  a  short  distance  south  of  him,  and  began  selling 
whisky  and  other  compounds. 


3o4  HISTORY  OF  rOLES  COUNTY. 

James  M.  True  opened  a  store  soon  after.  John  Allison  built  a  small  land 
office  ;  Ebenezer  Noyes  a  small  brick  building  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by 
Mr.  Tremble's  house,  on  West  Charleston  street ;  John  Cunningham,  a  ware- 
liouse,  in  the  eastern  part  of  town,  near  where  the  car-shops  are  now  situated. 
Michael  Toby  and  others  erected  dwellings,  and  the  lively  times  of  frontier 
Western  towns  Avere  indicated  on  all  hands.  Mr.  Toby  says  he  had  been  here  in 
the  fall  before,  looking  over  the  ground,  and  decided  to  locate.  In  the  winter, 
probably  in  January,  he  and  a  number  of  others  met  in  a  little  shanty  made  of 
sod  and  plank,  and  placed  near  the  crossing,  then  only  located,  where  they  ex- 
amined the  map  of  the  new  town  and  selected  lots.  They  were  all  known  as 
"Improvement  lots."  paid  for  by  putting  so  much  improvement  on  each  lot, 
for  which,  as  yet,  the  plat  not  being  acknowledged  and  recorded,  no  deeds 
could  be  made.  He  went  back  to  the  Kickapoo  timber,  where  he  was  living, 
and,  before  spring,  had  erected  two  barns  for  some  of  the  residents  there,  and 
had  the  timbers  for  his  house  ready.  He  came  again  to  Mattoon  when  the 
building  began,  and,  that  summer,  assisted  in  erecting  a  good  many  structures, 
as  well  as  building  his  own  house. 

The  sale  of  lots  was  extensively  advertised  by  means  of  hand-bills  sent  all 
over  the  country.  The  15th  day  of  May  was  the  day  set,  and  on  the  14th, 
the  proprietors  went  to  Charleston,  where  they  acknowledged  the  plat  before 
Eli  Wiley,  a  Justice,  and  had  it  recorded. 

On  the  next  morning,  a  construction-train  came  over  from  Terre  Haute, 
that  railroad  being  completed  this  far,  bringing  a  great  number  of  buyers.  All 
the  people  from  the  surrounding  country  came  on  horse-back  to  see  the  cars  they 
ha<l  heard  so  much  about,  and  which  so  many  had  never  seen. 

The  auctioneer  was  Samuel  Adams,  of  Terre  Haute.  During  the  sale, 
various  races  occurred  between  fleet  horses  and  the  locomotive  and  between  one 
anotiier.  Foot-racing,  wrestling,  leaping  and  other  things  of  such  hilarious 
nature  were  indulged  among  the  attendants  who  came  to  see,  while  not  a  few, 
especially  among  the  ladies,  were  compelled  to  stand  and  hold  their  horses, 
there  being  no  places  to  hitch,  and  no  places,  except  in  the  unfinished  houses, 
to  find  seats.  The  sale  passed  off  very  satisfactorily,  a  large  part  of  the  lots 
finding  purchasers.  Great  expectations  existed  on  the  part  of  the  majority  of 
the  purchasers:  a  large  town,  predicted  they,  would  some  day  grace  the  high  hill 
on  which  the  city  is  built.  All  Western  towns  partook  of  the  same  spirit,  but 
all  were  not  successful  in  reaching  their  anticipations.  The  embryo  village  was 
by  this  time  named.  In  casting  about  for  a  suitable  synonym  whereby  it  should 
be  known  to  the  world,  the  proprietors  took  into  consideration  the  advantages 
accruing  from  the  railroads,  which  had,  indeed,  been  the  cause  of  the  town,  and 
determined  in  some  way  to  perpetuate  their  construction.  The  contracting  firm 
for  the  Terre  Haute  &  Alton  road  was  Phelps,  Mattoon  ^:  Barnes,  of  Spring- 
field, Mass.  They  had  been  extensive  contractors,  having  built,  in  the  previ- 
ous decade,  the  Rome  &  Watertown,  the  Buffalo  cS:  Corning  and  the  Watertown 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  355 

■k  Potsdam  Railroads.  The  second  partner,  Mr.  William  Mattoon,  was  very 
actively  engaged  here  when  they  were  building  the  Terre  Haute  &;  Alton  Road, 
and  became  quite  well  known  along  the  line.  In  honor  of  him,  the  city  of 
which  we  are  writing  received  its  name.  He  and  Messrs.  Dawsen  and  Messer 
were,  in  1857-58,  engaged  on  the  towers  of  the  suspension  bridge  ar  Cincinnati, 
and  for  a  few  years  after,  Mr.  Mattoon  was  actively  engaged  in  such  pursuits. 
About  1859,  he  began  to  spend  the  most  of  his  time  at  home,  on  his  fine  farm  near 
Westfield,  where  he  lived  the  remainder  of  his  life,  devoting  himself  to  the  raising 
fine  stock.  His  herds  of  fine  Devon  cattle  are  said  to  have  taken  more  pre- 
miums that  any  other  herd  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Mattoon  died  a  few  months 
ago.  He  will  always  be  remembered  by  the  old  citizens  here,  whose  city,  as 
well  as  a  street  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  will  perpetuate  his  memory. 

After  the  sale  of  lots  on  May  15,  the  greatest  activity  prevailed  here  in 
the  erection  of  houses.  Lodging  and  boarding  were  very  hard  to  get.  Every 
one  was  "full,"  and  accommodations  of  every  kind  were  brought  into  use. 
Labor  was  high,  as  it  always  is  such  times,  and  laborers  flocked  to  Mattoon  to 
share  in  the  prosperity.  Work  on  both  railroads  was  carried  on,  and  num- 
bers of  men  found  temporary  homes  here.  The  inevitable  results  followed. 
Whisky  was  brought  on  by  unlawful  persons,  and  a  saloon  started.  To  the 
credit  of  one  or  two  of  the  contractors,  it  is  to  be  said,  they  gave  some  of  the 
saloon-keepers  so  long  a  time  to  leave — they  left.  But  the  temptation  was  strong 
and  whisky,  in  one  way  and  another,  would  come.  It  seems  to  be  the  inevitable 
follower  of  all  frontier  towns,  and  Mattoon  was  no  exception  to  the  rule. 

Though  the  town  had  now  a  few  stores,  several  houses,  and  a  great  many  in 
the  course  of  construction,  it  lacked  that  commodity  of  all  towns,  a  hotel. 
Messrs.  Sanderson  and  Carpenter,  two  of  the  original  proprietors,  were,  however, 
preparing  to  supply  the  deficiency.  As  labor  was  high  here,  they  had  the  tim- 
ber all  framed  and  put  in  readiness  at  Terre  Haute,  and  on  Sunday,  June  30, 
1855,  erected  the  first  hotel — the  Pennsylvania  House — in  the  town.  It  stood 
on  the  south  side  of  Broadway,  just  west  of  the  present  Mattoon  National  Bank, 
occupying  part  of  the  ground  now  used  by  that  building.  It  was  already  to 
put  together  when  it  arrived,  and  before  night  the  frame  was  up.  It  had,  how- 
ever, been  constructed  like  man}'  another  building,  a  little  weak,  and  after  the 
third  floor  and  the  rafters  were  finished,  the  structure  gave  way,  letting  that 
floor  and  the  rafters  down  upon  the  second.  Props  and  braces  were  imme- 
diately applied,  and  the  disaster  remedied.  Not  a  few  of  the  people  expressed 
their  disapprobation  at  the  erection  of  the  building  on  the  Sabbath  day,  while 
some  afiirmed  the  falling  of  its  upper  storv  was  a  judgment  sent  on  the  builders 
for  desecrating  the  day.  The  building  probably  fell  because  it  was  poorly  con- 
structed. Many  persons  stoutly  affirm  that  this  hotel  was  raised  on  the  Fourth 
of  July.  All  were  agreed  that  it  was  raised  on  Sunday.  The  writer  of  these 
pages,  with  several  others,  made  a  calculation,  based  on  an  invariable  rule  in 
mathematics,  and  found  that  the  Fourth  of  July  in  1855   came  on  Wednesday. 


356  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

It  was  also  found  correct  by  several  tests.  The  fact  was  then  developed  that  it 
was  raised  on  the  Sunday  previous,  and  opened  with  a  big  dinner  on  the  Fourth. 
Tlie  hotel  opened  with  a  good  run  of  custom,  and  for  many  years  did  a  good 
business.  Old  people  well  remember  it,  and  in  its  day  it  did  an  important  work 
in  the  growth  of  the  town.  It  gave  way,  finally,  to  the  demands  of  trade,  and 
the  erection  of  better  buildings,  and  was  removed  to  give  place  to  the  present 
biick  houses  occupying  its  site. 

While  on  the  subject  of  hotels  we  will  notice   some  of  the  subsequent  ones 
erected. 

The  same  summer  the  Pennsylvania  House  was  built,  another  hotel,  known 
as  the  Union  House,  was  constructed  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  Opera- 
house.  It  was  erected  by  a  man  named  Bain,  and  was  used  for  the  stage  office 
until  the  connection  between  each  railroad  was  finished.  This  hotel  was  not 
completed  till  fall.  It  was  known  as  the  Kentucky  House,  and  was  kept  by 
Mr.  W.  H.  K.  Pile,  and  after  him  by  John  Davis.  Like  the  Pennsylvania 
House,  it  became  a  favorite  stopping-place  and  enjoyed  a  good  reputation,  and 
it.  too,  like  its  predecessor,  gave  way  before  the  march  of  improvement  and  is 
among  the  things  of  the  past. 

In  the  spring  of  1857.  Mr.  Morgan  Griffin  came  to  Mattoon  to  superintend 
for  a  Mr.  Radcliff,  of  New  York,  the  building  of  the  Essex  House.  Mr.  Ebene- 
zer  Noyes,  owned  the  most  of  the  original  plat  of  the  town  lying  west  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  gave  Mr.  R.  the  lot  on  which  to  erect  the  house. 
He  was  also  to  build  brick  business  houses  on  the  reiiiainder  of  the  block  to 
the  west  end  of  the  street.  Mr.  Noyes  had  about  this  time  purchased  Section 
14  from  the  Railroad  Company,  intending  to  lay  it  out  in  lots.  He  had 
purchased  for  his  brother.  Dr.  Frank  Noyes,  Section  15,  in  1852,  and  had 
platted  that  in  large  lots.  Between  him  and  the  proprietors  of  Section  13, 
the  original  plat  of  the  city,  arose  an  estrangement,  resulting  in  his  pur- 
chasing Sections  14  and  15,  and  platting  them.  The  residents  have  always 
noticed  the  "jog,"  or  set-oif  in  the  streets  running  west  frcm  the  end  of  Broad- 
way. This  was  done  when  Mr.  Noyes  had  the  plat  made.  In  the  extreme 
efforts  made  between  the  East  and  West  Towns  to  secure  the  center  of  town, 
considerable  "  Avire-pulling  "  was  indulged,  resulting  in  not  the  best  of  feeling. 
This,  however,  existed  more  between  the  proprietors,  in  their  endeavors  to 
further  their  own  interests,  than  between  the  people,  who  cared  more  for  a  suit- 
able location  than  anything  else,  leaving  the  ascendency  of  either  side  to  reg- 
ulate itself.  In  the  erection  of  the  Essex  House,  Mr.  Radcliff  failed  to  carry 
out  the  plan,  and,  after  the  walls  were  built,  it  came  into  the  possession  of  Mr. 
Noyes,  who  completed  it,  built  the  rear  addition,  opened  it  to  the  public  in  1859, 
and  managed  it  several  years.  Mr.  Daniel  Messer,  the  present  landlord,  assumed 
charge  in  1869.  The  house  has  always  been  a  prominent  stopping-place, 
situated  as  it  is  at  the  junction,  and  being  occupied  by  the  depot  and  ticket- 
office; 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  357 

The  hotels  of  after  years  may  be  briefly  noticed.  When  the  Essex  House 
was  built,  it  was  the  third  brick  building  in  town,  others,  however,  began  to 
appear,  when  the  war  of  the  rebellion  came,  stopping  almost  all  operations  until 
after  its  close.  The  other  hotels  erected  are  the  City  Hotel,  the  Everett  House, 
now  unoccupied,  and  the  present  Dole  House.  This  latter  is  situated  on  the  south- 
east corner  of  Broadway  and  First  street,  and  was  begun  in  1868,  by  a  stock  com- 
pany. Not  long  after,  the  Dole  Brothers  obtained  control,  and  completed  it  in 
1871.  ft  was  opened  as  the  Mattoon  House,  under  the  management  of  John 
W.  Ha.wley,  now  of  the  Everett  House,  St.  Louis.  As  the  Dole  Brothers  were 
the  principal  builders  of  the  hotel,  and,  as  it  was  opened  by  them,  the  name 
was  changed  in  honor  of  them.  On  the  15th  of  March,  1877,  Stubbins 
Brothers  took  charge  of  it,  and,  on  the  18th  of  December,  lfe78,  purchased  the 
building.  They  have  remodeled  and  improved  it,  and  have  secured  a  large 
part  of  the  traveling  public.  A  few  other  small  hotels  and  boarding-houses 
complete  the  list.  None,  however,  but  the  Dole,  Essex  and  City  Hotels  are 
run  upon  the  regular  hotel  plans,  and  these  three  may  be  said  to  transact  the 
principal  business  in  their  line. 

Going  again  to  the  early  history  of  the  time,  we  find  the  summer  of  1855 
one  of  great  activity.  Conley  and  Hitchcock  opened  a  store  among  those  that 
we  have  mentioned  ;  the  post  office  was  established,  and  Mr.  True  made  Post- 
master, with  Mr.  Thomas  E.  Woods  as  Deputy  ;  a  small  schoolhouse  was 
erected  on  East  Broadway,  and  the  life  of  Mattoon,  in  its  various  phases,  was 
fully  begun.  Mr.  McFadden  and  others  yet  living  in  town,  state  that,  before 
the  building  season  had  closed,  upward  of  one  hundred  buildings  were  to  be 
seen,  all  of  which  were  occupied  that  winter. 

Through  the  winter,  school  was  maintained  in  the  small  frame  house 
alluded  to.  Religious  services  were  conducted,  principally  by  the  Baptists,  in 
each  other's  houses,  or  in  the  schoolhouse,  while  a  few  ministers  of  other 
denominations  came  to  see  what  could  bo  done  for  their  churches,  and  occasion- 
ally held  meetings  in  some  of  the  houses,  or  in  the  schoolhouse.  The  railroads 
were  woi'king  to  complete  connections  between  the  two  incomplete  ends,  and 
the  continued,  active  life  of  the  town  hardly  abated  any  for  the  cold  weather 
experienced.  Before  the  holidays,  the  Terre  Haute  &  Alton  completed  the 
remainder  of  their  line,  and,  by  January  1,  1856,  trains  were  running  from 
Chicago  to  Cairo,  over  the  Illinois  Central. 

Some  of  the  business  houses  were  built  in  the  northeast  part  of  town,  tiot 
far  from  where  Mr.  John  Cunningham  had  his  warehouse,  and  where  a  stren- 
uous effort  was  made  to  secure  the  center  of  the  business  portion.  Here  Mr. 
Cartmell  opened  a  small  drug  store,  with  Dr.  Camp,  the  first  disciple  of  Escu- 
lapius  in  the  town,  as  partner.  The  inexorable  law  of  business  could  not  be 
broken  here,  and  the  center  of  town  insisted  on  remaining  near  the  railroad 
crossing.  The  holders  of  property  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  village  saw  this» 
finally,  and  gave  way  to  the  stern  demands  of  trade. 


358  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

The  next  spring,  building  began  anew  ;  business  houses,  dwellings  and 
shops  began  to  appear.  The  first  permanent  brick  store  in  town  was  erected 
for  True  and  Cunningham,  by  Mr.  Michael  Toby,  then  a  builder,  and,  before 
winter,  it  was  ready  for  furnishing.  It  is  yet  standing  on  the  southeast  corner 
of  Broadway  and  Second  street,  and  is  now  occupied  by  the  meat-shop  of  Mr. 
John  Hunt.  It  was  the  only  brick  built  that  season.  Several  stores  were, 
liowever,  erected,  and  more  dwellings  commenced,  all  of  which  were  not  com- 
pleted before  winter  came ;  a  few  other  shops  were  built,  and  Mattoon  was 
coming  to  the  front  among  Western  towns.  Another  most  important  addition 
iippeared  in  June,  an  adjunct  that  all  Western  towns  demand,  and  that  all 
get  nearly  as  soon  as  they  are  started.  We  refer  to  the  newspaper.  In  June, 
of  that  year,  the  Grazette  appeared,  setting  forth  the  merits  of  the  town  and 
advertising  its  advantages.  This  was  started  by  Mr.  R.  W.  Houghton,  on  the 
Tth  day  of  June,  and,  from  its  columns,  considerable  is  gleaned  respecting  the 
joung  city,  which  is  given  in  extracts  from  the  paper  published  in  the  sketch 
of  the  press,  further  on  in  the  narrative.  The  editor  thinks  the  population  of 
Mattoon  can  safely  be  put  down  at  oOO  persons,  and  is  certain  of  that  number 
in  an  issue  a  year  after. 

That  summer,  the  Baptists  erected  a  small  frame  house  of  worship,  and, 
during  the  winter,  held  regular  services  therein.  They  allowed  other  denomi- 
nations to  use  the  little  church  when  they  had  no  minister.  The  small  frame 
schoolhouse  had  become  entirely  too  small  now  for  the  increased  juvenile  popu- 
lation, and  a  larger  and  more  comfortable  brick  structure  took  its  place.  It, 
however,  was  not  erected  till  1857  (some  assert,  one  year  later),  and  in  the 
interim,  the  winter  of  1856-57,  school  was  taught  in  a  room  over  Mr.  True's 
store  and  in  parts  of  some  unfinished  buildings. 

In  the  spring  of  1857,  ground  was  broken  for  the  Essex  House,  which, 
when  completed,  was  the  largest  and  finest  house  in  town.  It  was  not,  how- 
ever, finished  for  two  years.  Its  history  has  already  been  given,  and  neeil 
nut  be  repeated  here. 

This  summer,  the  Methodists  and  Cumberland  Presbyterians  organized  con- 
gregations, and  began  to  hold  meetings  in  each  other's  houses,  in  empty  store- 
rooms, or  in  a  small  hall  that  had  been  completed.  A  year  or  so  after, 
they  erected  their  houses  of  worship,  and  were  joined  by  other  denomina- 
tions, the  history  of  whose  operations  is  given  in  connection  with  that  of  their 
churches. 

In  May  of  this  year.  65  votes  were  cast  for  tlie  incorporation  of  the  town 
and  25  votes  against  the  measure,  making  a  total  of  00  voters  in  the  town 
limits.  Assuming  the  usual  ratio  of  voters  to  the  population,  this  would  give 
Mattoon  fully  as  many  inhabitants  as  the  editor  of  the  G-azette  predicted,  a 
year  before,  in  his  first  issue  of  his  paper. 

In  June,  of  this  year,  the  limits  of  the  town  were  greatly  extended  by  the 
addition  made  by  Mr.  Ebenezer  Noyes.      He,  as  has  been  noticed,  purchased 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  359 

Section  15  for  his  brother,  in  1852,  at  the  land-sale  when  the  original  plat  of 
Mattoon  was  purchased,  and  had  this  laid  out  in  acre  tracts.  Some  of  these 
had  now  been  sold,  as  "great  expectations"  were  fully  indulged  in  b}'-  the 
inhabitants  of  the  embryo  city.  He  purchased  Section  14  from  the  Central 
Railroad,  at  a  good  price  per  acre,  as  the  officers  of  that  corporation  were  fully 
alive  to  the  prospects  of  Mattoon  and  the  nearness  of  their  section  of  land. 
As  has  been  intimated,  Mr.  Noyes  and  the  proprietors  of  the  east  side  of  town 
could  not  agree ;  and,  when  he  platted  Section  14,  he  made  a  "jog"  in  all  the 
streets,  and  gave  new  names  to  those  running  west.  Hence,  when  Broadway 
reaches  the  western  limits  of  the  old  plat,  it  suddenly  turns  northward  and 
sioes  on  west  under  the  name  of  Western  avenue.  All  streets  in  this  addition 
conform  to  this  rule,  and  cause  no  little  wonderment  on  the  part  of  strangers 
who  do  not  understand  the  cause  of  the  difference. 

The  life  of  Mattoon  from  this  date  on  down  to  the  war  bears  with  it  but 
little  history.  Several  churches  were  erected  ;  a  good  schoolhouse  built  in  each 
ward,  an  account  of  which  appears  in  the  history  of.  education  and  religion 
further  on  in  these  pages  ;  a  few  brick  stores  were  built ;  one  or  two  mills  and 
an  elevator  or  two  appeared  ;  a  bank  opened :  dwellings  were  erected  in  all 
parts  of  town,  and  its  life  varied  but  little  from  the  regular  growth  of  all 
Western  towns. 

In  looking  over  the  files  of  newspapers  of  this  period,  the  Grazette  being 
joined  by  the  Journal,  several  interesting  items  are  gleaned. 

We  learn  that  a  fire  company  was  organized  in  March,  1861,  and  that  the 
Council  appropriated  flOO  for  buying  three  dozen  buckets  and  other  appli- 
ances. The  following  were  the  officers  of  this  company  :  Ebenezer  Noyes, 
President ;  H.  F.  Kelley,  First  Director ;  P.  J.  Drake,  Second  Director ; 
Carson  Knight,  Secretary ;  Edw.  A.  Thielens,  Treasurer ;  B.  N.  Skelton, 
G.  F.  Bateman  and  John  Nabb,  Standing  Committee:  Rufus  Noyes,  Mes- 
senger. 

Whatever  service  this  or  any  succeeding  fire  company  performed  is  not  recorded 
by  the  papers.  It  is  a  fair  inference,  however,  that  this,  or  whatever  companies 
succeeded  it,  did  their  share  in  putting  out  fires.  The  city  has  never  been  well 
supplied  in  this  respect,  and  to-day  no  organization  exists,  nor  is  there  any  pro- 
vision made  to  support  one.  A  fire  starts,  and  is  simply  allowed  to  burn  out. 
An  expensive  fire  department  might  not  be  advisable ;  but  an  organization 
could  be  supported  by  volunteers,  a  hook,  ladder  and  bucket  brigade  be  easily 
kept  up,  and  much  valuable  property  saved.  It  is  argued  that  it  is  cheaper  to 
let  the  buildings  burn,  and  get  the  insurance.  That  will  be  practically  demon- 
strated, some  time  in  a  dry  season,  if  a  fire  starts  in  the  west  end  of  town, 
and,  fed  by  a  strong  west  wind,  burns  out  the  entire  business  part  of  Mattoon. 
It  has  been  done  in  other  towns,  and  may  occur  here. 

While  on  this  subject,  it  might  be  interesting  to  note  briefly  some  of  the 
principal  conflagrations  that  have  occurred  here. 


360  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

In  tht'  sketches  following  these  pages,  some  account  of  the  destruction  by 
fire  of  mills,  elevators  and  such  structures  is  given.  Here  we  will  notice  what 
pertained  to  the  residence  and  uusiness  portion.  The  papers  chronicle  the 
destruction,  on  Sunday  morning,  January  1,  1866,  of  a  house  owned  by  Mr. 
E.  Regan,  whose  loss  was  nearly  $5,000  ;  his  insurance  a  little  over  $3,000. 
The  same  fire  destroyed  the  stock  of  Mr.  Fitzgerald,  a  baker  and  confectioner, 
whose  loss  was  $2,300,  but  whose  insurance  was  $4,300.  Everharty  &  Co. 
lost  $500,  less  the  insurance  of  $300  ;  while  others  lost,  in  the  aggregate, 
$5,000. 

The  Journal  of  September  4,  1867,  records  the  loss  of  Hart  &  Co.'s  livery- 
stable,  on  August  26,  with  all  its  contents,  including  seventeen  horses,  eight 
carriages  and  buggies,  and  a  mow  full  of  hay.  The  loss  was  fully  $6,000.  on 
which  only  a  small  insurance  was  carried.  Many  of  the  horses  belonged  to 
citizens  of  the  city.  The  fire  spread  from  the  stable  to  Col.  H.  L.  Hart's 
residence,  immediately  south,  which  was  also  burned.  Fortunately,  the  wind 
blew  from  the  north,  keeping  the  flames  away  from  Broadway,  else  the  loss 
might  have  been  dreadful. 

The  same  issue  of  the  Journal  records  the  destruction,  on  the  Wednesday 
night  before,  of  the  residence  of  Mr.  Ephraim  Orr,  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
citv.  The  Journal  states  that  the  buihling  was  known  as  the  "  Cartmell  House," 
built  by  Mr.  Edward  Cartmell  in  1855  ;  also,  that  in  it  Gen.  True  kept  a  stock 
of  goods  and  the  first  post  office  in  Mattoon.  Gen.  True  was  Postmaster,  while 
the  editor,  Capt.  T.  E.  Woods,  was  Clerk,  and  Deputy.  The  loss  on  this 
building  was  about  $1,500. 

Under  date  of  November  9,  1867.  the  Journal  chronicles  another  destruc- 
tive conflagration — this  time,  the  large  agricultural  warehouse  owned  by  Ebene- 
zer  Noyes.  It  was  probably  set  on  fire  by  sparks  from  a  locomotive  passing  at 
night,  and  it  was  some  time  before  it  was  discovered.  Two  of  Mr.  Noyes'  sons 
narrowly  escaped  burning,  as  they  were  asleep  in  the  building  at  the  time,  and* 
did  not  awaken  until  near  too  late  to  save  themselves.  One  of  them,  Eben, 
was  badly  burned  before  he  was  rescued.  The  building  was  a  huge  three-story 
frame,  and  made  a  great  light.  The  loss  on  the  building  was  $6,000,  and  on 
the  stock  was  $3,000.     The  insurance  was  about  $5,000.  leaving  a  large  loss. 

Other  prominent  fires  were  the  destruction  of  John  Cunningham's  elevator, 
the  elevator  just  north  of  the  Essex  House,  a  mill  or  two,  nearly  all  of  which 
are  mentioned  in  a  chapter  devoted  to  that  subject. 

Last  winter,  during  the  excessive  cold  weather,  five  serious  fires  occurred, 
almost  one  after  the  other.  As  no  organized  effort  toward  the  extinguishment 
of  fires  exists,  they  were  allowed  to  burn  out.  The  same  occurred  in  the  month 
of  February,  wlien  Mr.  Walsh  lost  his  dwelling. 

Aside  from  the  calamity  of  fire  suffered  in  Mattoon,  the  place  has,  once  or 
twice,  been  visited  by  severe  storms,  one  of  which  deserves  mention.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1864,  a  great  storm  occurred,  occasioning  a  very  serious   loss  of  prop  - 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  361 

erty,  and,  in  some   instances,  several  persons  injured.     The  JournaL  of  Sep- 
tember 28  gives  the  following  account  of  the  storm  : 

"  This  place  was  visited,  on  last  Friday  evening,  by  one  of  the  most  terrific 
storms  ever  known  in  this  part  of  the  State.  Dense,  reddish-black  clouds  made 
their  appearance,  a  little  north  of  west,  about  3  o'clock,  and  in  less  than  ten 
minutes  the  storm  burst  upon  us  in  its  wildest  fury,  tearing  down  awnings, 
blowing  down  and  unroofing  buildings,  and  scattering  about  everything  mova- 
ble. The  flying  dust  was  so  thick  and  the  darkness  so  great,  that  one  might 
-well  imagine  that  the  very  clouds  had  descended  to  the  earth  and  lifted  every 
particle  of  loose  earth.  The  damage  in  town  was  great,,yet  we  do  not  suppose 
it  more  than  equals  that  in  the  country,  where  houses  were  unroofed  and  fences 
and  corn  leveled  to  the  ground  in  great  number.  The  following  is  the  list  of 
the  principal  injuries,  as  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn,  within  the  corpora- 
tion limits  : 

"•  IM.  E.  Church,  two-thirds  unroofed  and  windows  and  plastering  much 
broken.     Damage,  about  $1,500. 

''  Smoke-stacks  of  Thomas  Jennings"  woolen-factory  and  T.  Alexander's 
flouring-mill  blown  down. 

••  Mr.  Hutton's  new  two-storv  frame  house,  partly  finished,  leveled  to  the 
crround. 

'•  Fence  to  Smith  &  Jones'  lumber-yard  blown  down  and  thousands  of  feet 
of  lumber  and  shingles  blown  away  and  broken  up. 

'•  Shed,  formerly  warehouse  to  Monroe's  store-building,  blown  down. 
•■  The  new  brick  of  Dole  Brothers  was  much  damaged,  the  window-facings 
of  the  east  and  south  sides  and  several  feet  of  the  wall  being  blown  down. 

•'  The  wooden  awnings  in  front  of  Wilson,  Bro.  &  Co.,  P.  J.  Drake  and  two 
or  three  other  establishments  on  the  east  side  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
torn  from  their  fastenings  and  hurled  into  the  street. 

"  In  the  west  part  of  town,  Mr.  Cullom's  house  was  twisted  oft"  the  founda- 
tion, nearly  all  the  furniture  broken,  and  William  Waggoner's  house  was 
wrested  from  its  foundation  and  badly  smashed  up. 

"  John  Walkup's  new  two-story  house,  unfinished,  moved  from  its  founda- 
tion and  badly  injured,  as  was  also  the  residence  of  J.  Vallandigham. 

"  The  smoke-stacks  of  Muchmore  &  Co.'s  planing-mill  and  Jones'  flouring- 
mill  were  blown  down,  and  it  was  with  great  diflUculty  the  planing-mill  could  be 
prevented  from  burning. 

'•  Chapin  &  Pilkington's  lumber-yards  badly  scattered,  and  much  lumber 
broken. 

"  The  houses  of  P.  Hennessy  and  R.  M.  Bridges  were  both  leveled  to  the 
ground, 

"  The  Essex  House  was  badly  damaged,  all  the  chimneys  and  two-thirds  of 
the  iron  roof  of  the  north  side  .^tripped  off",  and  the  whole  upper  story  exposed  to 
the  furious  rain  which  followed.     Sheets  of  iron  ten  feet  long  were  carried  more 


362  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

than  a  hundred  yards,  one  of  which  was  hurled   through   the  show-window  iw 
Mr.  Drakes  store. 

"  The  stairway  leading  to  the  second  story  of  Francis  &  Drake's  store, 
which  was  on  the  west  side  of  the  building,  with  a  high  board  fence  on  the 
north  and  a  two-story  brick  on  the  west,  was  lifted  from  its  place  and  hurled 
back  nearly  twenty  feet,  the  wind  having  sucked  down  and  lifted  it  out. 

''  Chimneys,  out-houses,  stables  and  fences  were  blown  down  by  the  score 
all  over  town,  and  a  number  of  windows  broken  by  flying  fragments.  Thirty 
or  forty  feet  square  of  the  roof  of  the  M.  E.  Church  was  carried,  rafters  and 
all,  completely  over  the  residence  of  Mr.  Ellis,  just  east  of  the  church,  and 
fell  a  little  south  of  the  church,  mashing  down  over  seventy-five  feet  of  fencing, 
knocking  off"  a  chimney  and  breaking  twenty-four  panes  of  glass  out  of  his 
windows.  About  twenty  feet  of  the  roof  was  taken  nearly  one  hundred  yards 
almost  due  south  of  the  church. 

'•  In  the  countrv  nine  miles  west,  the  two-storv  residence  of  James  Munson 
was  moved  from  its  foundation  and  badly  racked,  and  that  of  Jesse  Armentrout 
entirely  demolished,  as  were  several  other  buildings  in  the  same  neighborhood. 
Corn  fields  and  fences  were  all  leveled,  and  in  many  fields  scarcely  a  blade  is 
left,  and  even  the  corn  is  blown  off"  the  stalks. 

"  The  residence  of  Thomas  Meredith,  three  miles  west,  was  also  blown  over 
and  one  of  the  corner-stones  moved  ten  feet. 

"  The  track  of  the  storm  seems  to  have  been  almost  directly  west  to  east, 
and  about  nine  miles  wide,  having  left  its  terrible  marks  all  the  way  from  Hills- 
boro  to  Paris,  over  one  hundred  miles.  We  understand  that  the  M.  E.  Church 
and  several  other  buildings  were  unroofed  at  the  former  place,  and  from  the 
Paris  Beacon  and  Blade  we  learn  that  a  part  of  the  steeple  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  was  blown  off",  falling  through  the  roof  and  damaging  the  building  about 
$1,500.  The  Presbyterian  Church  was  also  severely  injured,  many  other 
houses  blown  down,  and  much  other  damage  done  at  that  place. 

''  We  have  not  learned  of  much  damage  being  done  at  Charleston  and  other 
towns  along  the  line,  but  have  no  doubt  it  has  seriously  injured  all  towns  lying 
in  its  pathway.  " 

A  few  other  storms  have  sv/ept  over  the  prairies  of  Coles  County  in  the 
years  since  it  was  settled,  but  none  so  fierce  as  the  one  recorded  are  mentioned 
in  its  annals. 

We  must  not  omit  a  mention  of  the  part  the  city  took  in  the  last  war.  Mat- 
toon  and  its  surrounding  populace  were  largely  in  fixvor  of  a  subjugation  of  that 
part  of  the  Union  favoring  its  dismemberment,  and  many  of  her  bravest  citizens 
left  home  and  dear  ones  to  protect  a  nation's  honor,  and  save  the  flag  all  loved 
so  well.  The  war  of  the  rebellion  opened  in  1861.  The  first  company  to 
respond  to  the  call  for  troops  from  this  part  of  Coles  County  left  Mattoon  on 
April  15,  1861,  for  Springfield,  where  they  were  to  be  mustered  into  service 
and  to  be  attached  to  their  regiment.     Before  their  departure,  they  were  served 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  36 o 

with  a  sumptuous  dinner  at  the  Pennsylvania  House  by  Mr.  McKee,  the  pni- 
prietor,  and  were  presented  with  a  flag  by  the  ladies  of  Mattoon,  and  each  officer 
Avith  a  bible  and  each  private  with  a  testament  by  the  Masonic  orders  in  town. 
The  committee  of  ladies  who  presented  the  flag  was  composed  of  the  following 
persons  :  Misses  Kate  McMunn,  Mollie  Tobey,  Helen  Messer,  Sarah  Aldrich 
and  Mrs.  Maggie  Duncan  and  Mrs.  McKee.  Mrs.  L.  Villie  Malone  made  the 
presentation  speech  to  the  boys,  who  responded  through  Lieut.  Edward  True, 
as  Capt.  James  Monroe  was  then  in  Springfield. 

Capt.  Monroe,  while  at  Camp  Yates,  on  April  25,  was  presented  by  his 
friends,  through  C.  Knight,  with  a  fine  sword. 

"  On  Tuesday,  May  14,"  says  the  Journal  of  that  year,  "  a  regiment  was 
organized  and  sworn  in  by  Col.  Grant,  a  camp  established  and  named  Camp 
Grant."  No  allusion  to  the  famous  man  who  afterward  led  the  armies  of  the 
Union  is  made.     His  prowess  had  not  yet  developed. 

The  regiment  remained  here,  drilling  for  some  time,  but  as  soon  as  it  was 
fully  ready  it  was  sent  to  Springfield  and  from  there  to  the  service. 

While  the  regiment  was  encamped  near  Mattoon,  the  town  was  generally 
rather  lively.  Soldiers,  out  on  a  short  pass,  not  uncommonly  got  rather  too> 
much  whisky  in  them,  and,  in  that  condition,  were  not  always  what  they  should 
be.  Civilians  known  to  be  favorable  to  the  Southern  States  were  not  unfre- 
quently  compelled  to  subscribe  to  oaths  or  other  declarations,  not  at  all  in  con- 
formity with  their  sentiments.  No  riots  occurred  in  Mattoon,  as  in  Charleston, 
or,  at  least,  none  worthy  of  record,  and,  as  the  veil  of  peace  is  now  drawn  over 
all  these  scenes,  we  do  not  care  to  lift  it,  but  think  that  they,  as  well  as  several 
tragedies  occurring  in  Coles  County,  are  better  forgotten. 

We  will  now  retrace  our  steps  somewhat,  and,  in  a  measure,  note  some- 
thing of  the  municipal  life  of  Mattoon.  The  city  was  incorporated  under  the 
general  law  of  the  State,  in  June,  1857,  when  65  votes  were  cast  in  its  favor, 
and  25  against.  It  continued  under  that  organization,  states  our  authority — 
an  advertising  sheet  issued  by  Jerry  Toles,  an  insurance  and  real  estate  agent. 
May  1,  1866 — until  1859,  when  a  city  charter  was  obtained  from  the  Legis- 
lature, which,  as  amended,  was  in  force  when  the  aforesaid  sheet  was  published. 

From  an  examination  of  the  newspapers  of  1860  and  1861,  we  learn  that 
an  election  was  held  in  Mattoon  on  Monday,  April  1,  1861,  under  the  provis- 
ions granted  in  the  new  charter  during  the  winter  previous.  From  the 
provisions  of  the  charter,  we  learn  that  the  word  "  Town  "  shall  be  changed  to 
"  City,"  and  "  Trustees  "  to  "  Councilmen."  Evidently  the  advertising  sheet 
of  Mr.  Toles  is  a  little  premature  in  its  statements.  As  he  issued  his  sheet  for 
advertising  purposes,  it  is  natural  to  suppose  he  desired  to  clothe  Mattoon  with 
the  title  of  a  city  as  early  as  possible.  The  town  charter  was  liberally 
amended  in  1859,  but  no  city  created,  as  is  shown  in  the  charter  quoted. 
This  charter,  in  its  second  article,  provided  that  "  members  of  the  City  Council 
shall  have  had  six  months'  residence,    be  a  hona-jide  freeholder  at  the  time  of 


364  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

his  election,  and  shall  have  paid  a  corporation  tax  in  said  city  during  the  pre- 
ceding year.  Whenever  he  ceases  to  be  a  freeholder  in  said  city,  his  oflfice 
becomes  vacant. 

The  election  was  ordered  to  be  held  annually  thereafter,  on  the  first  Monday 
in  April,  when  a  President,  six  members  of  a  City  Council,  City  Clerk,  Treas- 
urer and  Street  Supervisor  should  be  elected. 

All  persons  were  entitled,  by  the  charter,  to  vote  for  State  officers  who 
"  have  paid  a  corporation  tax  to  the  city  during  the  year  immediately  pre- 
ceding the  election,  and  have  resided  in  the  corporation  ninety  days  previous  to 
the  election,  were  entitled  to  vote  for  city  officers.'" 

The  Police  Justice  and  Constables  were  each  to  be  elected  for  four  years. 

The  tax  and  labor  collected  from  persons  on  the  west  side  of  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  was  to  be  distributed  there,  while  that  on  the  east  side 
was  to  be  distributed  there.  The  Gazette,  in  its  first  issue  after  the  elec- 
tion, gives  the  following  account  of  it :  "  Below  we  give  the  result  of 
the  municipal  election  on  last  Monday.  We  did  have  some  conscientious 
scruples  as  to  publishing  the  particulars  of  the  bungling  affair,  but,  since  we 
heard  of  the  double  election  which  our  Paris  neighbors  held  on  the  same  day, 
Ave  have  concluded  that  the  Parisians  can't  '  poke  fun  at  us  '  over  our  blunders, 
and,  consequently,  we  may  as  well  publish." 

The  new  city  charter  as  amended — declaring  who  were  and  who  were  not  legal 
voters,  which  clause  did  put  a  flea  in  somebody's  ear — very  mysteriously  got  lost 
while  in  the  President's  keeping,  just  at  the  time  when  the  first  election  under  it 
was  to  be  held,  and  as  it  was  the  only  legally  attested  copy  of  the  charter  in  the 
possession  of  the  Board,  as  a  matter  of  course  the  opponents  of  the  new  fran- 
chise took  the  opportunity  to  annul  the  election.  After  sweating  and  quarrel- 
ing on  the  morning  of  the  election  till  nearly  11  o'clock,  the  Board  having 
declared  the  election  postponed,  the  ''  sovereign  "  people  concluded  to  have  an 
election  of  their  own.  An  election  was  therefore  immediately  called,  clerks  and 
judges  of  election  duly  appointed,  and  the  voting  began.  The  voting  was, 
of  course,  done  indiscriminately  as  far  as  having  paid  taxes  was  concerned. 
The  following  is  the  result : 

For  Police  Justice,  James  T.  Smith  ;  Police  Constable,  James  L.  Taylor  ; 
President,  James  Monroe.  City  Council — T.  C.  Patrick,  Samuel  Smith,  D. 
M.  Turney,  L.  Chapin,  D.  C.  Higginson  and  C.  A.  Powell.  Clerk,  B.  N. 
Skelton  ;  Treasurer,  A.  Hasbrouck ;  vStreet  Supervisor,  B.  F.  Keely. 

The  vote  for  and  against  license  was  small.  For  license,  80 ;  against 
license,  77. 

Mattoon  remained  Under  this  form  of  government,  with  various  alterations 
made  as  the  city  grew,  until  the  last  week  of  February,  1879,  when  at  an 
election  the  charter  was  so  changed  that  the  city  passed  under  the  general  in- 
corporation law  of  the  State,  and  under  that  law  is  now  governed.  The  prin- 
cipal  changes  relate  to   the  election   of  officers,  many  of  which   are   now  ap- 


HISTORY  OP  COLES  COUNTY.  367 

pointed,  and  to  the  redivision  of  the  city  into  wards.  This  latter  move  is  now 
agitated,  but  it  is  not  likely  to  be  adopted  for  some  time.  The  governing  power 
still  rests  in  the  Council,  and  in  place  of  the  people  electing  several  subordinate 
officers,  that  body  appoints  them. 

Thus  far  in  this  narrative,  we  have  omitted  any  mention,  save  incidents,  of 
mills,  manufactories  or  the  general  business  of  the  city,  as  well  as  its  churches, 
schools,  newspapers  and  societies,  leaving  them  for  separate  articles.  In  this 
way  more  complete,  and,  at  the  same  time,  more  condensed,  descriptions  can  be 
given,  and  also  in  a  better  and  more  explicit  manner.  They  show  much  of  the 
history  of  the  city,  but  are  not  given  with  that  view  being  intended  for  the  ob- 
jects they  treat. 

We  shall,  therefore,  leave  the  narrative  of  the  city  and  devote  the  remainder 
of  this  history  to  the  subjects  we  have  mentioned. 

ELEVATORS,   MILLS,  MANUFACTORIES,   ETC. 

John  Cunningham's  elevator,  built  in  the  spring  of  1855,  before  the  sale  of 
lots,  was  the  pioneer  of  such  enterprises  in  Mattoon.  It  was,  as  time  event- 
ually proved,  too  far  from  the  natural  center  of  town,  the  railroad  crossing,  and 
was  finally  abandoned.  Four  or  five  years  after,  Mr.  Cunningham  built  a  sub- 
stantial brick  warehouse  north  of  the  railroad  crossing,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Central  track,  and  just  south  of  where  Moneypenny's  mill  now  stands.  This 
was  quite  a  firm  building,  and  was  one  of  the  best  to  follow  in  chronological 
order  the  Essex  House.  It  stood  till  Sunday  'night,  March  19,  1865,  when  it 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  It  appears  to  have  been  the  principal  elevator  in  town 
until  it  was  destroyed. 

The  elevator  of  Jennings  &  Co.,  still  standing,  comes  next  in  the  annals  of 
the  town.  It  was  built  about  the  close  of  the  war  by  the  present  proprietors, 
who  are  the  oldest  grain  merchants  in  Mattoon.  One  of  them  and  Mr.  H.  M. 
Tremble,  built  a  small  warehouse  where  the  express  office  now  stands — the 
second  enterprise  of  the  kind  in  town.  It  was  a  small  building,  and  was  used 
as  such  for  a  few  years  and  then  removed.  South  of  it  stood  the  old  pork- 
house  of  O'Connell  &  Co.,  brought  from  near  Cincinnati,  the  pioneer  enter- 
prise of  that  kind  in  the  city.  It  was  burned  after  a  few  years  of  service. 
!N^ear  it  was  the  large  well  over  which  the  city  and  Central  Railroad  had  such 
a  vexatious  lawsuit.  The  controversy  over  the  well  was  finally  settled,  and  it  is 
not  at  present  regularly  used. 

Just  before  Mr.  Cunningham  built  his  brick  elevator,  Luther  Miller  moved 
an  old  porkhouse  from  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  and  set  it  up  north  of  the  proposed 
site  of  Mr.  Cunningham's  elevator.  About  1861,  the  porkhouse  came  into  the 
hands  of  Hudnot  &  Co.,  who  remodeled  it,  and  opened  a  hominy-mill  in  the 
building.  This  they  operated  with  varying  success  until  1864,  when  the 
building  came  into  the  control  of  Cox  &  Miller,  who  again  changed  its  interior 
and  opened  a  plow-factory  in  it.     This  was  conducted  for  two  or  three  years, 


368  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

when  Capt.  Hinkle  obtained  possession  of  the  building,  and  opened  a  corn- 
meal  mill  in  it.  This  enterprise  ho  continued  two  years,  when  he  I'etired,  and 
the  present  parties  obtained  control.  Mr.  Moneypenny  now  operates  the 
meal- mill  and  has  a  very  fair  trade. 

The  Pacific  Mill,  noted  in  the  papers  as  the  pioneer  mill  of  Mattoon,  is  in 
the  southwest  part  of  town,  on  the  St.  Louis  Railroad.  It  was  built  in  1862, 
by  Charles  Jones,  who  operated  it  four  years.  It  remained  idle  then  for  more 
than  a  year,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Ira  and  D.  D.  James,  who  re-opened  it 
and  operated  it  until  the  summer  of  1878,  when,  the  business  not  proving 
profitable,  they  discontinued  it.  The  mill  is  now  idle,  but  yet  in  the  hands 
of  the  Messrs.  James. 

Cox's  Mill,  a  little  west  of  Money  penny's  mill,  is  at  present  unoccupied. 
It  was  built  by  Steadman  &  Demuth,  in  1869  or  1870,  who  operated  it  two  or 
three  years,  when  it  came  into  the  possession  of  Hiram  Cox,  the  present  owner. 

James'  Elevator  was  built  in  1868,  by  Ira  and  D.  D.  James,  who  have  been 
more  or  less  connected  in  the  grain  trade  in  Mattoon  many  years.  They  have 
controlled  their  own  elevator  until  their  failure  in  1874,  when  it  and  the  Pacific- 
Mill,  operated  by  them  since  1866,  went  into  possession  of  Greer  &  Co.,  for 
whom  they  now  operate  the  elevator. 

The  City  Mill — sometimes  called  Union  Mill — was  built  in  1862  and  1863. 
by  T.  C.  Alexander  &  Co.,  at  an  expense  of  $12,000.  They  operated  it 
until  1864,  when  Col.  J.  Richmond  purchased  one-half  interest  in  it,  which 
he  sold,  in  1867,  to  Mr.  Curtis."  Under  his  control,  it  was  run  till  February. 
1875,  when  Col.  Richmond  and  J.  H.  Clark  bought  the  mill.  In  the  fall.  Col. 
Richmond  purchased  the  entire  concern  and  has  been  operating  it  since.  It  is 
the  principal  flouring-mill  in  the  ,city,  and  does  the  majority  of  grinding  for 
the  country  about  Mattoon. 

It  might  be  well  before  leaving  this  subject  to  notice  a  few  of  the  elevators 
and  mills  that  have  been  destroyed  by  fire.  Mr.  Cunningham's  elevator  has 
already  been  noticed.  A  large  elevator  was' built  just  north  of  the  Essex  House 
by  Richai'ds  &  Co.,  about  1860.  It  stood  only  a  few  years,  when  it  was  entirely 
consumed  by  the  relentless  element.  It  was  at  once  rebuilt  by  the  same  firm, 
who  sold  it  to  Day,  Sprague  &  Co.,  who  did  business  there  till  about  1873,  when 
the  same  calamity  befell  it.     No  attempt  was  made  to  rebuild  the  third  time. 

About  the  same  year  it  burned,  the  Watkins  Mill  was  erected,  just  west  of 
the  foundry,  b^i^  James  Watkins.     After  running  it  about  two  years,  the  mill 
caught  fire,  and,  in  spite  of  its  unusual  facilities  for  extinguishing  fives,  it  suf- 
fered the  fate  of  some  of  its  fellows. 

These  mills  are  the  principal  ones  erected  in  the  city.  A  few  others  have 
been  built,  but,  proving  unprofitable,  were  in  a  few  years  converted  to  other 
uses. 

The  first  machine-shop  or  foundry  was  built  by  James  Wolfe,  in  1863  or 
1864.     He  kept  it  about  three  years,  and  sold  to  Charles  Pomeroy,  who  con- 


HISTORY    OF  COLES  COUNTY.  369 

tinued  it  till  the  Lenox  Foundry  was  built,  in  1872,  when  he  moved  it  away. 
This  latter  foundry  was  built  by  William  Lenox,  the  present  proprietor,  the 
year  referred  to.  It  is  the  only  enterprise  of  the  kind  in  town,  and  has  a  very 
fair  custom. 

The  largest  machine-shops  in  Mattoon  are  those  operated  by  the  Indianapolis 
&  St.  Louis  Railway.  They  were  built  here  in  1870,  and  were  brought  to 
Mattoon  on  a  guarantee  of  that  city  of  a  bonus  of  $60,000  in  bonds.  The 
vote  on  this  question  was  held  on  April  4,  1870,  and  was  decided  by  517  votes 
in  favor  of  the  appropriation  to  10  against  it.  The  bonds  are  payable  in  three 
equal  installments,  one-third  in  ten  years  from  the  date  of  issue ;  one-third  in 
fifteen  years,  and  one-third  in  twenty  years.  The  shops  were  removed  from  Litch- 
field soon  after  the  bonds  were  guaranteed,  and  have  since  been  operating. 
They  are  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  city,  on  ground  donated  them,  occupying 
several  acres. 

From  a  statement  of  the  Master  Mechanic  regarding  their  capacity  and 
operations,  the  following  items  are  taken  : 

The  machine-shops  are  110x204  feet,  with  eight  repair-pits.  The  jjower- 
room,  40x50  feet,  adjoins  this  building.  The  store-room  is  also  adjoining,  and 
is  40x60  feet  in  size.  The  car-shops  are  85x204  feet  in  size,  with  six  repair- 
tracks,  and,  with  the  machine-shop,  get  their  power  from  an  80-horse  power 
engine.  The  blacksmith-shop  is  50x150  feet,  has  sixteen  fires  and  is  furnished 
with  one  1,500-pound  steam  hammer.  The  boiler-shop  is  50x80  feet,  and  has 
three  repair-tracks.  The  paint-shop  is  44x228  feet,  and  has  two  repair-tracks. 
There  are  twenty-one  stalls  in  the  roundhouse.  It  is  furnished  with  one  of 
Greenleaf's  Machine  Works  turn-tables.  The  transfer-table  is  27x180  feet, 
and  connects  with  the  tracks  leading  into  the  different  shops.  The  tank  and  oil 
room  is  40x40  feet,  has  four  water-tubs,  with  a  capacity  of  60,000  gallons  eacli, 
filled  from  a  reservoir  one-half  mile  south  of  the  works.  The  buildings  are  all 
of  brick,  with  slate  roofs,  save  the  paint-shop,  which  is  of  frame. 

All  are  heated  by  steam  save  the  paint  and  blacksmith  shops.  The  shops 
in  their  arrangement  are  unsurpassed  in  the  West,  and  turn  out  nothing  but  the 
best  of  work.  Over  two  hundred  men  are  employed  here,  in  addition  to  nearly 
one-half  that  number  employed  in  the  repair-shops  at  Terre  Haute  and  East 
St.  Louis.  The  monthly  pay-roll  at  Mattoon  is  about  $23,000,  the  material 
used  each  month  costing  about  one-half  that  sum.  The  money  distributed  at 
these  shops  is  in  a  measure  nearly  all  spent  in  the  city.  Could  other  factories 
be  induced  to  come  here,  and  by  their  work  aid  in  affording  employment  and 
business,  Mattoon  would  be  greatly  benefited  by  it. 

A  few  other  factories  have  been  in  existence  here.  We  refer  more  particu- 
larly to  the  woolen-factory,  operated  from  the  close  of  the  war  until  1868  or 
1869,  and  which,  for  awhile,  had  a  good  trade.  The  brick  building  is  now  idle. 
It  certainly  ought  not  to  be  so.  If  not  wanted  for  the  purpose  for  which  it 
was  built,  other  use  might  be  made  of  it  and  the  property  made  to   pay  some 


370  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

revenue.  When  people  learn  that  small  things,  closely  attended,  are  profitable, 
the  large  farms  about  Mattoon  will  disappear,  more  attention  will  be  given  to 
details,  and  tlie  remedy  for  hard  times  will  come  of  its  own  accord. 

The  other  and  remaining  industries  of  Mattoon  are  various  shops  of  all 
kinds  found  in  all  towns.  To  describe  them  is  unnecessary  here.  They  came 
with  the  first  house  in  the  place  and  will  remain  while  it  lasts. 

THE    BANKS. 

The  first  bank  in  Mattoon  was  established  in  1858  or  1859  by  James  T.  Cun- 
ningham, John    Cunningham  and  Thomas  A.  Marshall,  and   0.  B.  Ficklin,  of 
Charleston.     It  was  founded,  under  the  existing  laws  of  that  day,  as  a  private 
bank,  did  not  issue  notes,  and  confined  its  business  mainlv  to  loaning  money- 
It  occupied  a  room  in  a  frame  building,  where  Kahn's  clothing  store  is  now 
situated.     It  continued  until  the  financial  depression  occasioned  by  the  failure 
of  so  many  State  banks  a  year  or  two  after  it  was   started,  and,  owing  to  this 
suspension,  was  obliged  to  close  its  business.     In  the  fall  of  1862,  Pilkington  & 
Green  opened  a  bank  in  the  building  vacated  by  the  former  bank,  using  their 
safe  and  fixtures.     This  they  continued  until   January  1,  1864,  when   the  firm 
was  changed  to  Pilkington    &    Co.,    the    members    of   the    firm    being     Mr. 
Pilkington.  C.  G.  Townsend  and  W.  B.  Dunlap.      The  bank  was  removed  two  or 
three  doors  west  of  its  former  location,  and  under  the  new  management  con- 
tinued till  May  1,  1865.     The  national  banking  system  had  now  been  devised, 
and  it  was  decided  to  organize  a  national  bank.     A  number  of  wealthy  gentle- 
men met,  subscribed  the  necessary  funds,  purchased  the  business,  fixtures,  etc., 
of    Pilkington    &    Co.,  and    as    soon    as    the    arrangements    were    perfected, 
opened  the  First  National  Bank.     It  was  opened  on  the  above  date — May  1 — 
with  a  capital  of  $60,000,  with  the  privilege  of  increasing  to  $200,000.     That 
fall,  their  present  building  was  completed,  vaults  were  put  in   and  a  time-lock 
placed  on  the  safe.     The  Directors  were  C.  M.   Dole,  William  Miller,  Samuel 
Smith,  J.  C.  Dole,  I.  R.  Herkimer,  Hiram  Cox,  Alcaizo  Eaton,  L.  Chapin  and 
S.  W.  True.     Mr.  C.  M.  Dole  was  chosen  President ;  Mr.  True,  Cashier,  and 
Mr.    Dunlap,  Teller.     Mr.  True   resigned   the  cashiership   early   in   January, 
1879,  and  Mr.  Dunlap  was  elected  to  the  vacancy.     He  remained  in  this  posi- 
tion until  January  1,  1874.      When  the  Mattoon  National  Bank  was  organized 
in  July,  he  was  elected  President.     He  resigned  the  Cashier's  place  to  engage 
in  the  real  estate  and  loan   business,  as  he  desired  a  more  active,  outdoor  busi- 
ness.     He  was  only  nominally  Pi-esident  of  the  Mattoon  National  Bank,  draw- 
ing no  salai'v,  and  after  a  few  years'  work  in  the  position,  he  sold  his  stock  in 
this   bank,  and  went  entirely  out  of  the  business.     When  he   left  the   First 
National   Bank,  Mr.  C.  G.  Weymouth  was  elected  to  the  Cashier's  office,  hav- 
ing been  promoted  to  that  position  from  the   Teller's  place.     No  change  was 
made  in  the  bank's  otficials   until  the  spring  of  1878,  when  Mr.    Dunlap  was 
again  elected  to  the  Cashier's  place,  which  he  still  holds.     Mr.  J.  E.  Steele  is 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  371 

Teller.  Mr.  Dunlap  was  elected  President  of  the  bank,  but  declined,  and 
Mark  Kahn  was  chosen.  He  held  the  place  until  January,  1879,  when  he 
resigned,  and  William  B.  Warren,  of  Terre  Haute,  was  elected. 

The  capital  stock  was  reduced  to  $50,000  not  long  since,  that  amount 
being  abundant  for  all  purposes;  all  doubtful  paper  was  thrown  out  and 
properly  charged,  and  now  the  bank  is  in  an  excellent  condition,  with  a  large 
surplus. 

The  next  bank  established  in  town  was  by  Hinkle  &  Champion  and  Mr.  M. 
B.  Abell.  It  began  business  May  1,  1866,  under  the  name  of  the  Merchants' 
and  Farmers'  Bank,  in  a  room  now  occupied  by  Craig  &  Craig  as  a  law  office. 
It  continued  business  till  a  few  years  ago,  when  it  failed,  and  closed.  Mr. 
Dunlap,  as  Receiver,  wound  up  its  aflFairs. 

The  last  bank,  the  Mattoon  National,  was  organized  July  1,  1874,  with  the 
following  officers :  W.  B.  Dunlap,  President,  and  James  H.  Clark,  Cashier. 
The  Directors  were  E.  B.  McClure,  J.  Richmond,  John  Rapp,  Moses  Kahn, 
G.  T.  Kilner,  M.  Walsh,  T.  C.  Patrick,  Joseph  H.  Clark  and  W.  B.  Dunlap. 
Two  of  the  Directors  afterward  sold  their  stock— W.  B.  Dunlap  and  M. 
Walsh,  and  two,  Moses  Kahn  and  John  Rapp,  died.  The  stockholders  met 
and  elected  S.  B.  Gray,  J.  F.  Drish,  S.  Isaac  and  A.  J.  Sanborn  in  their 
places.  W.  B.  Dunlap  sold  his  stock  in  November,  1877,  and  retired  from  the 
Presidency.  The  Directors  elected  Joseph  H.  Clark  to  the  vacancy,  elected  E. 
B.  McClure  Vice  President,  and  chose  W.  A.  Steele  as  Cashier  and  George 
Robinson,  Teller.  These  officers  are  yet  in  the  bank.  It  has'  an  abundant 
capital,  a  large  surplus,  and  is  doing  a  good  business.  When  the  Merchants' 
and  Farmers'  Bank  suspended,  this  bank  lost  some  money  through  the  failure 
of  some  of  its  borrowers,  who  were  obliged  to  suspend  owing  to  the  failure  of 
that  bank.  These  losses  and  all  doubtful  paper  have  been  charged  up,  and 
now  only  the  best  of  paper  is  held.  This  bank  and  the  First  National  are  the 
only  two  in  town,  and  are  all  its  trade  will  justify.  Both  are  well  backed,  and 
are  careful  to  conduct  only  a  legitimate  banking  business. 

An  examination  of  the  amount  of  business  performed  at  the  various  railway 
offices  in  Mattoon  shows  a  good  average  with  all  towns  in  Central  Illinois.  Up 
to  the  war,  the  business  of  the  town  was  all  the  time  on  the  increase.  For  the 
first  years  of  that  conflict  it  fell  off,  owing  to  many  men  being  taken  from  various 
pursuits  of  life  to  enter  the  array.  As  the  war  progressed,  business  again 
.revived,  and  building,  which  had  in  a  measure  ceased,  was  renewed  with  great 
vigor.  When  the  war  closed,  business  of  every  kind  experienced  a  forward  move 
seldom  equaled.  It  was  in  a  measure  unhealthy  and  too  rapid  for  permanent 
benefit.  For  awhile  after  the  war  closed,  buildings  went  up  in  Mattoon — this 
time  of  a  substantial  character — with  something  like  the  days  of  its  earliest  exist- 
ence. When  the  re-action  came,  Mattoon  experienced  it  keenly.  From  the 
books  of  the  two  railways  of  Mattoon,  the  trade  of  the  town,  we  take  the  following 
table  of  the  shipments  from  October  1,  1866,  to  October  1,  1867,  as  compiled 


372  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

from  reports  published  in  the  Journal  of  February  1,  1868.     The  agent  of  the 

Tnilianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Roads  reported : 

479 
N u mber  of  horses  

•244 
Nunibei-  of  mules ■ 

Number  of  sheep Y*^^ 

Number  of  hogs L),800 

Number  of  cattle 3,440 

Bushels  potatoes 18,000 

Bushels  wheat 2o,438 

p     .    ,      ^,.„  164,180 

Bushels  corn ' 

V,     X    ^        ,.  -21,800 

Bushels  oats ' 

Bushels  barley '^'J'^*^ 

Bushels  rye "'^'^ 

Tons  of  hay '^^'^ 

Barrels  of  hominy ■±,oo-y 

Barrels  meal '^''"^"^^ 

Barrels  flour *^^ 

Barrels  tallow 

■'10 
Barrels  vinegar 

Bundles  of  pelts 

Bundles  green  hides 

Bundles  dry  hides _    "  „ 

Pounds  of  wool • ^     '^••*'*" 

Pounds  miscellaneous 17,100,453 

The  agent  of  the  Illinois  Central  reported : 

Number  of  horses 

Number  mules 

Number  cattle '''-"^^ 

fc)  ft  t'  7 

Number  hogs , "'. 

Number  sheep 

Bushels  of  corn 324,o01 

Bushels  wheat '''^■^'* 

Bushels  oats 29,518 

Bushels  barley ^^'^^"^ 

Barrels  of  hominy ' 

Barrels  meal ^'^'^^ 

Barrels  flour 

474 
Barrels  vinegar 

Car  loads  of  hay ' 

Car  loads  of  poultry 

Bushels  of  potatoes l-2,y82 

Pounds  miscellaneous 2,551,805 

The  same  number  of  the  Journal  says  that  there  are  in  number  the  follow- 
ing business  houses : 

Hotels J* 

Banks " 

Bookstores  

4 
Warehouses 

Planing-mills 

Woolen-mills 

Flouring-mills " 

Vinegar- woi-ks 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  373 

Hominy-mills •^ 

Dry  goods  stores 1" 

Drug  stoi-es " 

Clothing  stores ■* 

Furnishing  stores '■ 

Furniture  stores '' 

Hardware  stores '^ 

Leather  store ^ 

Stove  stores ^ 

Music  store ^ 

Groceries ^'* 

Agricultural  stores ^ 

Wagon-shops "^ 

Plow-shops ^ 

Blacksmith-shops " 

Carpenter-shops * 

Harness-makers ^ 

Coal   offices " 

Saloons ^" 

Restaurants • " 

Bakeries '^ 

Shoe  stores ^ 

Lumber-yards '^ 

Marble-shops ■' 

Art  galleries ' 

Livery -stables *    . 

Express  offices ^ 

Jewelry  stores ■' 

Brewery '■ 

Tailors : ^ 

Milliners *' 

Draymen -'* 

Dentists ' 

Lavyyers " 

Physicians ^-' 

The  editor  states  that  much  building  is  going  on  ;  that  the  hotel — Dole 
House — is  contemplated  ;  also,  two  churches,  and  that  the  prospects  are  favora- 
ble for  a  large  city — something  every  hamlet  in  the  West  confidently  expects, 
and  cannot  understand  why  outsiders  do  not  see  such  a  result  is  inevitable. 
The  element  of  hope  enters  largely  into  American  character,  and  is  nowhere 
more  strikingly  exhibited  than  in  the  average  editor's  opinion  of  his  own 
town. 

The  Journal,  further  on  in  this  article,  gives  a  valuable  table  of  heights  of 
towns  in  Central  Illinois.     It  is  worth  reproducing,  and  we  give  it  entire  : 

'•  Mattoon  is  740  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  158  feet  above  Chicago 
and  the  lake,  and  458  feet  above  the  rivers  at  Cairo.  We  are  just  one  foot  above 
Champaign,  66  feet  above  Pana,  176  above  Decatur,  19  above  Bloomington  and 
142  above  ^Galena.  There  is  only  one  point  between  Chicago  and  Cairo  higher 
than  Mattoon,  viz.,  Monee,  about  thirty-five  miles  south  of  Chicago,  which  is 
54  feet  higher    than    our    city,    being  794   feet  above   tide   water.     There  is 


374  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

not  a  point  on  the  St.  Louis,  Alton  &  Terre  Haute  Road  so  high  as  our  city  by 
many  feet.'" 

From  the  foregoing  statement,  it  will  be  observed  that  Mattoon  is,  in  a  measure, 
a  '-city  set  on  a  hill."  If  she  follows  the  injunction  of  Holy  Writ,  she  will 
doubtless  let  her  light  shine.  This  can  be  done  in  more  ways  than  one,  not 
only  in  a  Scriptural  sense,  but  in  a  material  one,  by  showing  an  activity  in 
business  and  solidity  of  purpose  that  will  count  in  the  future. 

t    THE    POST    OFFICE. 

To  show  the  life  of  the  Mattoon  post  office,  we  subjoin^the  following  state- 
njents  : 

The  second  Postmaster  was  H.  L.  Taylor,  the  next  Joseph  Brady,  who- 
was  followed  by  R.  W.  Houghton,  M.  W.  Wilcox  and  J.  H.  Clark,  the  present 
occupant.  He  was  appointed  May  5,  1869,  and  is  now  serving  his  third  term. 
When  Mr.  True  was  Postmaster,  there  were  four  daily  mails,  now  there  are  ten. 
There  are  about  700  letters  daily  received,  in  addition  to  the  papers,  periodicals 
and  miscellaneous  packages. 

The  sale  of  stamps  for  the  year  1878  amounted  to  $5,726.91.  The  amount 
of  money-orders  issued  for  the  week  ending  February  8,  1879,  was  $546.08. 
Those  paid  amounted  to  |2,034.28.  As  many  more  orders  are  paid  than  issued, 
Mr.  Clark  holds  a  balance  of  $2,000  in  the  New  York  office  to  draw  against  to 
make  up  the  deficiencies.  Some  idea  of  the  business  of  the  office  can  be 
obtained  by  computing,  from  the  amounts  given,  the  business  for  a  year. 
When  we  remember  the  few  mistakes  occurring,  we  can  truly  marvel  at  the 
excellency  of  the  post  office  management.  There  are  1,100  open  boxes  and 
211  lock-boxes.  '  The  income  from  the  boxes  is  about  $800  per  year. 

CHURCHES  AND   SCHOOLS. 

It  has  been  already  noticed  in  these  pages  that  a  church  was  built  in  Mattoon 
the  second  summer  of  its  existence.  That  pioneer  church  is  yet  standing,  and 
is  still  used  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  erected. 

It  was  built  by  the  Baptists — "•  Old  Line,"  as  they  are  commonly  termed  here 
— in  the  summer  of  1856.  After  their  disbanding  it  was  sold  to  the  United 
Brethren,  when  they  organized  a  congregation  in  town  (having  been  in  the 
country  previously),  and  was  used  by  them  until  their  disorganization.  Then  it 
went  into  the  hand^  of  Michael  Tobey  and  J.  S.  Mitchell,  as  Trustees,  by  whom 
it  is  yet  held.  The  Calvary  Baptists  had  made,  during  this  time,  several  unsuc- 
cessful effijrts  to  organize  a  congregation,  but  not  until  January,  1876,  were  they 
able  to  effect  a  permanent  union.  Early  in  that  year,  they  met  in  Mr.  U.  T.  S. 
Rice's  office,  and  by  him  were  organized  as  a  congregation.  There  were  but 
seven  members.  These  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice,  Jonathan  A.  Tuffts,  wife  and 
daughter,  S.  K.  Sanders  and  George  Clark  and  wife.  Soon  after,  they  were 
joined  by  Mrs.  Joseph  and  Mrs.  Sinsebaugh. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  375 

For  three  years,  they  met  for  divine  services  in  a  hall  over  Hasbrouck's  hard- 
ware store,  Mr.  Rice  being  leader  a  good  part  of  the  time.  Not  long  since,  they 
leased  the  old  church  built  in  1856,  which  they  now  occupy.  Their  member- 
ship has  nearly  quadrupled  since  the  organization.  Their  present  Pastor 
is  Rev.  W.  S.  Dodge. 

The  First  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  the  oldest  congregation  of  this 
denomination  in  the  city,  was  organized  December  25,  1863,  with  twenty-eight 
members,  prominent  among  whom  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roach,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Baker,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hays,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newcomb,  H. 
J.  Streator  and  wife,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frazer. 

The  organization  was  eflFected  in  .the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
where  they  continued  to  meet  for  nearly  a  year.  They  then  leased  the  old 
church,  and  used  it  one  year  ;  then  Cartmell's  Hall ;  then  to  a  hall  over  South's 
store ;  then  to  Union  Hall,  in  which  place  the  first  steps  were  taken  for 
the  formation  of  the  present  Calvary  Baptist  Church  by  several  of  the  members 
withdrawing  for  that  purpose. 

In  1870,  the  congregation  built  their  present  house  of  worship,  and  have 
been  holding  regular  services  therein  since.  From  the  date  of  the  establishment 
of  this  church  to  the  present  time,  more  than  three  hundred  members  have  been 
connected  with  it.  It  is  the  nucleus  around  which  have  grown  the  churches  at 
Willow  Creek,  ^tna,  Kickapoo,  and  one  other  congregation. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Riley,  who  was  present  at  the  Recognition  Council,  January 
30,  1864,  has  been  the  Pastor,  with  the  exception  of  six  years,  when  he  was  at 
other  places.  During  this  interval,  the  pulpit  was  filled  with  supplies  nearly 
every  Sabbath,  and  services  regularly  sustained. 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Chureh  was  organized  in  the  summer  of  1857. 
In  the  spring  of  that  year,  Rev.  Joel  Knight,  a  minister  in  this  denomination, 
began  preaching  in  Mattoon,  one  Sabbath  in  each  month,  in  the  Baptist  Church. 
On  the  23d  of  August,  twenty-seven  persons,  professing  adherence  to  the  doctrines 
of  this  Church,  met  and  organized  themselves  into  a  congregation,  and  signed 
articles  of  confederation.     The  following  is  the  original  roll  of  membership: 

Alexander  Montgomery,  H.  Clay  Warthon,  James  S.  Cunningham,  Ed^v. 
W.  Cartmell,  Sarah  A.  Mount,  M.  Craig,  R.  D.  Montgomery,*  J.  W.  Rankin, 
Washington  Engle,  Mrs.  Lucinda  Montgomery,  Mrs.  Sarah  Montgomery,  Mrs. 
Eliza  Craig,  Edw.  Hall,  W.  H.  K.  Pile,-  Mrs.  N.  I.  Pile,*  Mrs.  Scintha 
Mount,  John  J.  Walkup,  Mrs.  Margaret  A.  Montgomery,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Mont- 
gomery, Jefferson  M.  Hall,*  Mrs.  Amanda  J.  Hall,*  James  Kelley,*  Mrs. 
Mercy  Kelley,  Rev.  Peter  Duncan,  Mrs.  Manning  Duncan  and  Mrs.  Nancy  E. 
Morrison.  Of  these,  but  six  are  now  connected  with  the  congregation. 
Thirteen  have  removed,  and  eight  have  died. 

On  the  27th,  the  congregation  met  and  elected  Alexander  Montgomery,  H. 
Clay  Warthon  and  Edw.  Hall,  Elders,  and  W.  H.  K.  Pile,  Clerk. 

*  still  a  member. 


576  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

At  the  fall  session  of  this  Presbytery,  the  congregation  was  taken  under  its 
care,  and  Rev.  Joel  Knight  employed  to  preach  one-fourth  of  his  time,  and,  for 
two  years,'  services  were  held,  most  of  the  time,  in  Cartmell  Hall. 

On  February  27,  1858,  James  T.  Cunningham,  H.  Clay  Warthon  and  W. 
H.  K.  Pile,  were  chosen  Trustees,  and  during  the  following  spring.  Rev. 
George  0.  Bannon,  from  Kentucky,  preached  for  the  congregation.  Rev. 
Peter  Duncan  was  also  employed,  and  while  here,  in  1860,  his  death  occurred. 

On  November  1,  1859,  Rev.  J.  W.  Wood  began  his  work  in  this  church, 
preaching  each  alternate  Sabbath.  He  remained  one  year,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  James  Ashmore,  who  filled  the  pulpit  until  the  fall  of  1861. 

In  the  spring  of  that  year,  preparations  were  made  to  build  a  house  of 
worship,  and  in  June,  the  corner-stone  was  laid.  The  address  on  this  occasion 
was  delivered  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Wood,  assisted  in  the  ceremony  by  the  two  minis- 
ters who  had  succeeded  him  here.  The  church  was  not  completed,  owing  to  the 
breaking-out  of  the  war,  and  other  matters,  until  1865.  It  was  dedicated  in 
1867,  by  J.  B.  Logan,  D.  D. 

In  the  summer  of  1862,  Rev.  S.  R.  Roseboro  was  called,  remaining  eight 
months.  The  records  of  the  congregation  do  not  show  any  progress  from  this 
time  until  the  close  of  the  war  (1865),  nor  the  names  of  the  ministers.  In 
March  of  this  latter  year.  Rev.  Mr.  Wood  was  again  called,  and  remained  until 
March,  1866.  In  June,  1857,  Rev.  T.  K.  Hodges  began  preaching,  remain- 
ing one  year.  In  December,  1868,  Rev.  W.  S.  Langdon  came.  On  the  12th 
day  of  October,  1869,  he  died,  in  his  room  in  the  basement  of  the  church.  He 
was  taken  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  for  interment.  Rev.  E.  J.  Gillespie  was  called  to 
the  vacancy,  and  remained  two  years.  He  was  followed  by  R.  W.  Hooker,  who 
stayed  nine  months.  In  April,  1875,  Rev.  A.  B.  McDaniel  came.  He  remained 
one  year.  In  June,  1876,  Rev.  R.  J.  Beard  was  called.  He  remained  two 
years  and  three  months.  In  November,  1878,  the  present  Pastor,  Rev.  E.  M. 
Johnson,  began  his  ministry. 

From  the  time  the  congregation  was  organized  until  February  17,  1879, 
there  have  been  348  members  received.  Of  these,  -35  have  died,  168  have  been 
dismissed  and  gone,  and  145  remain. 

The  church  is  a  convenient  brick  structure,  on  East  Broadway,  and  has 
been  in  continual  use  ever  since  its  erection. 

The  Christian  Church  was  organized  in  March,  1859,  with  seventeen  mem- 
bers, of  whom  one  only,  Mr.  Zack  Robertson,  is  now  connected  here.  The  organi- 
zation was  effected  by  Elder  John  Mathes,  of  Bedford,  Ind.  Services  were  held 
in  halls  and  the  members'  houses,  until  1860,  when  they  erected  their  present 
church.  The  growth  of  the  congregation  continued  uninterrupted  until  1870, 
when  between  thirty  and  forty  members,  living  principally  on  the  West  Side, 
withdrew  from  the  church  and  established  a  congregation  there.  They  erected  a 
small  frame  church,  and  continued  as  a  separate  body  until  1878,  when  they 
re-united  with  the  old  church,  from  which  time  there  has  been  one  organization. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  377 

The   small   house   of  worship   on   the  West  Side    is   now  used  as   a   mission 
chapel. 

Since  the  establishment  of  the  Christian  Church  in  Mattoon,  fully  five 
hundred  members  have  belonged  to  it.  Many  of  them  are  now,  however, 
removed  to  other  places,  some  are  dead,  and  some  fallen  away.  There  are  now 
nearly  two  hundred  members. 

The  principal  Pastors  have  been  Revs.  Black,  Frazier,  Adams,  Streater, 
Lucas,  Stewart,  Roberts  and  Mason.     The  present  minister  is  Rev.  E.  J.  Hart. 

The  German  Evangelical  Association  was  organized  in  1868,  with  seven 
members,  by  Rev.  Matthew  Keiber.  For  the  first  three  years,  they  met  in  a 
hall  in  the  west  part  of  town,  and  were  supplied  by  ministers  from  other  parts 
<^f  the  circuit.  In  1870,  they  began  the  erection  of  their  present  house  of 
worship,  which  was  completed  and  occupied  the  next  year.  It  is  a  small  frame 
structure  in  the  southwest  part  of  Mattoon,  convenient  for  the  members. 

The  congregation  has  increased  but  little  in  its  membership,  the  removals 
and  deaths  equalizing  the  accessions.  They  are  yet  unable  to  support  a  regu- 
lar ministry,  and  are  supplied  every  other  week  by  Rev.  M.  Kahl,  the  minister 
in  charge  of  this  circuit. 

The  Unitarian  Church  was  organized  December  22,  1867.  After  holding 
meeting  in  the  members'  houses  and  in  halls,  for  a  few  years,  the  church  dis- 
banded and  services  were  discontinued.  In  1872,  another  efibrt  was  made  and 
a  new  organization  effected,  mainly  through  the  eiforts  of  Rev.  J.  L.  Douthit,  of 
Shelbyville,  and  a  few  of  the  old  members  who  still  adhered  to  the  principles  of 
this  denomination.  They  began  the  erection  of  a  very  neat  brick  church  on  West- 
ern avenue,  which  structure  they  completed  the  next  year.  Their  first  regular 
minister  was  Rev.  George  A.  Dennison,  who  came  in  the  spring  of  1873,  and  re- 
mained two  years.  Since  his  departure,  they  have  been  supplied  occasionally  only, 
and  have  not  maintained  regular  services.  They  are  at  present  without  a  pastor, 
but  an  effort  is  being  made  to  revive  the  work  here  and  build  up  the  church. 

The  colored  residents  of  Mattoon  sustain  two  churches,  the  oldest  of  which  is 
the  Methodist.  This  was  organized  in  the  spring  of  1866,  with  about  a  dozen 
members,  by  Rev.  Smith  Nichols,  the  present  Pastor.  That  summer,  a  frame 
building  was  purchased,  remodeled,  and  made  into  a  comfortable  church,  and  is 
yet  used.  The  membership  has  more  than  doubled,  and  the  prospects  of  this 
congregation  are  good.  Rev.  Nichols  remained  with  the  church  from  1866  to 
1868.  He  was  succeeded  by  Revs.  Alexander,  Knight,  De  Pugh,  Hand  and 
J.  T.  Neace.     He  is  now  serving  his  second  pastorate. 

The  Colored  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  1871  or  1872.  It,  not  long 
after,  obtained  a  small  frame  building,  which  it  has  since  used  as  a  church.  It 
is  in  the  western  part  of  town,  where  most  of  the  people  dwell.  Regular 
services  are  now  held,  both  colored  churches  supporting  good   Sunday  schools. 

The  Church  of  the  ImmaculateConception — the  Catholic — stands  in  the  north- 
west part  of  Mattoon,  and  is  the  only  one  of  that  denomination  in  the.  city.     It 


378  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

was  organized  soon  after  the  building  of  the  railroad  began,  and  has  since  been 
sustained.  The  membership  is  quite  large,  as  it  includes  all  baptized  persons 
in  the  Church,  of  whatever  age.  Following  the  policy  of  the  Catholic  Church 
at  large,  this  congregation  established  a  parochial  school  soon  after  it  was  organ- 
ized. Their  present  school-building,  contiguous  to  the  church,  was  erected  in 
1865.  The  school  is  under  the  charge  of  the  Ursuline  Sisters,  and  draws  many 
children  from  the  public  schools.  This  is  clearly  evidenced  in  the  reports  of 
tlie  Superintendent  of  the  West  Side  schools. 

The  Presbi/terian  Clmrch  was  organized  on  May  27,  1860,  with  twenty 
members.  They  were  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Bridges,  Mrs.  Martha  M.  Bridges,  Mrs. 
Betty  Johnson,  AV.  E.  Smith,  John  A.  Forline,  David  Forline,  Mrs.  Betty  Dora, 
Rae  M.  Bridges,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Boyd,  Miss  Frances  A.  Boyd,  Miss  Orphio  E. 
Boyd,  James  Boyd,  D.  T.  Mclntyre,  Miss  Cyntha  Vanzant,  ilobert  Campbell, 
Mrs.  Robert  Campbell,  Mrs.  Margaret  Keely,  Mrs.  Martha  A.  Smith,  Mrs. 
Martha  J.  Vanzant  and  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Boyd.  The  meeting  to  organize  was 
held  in  the  old  Methodist  Church,  in   the  northeast  part   of  town.     Rev.  J. 

W.  Allison  and  Rev.  = McFarland  appear  to  have  been  the  first  preachers 

here,  both  of  whom,  with  Rev.  Samuel  Newell,  of  Paris,  and  Rev.  R.  Mitchell, 
of  Charleston,  assisted  at  the  organization  of  the  congregation.  Afterward, 
Dr.  A.  Hamilton  was  elected  Pastor,  and  the  erection  of  a  church  determined. 
Prior  to  the  organization  of  this  Church,  the  New-School  Presbyterians  had 
effected  an  organization,  and  were  using  halls,  or  churches  of  other  denomina- 
tions in  which  to  hold  their  meetings.  The  Old-School  Presbyterians  com- 
pleted their  house  of  worship  in  1864,  dedicating  it  Sabbath,  July  31.  The 
dedicatory  sermon  was  preached  by  Dr.  Hamilton,  the  Pastor.  In  the  after- 
noon. Rev. Venable  preached,  and  in  the  evening,  Rev.  Hendricks. 

The  congregation  grew  well  during  Dr.  A.  Hamilton's  pastorate,  extending  till 
January,  1866,  when,  owing  to  failing  health,  he  resigned.  The  pulpit  was 
filled  by  supplies  till  September,  1870,  when  Rev.  W.  B.  Noble  was  called  as 
Pastor.  He  remained  till  April,  1872,  when  he  resigned,  and  was  succeeded, 
the  following  January,  by  Rev.  Henry  W.  Woods,  who  was  installed  May  6, 
1873.  He  occupied  the  pulpit  till  the  spring  of  1875,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  the  present  Pastor,  Rev.  James  L.  McNair.  A  short  time  after  the  erection  of 
the  church,  in  1864,  the  New-School  Presbyterians  built  a  house  of  worship  on  the 
East  Side — the  Old-School  being  in  the  West — and  continued  worshiping  there. 
In  the  autumn  of  1871,  these  two  branches  of  the  church  were  united — hav- 
ing been  separate  over  forty  years — and  one  congregation  in  Mattoon  was  the 
result.  At  first,  both  houses  of  worship  were  used,  but,  a  vote  being  taken,  it 
was  decided  to  use  only  the  West  Side  house,  and,  soon  after,  the  East  Side 
church  was  sold  to  the  Congregationalists,  who  now  use  it.  The  West  Side  house 
of  worship  was  used  without  any  alteration  until  two  or  three  years  ago,  when 
owing  to  the  increased  growth  of  the  congregation,  an  addition  was  built  to  the 
east  end,  and  the  seating  capacity  very  much  enlarged. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  379 

The  Co7igregationalist  Church  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  union  of  the  Old  and 
New-School  Presbyterians,  in  1871.  Many  members  in  the  New-School  branch 
favoring  the  Congregational  mode  of  woi'ship  and  discipline,  organized  a  church  of 
that  body,  and  raised  some  $800  to  aid  in  the  attempt.  The  building  erected  by 
the  New  School  Presbyterians  was  soon  after  purchased,  and  has  since  been 
used.  The  Council  of  the  Congregational  Church  met  on  March  10, 1872,  and 
regularly  constituted  the  Church.  On  the  1st  of  the  following  January,  Rev. 
N.  J.  Morrison,  then  just  released  from  the  Presidency  of  Olivet  College,  Mich- 
igan, was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Church.  He  remained  only  six  months, 
resigning  to  accept  the  Presidency  of  Drury  College,  Springfield,  Mo.  In 
October,  1873,  Rev.  A.  L.  Loomis  was  called  to  the  pulpit.  He  remained 
until  May,  1876.  During  his  residence,  a  revival  occurred,  greatly  increasing 
the  membership.  The  next  Pastor  was  Rev.  P.  P.  Warner,  who  came  in  Jan- 
uary, 1877,  and  remained  until  August  15,  1878,  when  he  resigned.  He  is  now 
publishing  a  paper  in  Aledo,  111.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  present  Pastor, 
Rev.  A.  M.  Thorne,  in  October. 

The  Methodist  Epucopal  Church  was  organized  in  1857  with  about  twelve 
members.  Thev  met  at  first  in  dwellino;s  and  halls  until  about  1800,  when 
they  erected  a  very  substantial  house  of  worship  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
city.  It  was  then  expected  the  center  of  the  town  would  be  here ;  but  future 
revelations  dispelled  this  idea,  and  in  1870,  it  was  determined  to  erect  a  larger 
liouse  of  worship  and  in  a  more  convenient  place.  The  present  church  was  the 
result.  It  cost  about  $12,000,  and  is  a  very  neat  building.  The  congrega- 
tion is  now  quite  large,  and  sustains  an  excellent  Sunday  school. 

In  addition  to  the  churches  enumerated,  others,  now  abandoned,  have  ex- 
isted.     Some  few  societies  exist,  but  of  so  passive  a  nature,  they  are  omitted. 

THE    SCHOOLS. 

The  schools  of  Mattoon  form  a  chapter  in  its  history  equal  in  its  impor- 
tance to  any  part  or  parcel  of  the  city.  Cotemporary  with  the  start  of  the 
town,  a  school  was  provided,  and,  before  the  cold  of  winter  came  in  l^he  year 
185'),  a  small  frame  schoolhouse  was  built  in  the  eastern  part  of  town  on 
Broadway.  The  efforts  of  the  principal  proprietors  of  the  infantile  village 
were  strenuous,  indeed,  to  secure  the  center  of  town  there,  and  built  the  school- 
house  where  the  greatest  part  of  the  population  was  expected  to  be.  A  school 
was  taught  in  this  small  frame,  hardly  as  large  as  an  ordinary  country  school- 
house  of  to-day,  during  the  winter  of  1855-56,  and  so  great  was  the  influx  of 
population  that  the  little  room  was  crowded  to  its  utmost.  School  was  taught 
here  but  one  term,  as  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  find  out.  The  room  was  too 
small,  and  was  hardly  used  longer.  The  school  was,  of  course,  a  subscription 
school.  If  any  public  money  was  obtained  it  was  only  a  small  amount,  for  the 
idea  of  supporting  schools  in  this  part  of  Illinois  entirely  by  taxation,  was  not 
yet  well  entertained.     The  next  year,  another  similar  school  was  "kept,"  as 


380  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

we  are  told  in  an  unoccupied  room,  and,  the  following  winter,  over  True's  store 
and  in  some   unfurnished   house.      The  recollection  of  old  persons  is  not  very 
good  on  this  point ;   they  were  more  interested  in  ''  corner  lots,"  than  to  notice 
very  closely  just  where  the  schools  were  (for  one  room  could  not  contain  the 
pupils,  and  any  one  could  teach  who  could  get  a  room  and   some  pupils).     The 
next  year — summer  of  1857 — a  very  comfortable  brick   structure  was  built  in 
the  northeast  part  of  town,  not  far  from  where  the  first  Methodist  Church  stood. 
This   second  schoolhouse   was  a  decided   improvement.      It  would  seat   many 
more   pupils   than    its    predecessor,  and   though   "  private "    schools   began   to 
flourish,  it  held  its  way.      It  began  to  receive  considerable  aid,  enough  at  least 
to  conduct  it  through  the  winter  term,  from  taxation,  steadily  growing  in  favor. 
The  private  schools,  as  they  were  termed,  came  rapidly  into  use  in  the  early 
history  of  Mattoon,  and   continued  with   more  or  less  force   until  a  few  years 
ago.     The  most  noticeable  of  any  of  these  was  started  on  quite  an  extensive 
plan,  even  going  so  far  as  to  obtain  a  charter.   We  refer  to  the  Male  and  Female 
Academy.     It  was  in  truth  two  institutions,  known  more  extensively  as   Mat- 
toon  Female  Academy  and  Mattoon   College.     The  former  was  intended  for 
young  ladies,  the  latter  for  young  gentlemen.     Referring  to  the  papers  for  the 
period  of  their   commencement,  we   find  they  were   chartered  February    21, 
1863.     On  March  24, 1864,  the  Trustees  met  and  organized,  elected  a  President 
and  chose  teachers.     The  Mattoon  College  does  not  seem  to  have  been  put  in 
very  extensive  working  order,  and  in  a  short  time  appears  to  drop  out  of  notice. 
The  great  obstacle  in  the  way  of  both   these  institutions  was  a  lack  o*f  means. 
Neither  had  any  money  to  work  on,  and  the  town  was  too  young  and  too  poor 
to  endow  them.     They  began  in  1858  or  1859,  and  worked  some  time  before 
receiving  their  charters.     In  December,  1861,  Prof.  W.  W.  Gill  resigned  the 
care  of  the  seminary,  which  had  at  all  times  the  largest  patronage,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.   D.  F.   McFarland,  who  leased    the   Harris  Building  and 
opened  school  on  the  second  day  of  the  month  his  predecessor  left.     He  con- 
ducted it  some  time  with  reasonable  success,  but,  failing  to  make  it  profitable, 
left.     It  was  afterward  uiider  the  care  of  Mrs.  C.  E.  Gill,  who  continued  it 
some  time.     Owing  to  an  inability  to  support  the  school,  and  the  erection  of 
new  and  better  ward  schools,  with  their  increased   facilities  for  education,  their 
free  tuition  and  freedom  to  all,  the  academy  and  all  private  schools  were  gradu- 
ally abandoned,  and  now  none  are  sustained. 

The  public  school  continued  along  in  the  brick  building  referred  to,  with 
little  change,  save  the  gradually  improved  methods  of  education,  and  the  division 
of  the  school  into  two  or  more  grades,  as  circumstances  allowed,  until  a  new 
house  was  erected  on  the  West  Side,  about  1861  or  1862.  This  divided  the 
schools  and  assisted  greatly  in  properly  classifying  them.  The  building  on  the 
West  Side  was  erected  by  that  ward  and  put  under  an  entirely  separate  control. 
The  two  schools  were  made  independent  of  each  other,  and  have  continued  so 
to  this  day.     The  building  on  the  West  Side  was  an  improvement  on  its  prede- 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  381 

cesser  of  the  East  Side.  It  was  a  ver;y  commodious  brick  building,  contained 
four  rooms,  was  supplied  with  a  bell,  improved  seats,  blackboards  and  all  the 
machinery  of  the  modern  schoolroom  of  the  day.  It  occupied  the  entire  block, 
affording  the  children  plenty  of  room  in  which  to  play.  It  was  used  without 
alteration  until  the  spring  of  1871.  By  that  time,  it  had  become  too  small  for 
the  increased  demands  of  the  growing  city,  and  a  new  one  was  decided  upon. 
The  membei-s  of  the  Board  of  School  Trustees  that  spring  were  B.  C.  Hinkle, 
J.  M.  Riddle  and  J.  M.  Hall.  Under  direction  of  this  Board,  the  present  house 
was  erected.  The  old  one  was  simply  remodeled  and  enlarged,  and  fitted  with 
still  more  advanced  furniture.  It  contains  five  rooms,  and  a  commodious  hall  in 
the  third  story.  Here  the  high  school  receives  instruction,  and  here  are  many 
of  the  entertainments.  When  this  building  was  erected,  a  small  one-roomed 
building  was  constructed  a  little  west  of  it,  for  the  use  of  the  colored  children  ; 
but  finding  it  impracticable  to  educate  them  thus,  and  failing  to  provide  them 
equal  advantages  with  the  others,  they  were  admitted  to  the  graded  school,  and 
the  building  erected  for  them  moved  to  the  school-yard  and  used  for  primary 
scholars. 

From  the  report  of  the  Superintendent  of  this  school,  the  following  facts  and 
items  are  learned  : 

Number  of  persons  under  twenty-one  years  of  age 1,041 

Number  of  school  age , 7*'6 

Monthly  enrollment  for  the  year 3in 

Average  attendance  for  the  year 256 

The  small  enrollment  is  to  be  accounted  for  in  part  by  the  great  number  of 
children  attending  the  Catholic  school. 

The  school  is  divided  into  four  departments,  viz,  primary,  intermediate, 
grammar  and  high  school.  The  primary  department  has  three  grades.  In. 
each  of  the  other  departments,  the  pupils  are  divided  into  three  classes,  desig- 
nated as  Class  A,  Class  B  and  Class  C.  The  teachers  are :  P.  H.  Deardoff, 
Ph.  M.,  Principal ;  Miss  Maggie  Ewing,  Assistant  in  the  high  school ;  Miss 
Nannie  Myrick,  intermediate ;  Miss  Jennie  D.  Riddle,  third  primary ;  Miss 
Minnie  Jennings,  second  primary,  and  Miss  Annie  Riddle,  first  primary. 

The  brick  building  on  the  East  Side  continued  in  use  until  the  erection  of  the 
present  one,  in  1865.  It  became  apparent,  however,  before  that  date  that  better 
accommodations  would  have  to  be  provided,  as  the  house  used  was  by  far  too 
small,  even  when  aided  by  one  or  two  rented  rooms.  It  was  decided  to  borrow 
110,000  on  city  bonds,  and  an  election  was  ordered  to  be  held  October  26, 1864. 
At  that  time,  there  were  421  children  in  the  district  of  lawful  school  age.  The 
bonds  were  voted  for  by  a  majority  of  80  votes,  and  soon  after  the  site  was 
selected  and  work  on  the  new  building  begun.  It  was  completed  in  November, 
1865,  and  opened  for  school  on  Monday  morning,  February  5,  following.  It 
contains  five  rooms,  and  a  large  hall  in  the  third  story,  similar  to  the  one  on  the 
West  Side,  and  used  for  similar  purposes. 


382  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

The  town  continuing  to  grow,  this  building  was  found  inadequate  to  supply 
school  room  for  the  increasing  school  population  of  the  East  Side,  and  another 
building  was  erected  in  the  southeast  part  of  town  in  1877  and  1878.  It  con- 
tains four  rooms,  and  is  under  the  care  of  the  Superintendent  at  the  other 
building.     From  his  last  report,  we  gather  the  following  statements : 

Number  of  children  under  twenty-one  years  of  age 1,427 

Enrollment  of  school  age 944 

Average  enrollment 658 

Average  attendajice 529 

Ten  teachers  are  employed,  whose  wages,  including  that  of  the  Superin- 
tendent and  janitor,  amount  to  $4,740,  for  eight  months  of  school.  The 
teachers  are:  C.  W.  Jacobs,  Principal;  Miss  Lizzie  Dorland,  high  school; 
Miss  Carrie  Riddle,  Miss  Eva  Lowe  and  Miss  Lillie  Osborn,  grammar  school, 
sixth,  seventh  and  eighth  grades;  Miss  Helen  Patterson  and  Miss  Lavina 
Ewing,  intermediate  department,  fourth  and  fifth  grades ;  Miss  Mollie  Phillips, 
primary  department,  and  Miss  Julia  Pulsifer,  Miss  Ida  Woods  and  Miss  Mary 
Oushman,  same  department,  in  the  first,  second  and  third  grades.  Grouping 
the  school  statistics,  we  have : 

Number  of  children  under  twenty-one  years 2,468 

Enrollment  for  the  year 1,710 

Attendance  for  the  year 785 

Assuming  the  first  number  given  to  be  one-third;  the  second,  one-fourth, 
and  the  third,  one-eighth,  we  have  a  population  of  about  six  thousand  in  the 
city. 

''  THE    PRESS. 

On  Saturday,  June  7,  1856,  Mr.  R.  W.  Houghton  issued  the  first  number 
of  the  Mattoon  G-azette,  the  initial  copy  of  newspapers  in  the  city.  It  was  a 
seven-column,  four-page  paper,  one  of  the  original  copies  of  which  is  now  in 
possession  of  Mr.  Leonidas  Chapin.  a  resident  of  the  western  part  of  town, 
and  who  highly  prizes  this  relic  of  early  days.  His  regret  now  is  that  he  did 
not  preserve  the  entire  files  of  the  paper. 

Li  glancing  over  this  old  copy,  many  interesting  items  are  gleaned.  In 
his  "salutatory,"  Mr.  Houghton  says: 

"  We  design  publishing  a  good  family  newspaper — one  whose  information  can 
be  depended  upon  as  reliable.  In  politics  we  are  independent — committed  to 
no  party." 

After  giving  his  reasons  for  this  stand,  he  says:  "There  are  many  matters 
of  vital  importance  to  our  moral  advancement,  our  educational  system  and  the 
agricultural  interests  of  this  mighty  people  which  demand  the  attention  of  the 
press,  giving  a  broad  field  for  operation  outside  the  political  arena." 

He  goes  on  to  say  that  he  will  give  particular  attention  to  commercial  and 
agricultural  reports,  and  adds,  '"we  have  now  launched  our  bark,  weighed 
anchor,  and  hope  to  accomplish  the  voyage,  even  though  we  have  occasion- 
ally to  contend  with  tides  and  adverse  winds." 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUUTY.  385 

Speaking  of  Mattoon  in  an  editorial,  he  notes  its  geographical  position,  its 
railway  facilities,  its  markets  and  the  good  country  about  it.  He  says  the 
town  is  a  "  stripling  of  less  than  a  year's  growth,  and  taking  into  consider- 
ation the  difficulties  of  procuring  building  material,  and  the  unusual  sickness 
of  the  last  season,  its  growth  has  been  rapid.  A  great  many  buildings  are 
now  in  course  of  erection  and  many  more  are  projected." 

Commenting  on  the  prospects  of  the  village,  the  paper  proceeds:  "We 
know  of  no  place  which  ofi'ers  greater  inducements  for  the  improvement  of 
capital  than  this.  Houses  of  all  kinds  are  in  demand  at  the  landlord's  rates, 
and  everything  else  demands  good  prices.  No  branch  of  business  seems  to 
lack  customers.  In  fact,  we  have  all  the  elements  necessary  for  the  building- 
up  of  a  good  inland  town,  in  conjunction  with  a  firm  determination  on  the 
part  of  the  inhabitants  to  make  it  thrive. 

Farther  on,  he  says  : 

"  We  have  now  eight  or  ten  good  stores,  nearly  all  kinds  of  mechanics, 
several  warehouses,  two  good  hotels,  a  printing  office,  and  a  population  of  from 
four  to  five  hundred." 

Referring  to  railroads,  the  editor  writes  : 

•'  We  understand  that  the  Superintendent  of  the  Illinois  Central  road  has 

decided  on  the  construction  of  a  Y  and  side-tracks,  freight-house,  etc.,  on  the 

east  side  of  the  road,  north  of  the  T.  H.  &  A.  road.     The  latter  company,  we 

are  informed,  intend  laying  a  side-track  on  the  south  side  of  the  road,  in  the 

east   end   of  town.      The   tAvo   companies,    in    conjunction,   intend    to  build  a 

respectable  passenger-depot  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  track  from  the  T.  H.  &; 

A.  freight-house.  ' 

.     .  .    ♦ 

He  hopes  that  this  will  soon  be  done,  as  he  intimates  there  is  an  urgent 

necessity  for  it.     The  erection  of  the  Essex  House,  the  next  year,  probably 

put  an  end  to  such  intentions. 

The  editor  quotes  from  the  Indianapolis  Daily  Sentinel  the  nomination  of 
James  Buchanan,  of  Pennsylvania,  as  President,  and  Breckenridge,  of  Ken- 
tucky, as  Vice  President,  in  the  Democratic  Convention  at  Cincinnati.  He 
also  notices  the  election  of  Directors  for  the  T.  H.  &  A.  Railroad,  as  reported 
by  the  Paris  Blade,  and  the  robbery  of  the  post  office  at  Vincennes,  Ind., 
quoted  from  the  Gazette  of  that  town.  After  giving  a  few  other  general 
items,  he  proceeds  to  fill  the  balance  of  the  second  page  with  advertise- 
ments. 

A.  Francis  informs  the  citizens  of  Mattoon  that  "  he  is  now  opening  at  the 
store  opposite  and  nearest  the  depot,  another  choice  stock  of  spring  and  summer 
goods,  of  almost  every  kind  and  description,  and  that  he  will  keep  on  hand  con- 
stantly the  best  brands  of  flour." 

Norvell  &  Brother  announce  that  they  have  just  opened  a  "  saddle  and 
harness  shop,  west  of  the  Central  Railroad,  over  the  Crazette  office,"  and  that 
their  terras  are  "  exclusively  cash." 


386  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

A.  Engle  announo€«  the  "  Mattcx>n  House  now  open,  and  that  he  is  ready 
to  rei'eive  the  patronage  of  the  public,  and  afford  them  a  home,  at  reasonable 
terms.  ' 

Thomas  McKee  advertises  that  "  the  Pennsylvania  House  has  recently 
changeii  hands,  and  has  been  very  much  enlarged  and  otherwise  improved  bv 
painting  and  papering  it  throughout." 

Mr  W.  H.  K.  Pile  says  that  "the  Kentucky  House,  at  the  comer  of 
Second  and  Broadway,  will  furnish  supper,  lodging  and  breakfast  for  §1,  and 
that  he  will  give  one  meal  for  35  cents." 

H  M.  Tremble  &  Son  ''  announce  to  the  public  that  they  are  receiving  dry 
goods  of  every  description,  hardware  and  cutlery,  groceries,  boots  and  shoes, 
clothing,  cordage,  carpenters'  tools,  farming  utensils,  rich  and  fashionable  bon- 
nets :  all  of  which  we  offer  for  sale  cheap  for  cash,  or  in  exchange  for  corn, 
oats,  wheat,  rye,  rags,  butter,  eggs,  tallow,  beeswax,  and,  in  short,  everything 
in  the  produce  line,  at  market  prices." 

S.  Knight  &  Co.  deal  in  lumber,  shingles,  lath,  timber  and  dressed  lumber. 

Conley  «k  Hitehcoi'k  have  the  largest  advertisement  of  anv  firm.  Thev 
report  uew^  style  prints,  new  style  poplins,  sugars  and  other  groceries,  summer 
clothing,  boots  and  shoes,  and  everything  to  be  found  in  any  other  store.  Thev 
give  market  reports,  from  which  we  learn  prices  paid  then  for  different  articles 
bought  and  sold.  Wheat  is  reported  from  ^1  to  ^1.50  per  bushel ;  corn,  from 
12|  to  15  cents  ;  oats,  20  cents  ;  potatoes,  ^1  and  ^1.25:  timothy-seed,  §2.25: 
eornmeal,  25  cents  per  100  lbs.;  butter,  12| ;  eggs,  10  cents  per  dozen  ;  coffee  is 
14  cents  p«r  pound  ;  sugar,  from  10  to  15  ;  bacon  is  reported  from  7  to  10  cents 
per  pound,^beef  at  7  and  8  cents ;  chickens  are  worth  i$1.50  and  32  per  dozen; 
rye  is  worth  50  cents  and  60  cents  per  bushel ;  hay,  §6  per  ton  ;  whisky.  85 
cents  per  gallon,  brandy  ^.50.  w^ine  $4  and  gin  $2.50,  when  bought  by  the 
barrel. 

This  description  includes  almost  all  noticed  in  this  first  issue  of  the  paper, 
referring  to  Mattoon.  The  i-est  of  the  paper  is  devoted  entirely  to  foreign 
matters — no  local  items  noticed.  Probably  Mr.  Houghton  did  not  have  time 
to  gather  any.  He  appears  to  have  all  his  paper  but  one  page  printed  else- 
where— probably  in  Terre  Haute,  as  much  of  the  advertising  is  from  there,  and 
some  of  it  is  inserted  twice.  The  paper  is  quite  creditable  for  the  start,  and 
we  are  sorry  that  no  second  copy  was  preserved  so  its  advance  could  be 
noticed. 

The  G<jzette  was  announced  to  appear  every  Saturday,  and  carefully  fulfilled 
its  contracts.  Mr.  Houghton,  who  had  been  a  printer  in  Terre  Haute,  and  had 
published  a  paper  in  Greenup  until  thfe  county  seat  was  removed,  continued 
with  the  Gazette  until  autumn,  when  he  sold  to  Dumas  J.  Van  Deren,  and 
returned  to  a  farm  near  Greenup.  He  remained  there  and  in  the  town  till  the 
spring  of  1857,  when  he  moved  again  to  Mattoon  and  purchased  the  Gazette  of 
Mr.  Van  Deren.     He  conducted  the  paper  till  the  fall  of  1859,  when  he  sold  it 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  387 

to  Mclntyre  <fe  Woods  and  removed  to  a  farm  near  Majority  Point.  Shortly 
afterward,  Mr.  Woods  sold  his  interest  to  W.  P.  Harding,  and  the  firm  of 
Harding  k  Mclntyre,  who  took  charge  of  the  G-azette.  Mr.  Houghton  returned 
the  third  time  to  Mattoon  after  raising  one  crop,  and  again  secured  an  interest 
in  the  (xazette.  He  subsecjuently  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
third  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  lost  his  life  in  an  engagement  on  the  18th  Septem- 
ber, 1863.  When  he  went  to  the  arrny,  the  paper  continued  under  Mclntyre 
&  Harding's  control,  the  latter  gentleman  as  editor  until  February  1,  1861. 
July  19,  1865,  Mr.  Mclntyre  sold  to  J.  0.  Harding,  and  the  G-azette  came 
under  the  charge  of  Harding  Brothers. 

When  the  war  broke  out,  J.  0.  Harding  enlisted  first  in  the  Sixteenth  Indi- 
ana, afterward  in  the  Seventy-ninth  Illinois.  He  was  taken  prisoner  and 
confined  in  Libby  eighteen  months.  On  his  return  from  the  war,  he  came 
again  into  the  Gazette  office  on  July  19,  I860,  with  his  brother.  The  firm 
of  Harding  Brothers  managed  the  Gazette  until  June  20,  1866,  when  the 
junior  member  sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  C.  B.  Bostwick,  and  Harding  &  Bost- 
wick  conducted  the  paper  until  May  29,  1867.  At  this  date,  Mr.  Harding  sold 
his  interest  to  Mr.  Bostwick,  who  managed  the  Gazette  until  July  10,  1867. 
A  radical  change  in  the  paper  occurred  at  this  date.  The  Democratic  party 
had  for  some  time  been  desiring  a  paper,  and  when  Mr.  Bostwick  sold,  it  was  to 
a  committee  of  prominent  citizens  of  that  political  party.  They  changed  the 
name  to  the  Mattoon  Democrat  and  its  politics  to  their  own.  They  employed 
Charles  W.  Dunifer  as  editor,  who  remained  but  a  few  months,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  a  Mr.  Crouch,  who  remained  in  charge  only  two  or  three  months. 
The  adventure  not  proving  a  success,  the  committee  desired  to  sell.  They 
found  a  purchaser  in  the  persons  of  Taylor  k  Bowen,  who  changed  the  name  to 
Mattoon  Clarion.  They,  however,  were  not  able  to  pay  for  it,  and,  soon  after, 
the  establishment  was  sold  at  Sheriff's  sale,  and  the  materials  moved  to 
Sullivan. 

When  Mr.  Bostwick  sold  in  1867,  he  contracted  to  stay  out  of  the  printing 
business  five  years,  and,  the  time  expired,  he  returned  and  concluded  to 
revive  the  old  Gazette.  He  and  George  B.  McDougall  purchased  a  new  outfit, 
and,  on  the  16th  of  August,  1872,  they  issued  the  first  number.  They  also 
opened  a  job  office  in  connection  with  their  paper,  and  soon  had  a  good  business. 
They  continued  together  until  January.  1874,  when  Mr.  McDougall  sold  his 
interest  to  Mr.  Bostwick,  who  has  since  conducted  the  Gazette.  It  is  a 
large-sized,  eight-paged  paper,  and  has  an  excellent  reputation  and  circulation. 
The  office  is  fitted  with  a  good  steam-power  press,  two  job  presses,  power  paper- 
cutter,  ruling  machine,  and  all  the  material  necessary  for  doing  all  ordinary 
commercial  book  and  blank  Avork. 

The  Journal  was  established  November  1,  1865,  by  W.  0.  Ellis.  He,  in 
his  editorial  "  salutatory,"  defines  his  intended  position  ;  refers  to  the  fact  of 
the  late  war;  to  his  position  regarding  it ;  to  the  desire  he  entertains  for  peace  ; 


388  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

to  the  cause  of  education,  which  he  hopes  to  see  fostered  in  the  town ;  to  the 
growth  of  trade  and  the  encouragement  of  manufactories,  and  to  the  general 
advancement  of  the  city  wherein  he  has  cast  his  lot. 

The  editor  notices  the  fine  weather  of  that  fall :  the  discharge  of  the  Thirty- 
third  Illinois,  at  Vicksburg;  the  granting  of  8,000  pardons  by  the  President, 
and  the  fact  of  there  being  20,000  still  on  file.  Many  other  items  of  State 
and  national  news  are  given  ;  a  liberal  patronage  of  advertising  appears,  and, 
all  in  all.  the  paper  evidently  was  issued  after  a  careful  canvass  was  made. 

Some  one  gives  a  history  of  the  inception  of  the  Mattoon  Business  College 
and  Female  Seminary,  and,  through  successive  numbers,  concludes  arguments 
in  favor  of  their  firm  establishment  in  the  city. 

The  Journal  starts  out  evidently  well  prepared  for  work,  and  shows  a  dis- 
position to  maintain  and  elevate  its  standard.  Mr.  Ellis  continued  as  editor 
and  proprietor  until  June  23,  1866,  when  he  sold  an  interest  in  the  paper  to 
Capt.  Thomas  E.  Woods.  Two  weeks  before,  the  Journal  was  considerably 
enlaro-ed  and  improved,  showing  the  year's  adventure  had  been  successful. 
Capt.  Woods,  in  his  "  salutatof-y  "  to  the  readers  of  the  Journal,  says  he  is 
here  ao-ain  among  the  people  he  had  formerly  known  when  he  conducted  the 
Gazette,  and  later,  when  he  had  wielded  the  pen  in  the  sanctum  of  the  Charles- 
ton Courier,  before  that  journal,  as  he  thinks,  apostatized.  He  alludes  to  the 
fact  of  his  late  connection  with  the  war,  fairly  closed,  and  avers  that,  having 
tried  both   the  pen  and  the  sword,  though   the    former  may  be  "  mightier, 

it  is  less  swift." 

The  current  news  of  the  day  are  given  ;  a  good  local  column  is  maintained, 
while  general  ne>vs  appears.  Mr.  Ellis  remains  with  the  paper,  Capt.  Woods 
acting  as  editor. 

The  Journal  was  run  under  this  arrangement  until  the  fall  of  1869,  when 
Capt.  Woods  purchased  the  entire  interest,  and  assumed  exclusive  control.  He 
conducted  the  Journal  alone  until  March  1,  1876,  when  he  associated  with  him- 
self his  brother,  Winfield  Woods,  and  the  paper  was  conducted  by  Woods 
Brothers  until  January  1,  1879,  when  Capt.  Woods  received  an  appointment  in 
the  Treasury  Department,  at  Washington,  and  Avent  there.  He  is  still  con- 
nected with  the  paper,  however,  and  furnishes  much  of  its  editorial  matter. 

On  January  1,  1879,  William  F.  Purtill,  who  has  been  connected  with  the 
papers  of  Mattoon  as  a  general  printer  and  foreman  for  several  years,  and  has 
been  for  a  lontr  time  with  the  Journal,  obtained  an  interest,  and  now  the  paper 
is  conducted  by  Woods  &  Purtill.  It  began  in  1874  to  issue  a  daily,  which  it 
maintains  with  commendable  enterprise,  and  which  is  an  important  factor  in 
the  life  of  Mattoon.  It  had  been  run  as  a  tri-Aveekly  two  or  three  years  prior 
to  the  daily  ;  this  was,  however,  abolished  when  the  daily  was  founded,  and  the 
weekly  issue  resumed. 

The  third  paper  in  Mattoon,  the  Commercial,  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  Rad- 
ical Republican,  a  paper  started  early  in  December,  1867,  by  Mr.  Ebenezer 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  389 

Noyes.  When  the  Gazette  was  sold  by  Mr.  Bostwick  to  the  committee  of 
Democrats,  Mr.  Noyes  determined  to  establish  a  strong  Republican  paper  in  its 
stead,  purchased  materials  and  opened  an  office  on  the  north  side  of  Broadway, 
west  of  the  railroad,  in  the  room  now  occupied  by  'Squire  Robb.  He  employed 
Charles  Robb  as  printer,  and  assumed  the  editorial  charge  himself.  He  made 
the  paper  what  its  name  implied,  and  was  not  at  all  afraid  to  freely  express  his 
views.  He  was  assisted  by  Mr.  Chittenden  in  his  editorial  work,  who  had  the 
main  control  in  the  business  office  and  as  a  gatherer  of  news.  James  Williams 
was  soon  after  also  engaged  in  the  printing  department. 

Mi*.  Chittenden  did  not  remain  long  in  the  office,  and  the  entire  editorial 
and  reportorial  duties  devolved  upon  Mr.  Noyes,  who  took  in  his  sons  to  aid 
him.  They  continued  the  Radical  Repuhlican  until  sometime  in  1871,  when 
they  sold  the  paper  to  Mr.  A.  Bookwalter,  who  changed  the  name  to  Commer- 
cial. He  continued  it  until  the  fall  of  1872,  when  he  suspended.  He  soon 
after  sold  the  office  to  Mr.  R.  Sumerlin  &  Sons,  who  moved  it  to  its  present 
location.  Their  first  paper  appeared  on  October  8,  1872.  Under  their  man- 
agement, the  paper  was  made  the  organ  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  con- 
tinued by  them  until  August,  1876.  Mr.  Sumerlin  sold  the  paper  at  this  time 
to  a  stock  company,  and  went  to  Florida.  The  company  appointed  Mr.  A. 
Sumerlin,  who  had  been  in  the  office  with  his  father,  editor  and  manager, 
and,  under  this  management,  it  is  still  continued.  The  Commercial  is  a  four- 
page  paper,  issued  weekly,  and  has  a  good  circulation  among  its  constituents. 

The  office  is  very  well  supplied  with  material,  and  a  general  printing  and 
job  office  maintained  in  connection  with  the  paper. 

LODGES,  ASSOCIATIONS,  SOCIETIES,  ETC. 

Masonic — Godfrey  de  Bouillon  Commandery  K.  T.,  No.  44.  Instituted 
October  28,  1874.  First  officers :  E.  A.  Thielens,  E.  C.  ;  F.  K.  La  Fever, 
Gen.;  J.  B.  Ayer,  Capt.  Gen.  Present  officers:  Michael  Meller,  E.  C. ;  G. 
W.  Shaw,  Gen.  ;  G.  W.  Clark,  Capt.  Gen. ;  C.  G.  Weymouth,  Recorder. 
Regular  conclave  the  second  and  fourth  Fridays  of  each  month. 

Mattoon  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  No.  85.  Instituted  October  26, 1865.  First 
officers:  James  M.  True,  H.  P.;  S.  J.  Fisher,  K. ;  W.  H.  House,  S. 
Present  officers  :  Thomas  Davis,  H.  P.  ;  James  Darnell,  K. ;  J.  H.  Clark,  S.; 
J.  J.  Ayer,  Sec.     Meets  on  the  fourth  Wednesday  of  each  month,  at  their  hall. 

Mattoon  Lodge,  No.  260,  F.  &  A.  M.  Instituted  in  1858  (oldest 
Masonic  Lodge  in  town).  First  officers :  N.  W.  Chapman,  W.  M. ;  J.  W. 
Dora,  S.  W. ;  J.  B.  Tayler,  J.  W. ;  E.  W.  True,  Treas.  ;  H.  C.  Rogers,  Sec. 
Present  officers ;  James  L.  Scott,  W.  M.  ;  James  H.  Clark,  S.  W. ;  John  F. 
Scott,  J.  W.  ;  I.  Jennings,  Treas.  ;  W.  A.  Bell,  Sec.  Meets  first  and' third 
Mondays  of  each  month,  at  their  hall. 

Circle    Lodge,   No.   707.       Instituted    January    10,    1873.     First    officers: 
George  Wenlock,  W.  M. ;  F.  K.  La  Fever,  S.  W.  ;  Benjamin  S.  Capen,  J.  W. ; 


390  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

William  H.  Lewis,  Sec.  Present  officers:  J.  B.  Durnell,  W.  M.  ;  Thomas 
Davis,  S.  W. ;  J.  A.  Mulford,  J.  W. ;  George  W.  Clark,  Sec.  Meets  first  and 
third  Wednesdays  of  each  month,  at  their  hall. 

Eureka  Lodge,  No.  13.  (Colored  Masons.)  "First  officers  :  Austin  Perry, 
W.  M. ;  Milford  Norton,  S.  W. ;  James  Hunt,  J.  W.  :  David  Smith,  Treas. ; 
Henry  Sweet,  Sec.  Present  officers  :  Austin  Perry,  W.  M. ;  T.  W.  Barnes, 
S.  W.  ;  C.  Beacham,  J.  W. :  Patrick  Williams,  Treas. ;  D.  L,  May,  Sec. 
Meets  first  Monday  of  each  month,  at  Kilners  Block. 

Masonic  Benevolent  Association.  (Insurance.)  Chartered  August  23, 
1876.  Officers  :  Joseph  H.  Clark,  Pres. ;  J.  Richmond.  Vice  Pres.  ;  J.  S. 
Anderson,  Sec. ;    J.  R.  Tobey,  Treas. ;    J.  W.  Dora,  M.  D.,  Med.  Ex.     Has 

at  present  a  membership  of ,  and  is  steadily  increasing. 

Odd  Fellows — Mattoon  Encampment,  No.  97.  Instituted  in  1868.  First 
officers  :  John  Owens,  C.  P. ;  J.  D.  Kilner,  S.  W. ;  A.  P.  Friok,  H.  P. ;  Elza 
McKnight,  J.  W.  Present  officers  :  J.  D.  Hawes,  C.  P.  :  Frank  Garthwait, 
S.  W. ;  J.  D.  Kilner,  H.  P.  :  D.  S.  Coom,  J.  W.  Membership^  over  seventy. 
Meets  first  and  third  Fridays  of  each  month,  in  Kellerman's  Building. 

Harmony  Lodge,  No.  551.  First  officers  :  F.  M.  Phipps,  N.  G.  ;  W.  E. 
Murry,  V.  G. :  W.  C.  Drish,  R.  S.  ;  George  Goldgart,  Treas. ;  S.  A.  Camp- 
bell, P.  Sec.  Present  officers :  John  M.  Kelley,  N.  G. ;  Henry  Gochonour, 
V.  G.  ;  Frank  K.  La  Fever,  R.  S.  ;  A.  Spitler,  Treas. 

Coles  County  Lodge,  No.  260,  I.  0.  0.  F.  Instituted  in  1856  or  1857. 
Present  officers  :  John  Snyder,  N.  G. ;  John  Soules,  V.  G. ;  Oliver  Goggin, 
R.  S. ;  John  Birch,  Sec. ;  J.  T.  Kilner,  Treas.     Meets  every  Tuesday  evening. 

Mattoon  German  Lodge,  No.  414,  I.  O.  0.  F.  Instituted  in  1864.  Pres- 
ent officers  ;  John  Kelley,  N.  G. ;  Henry  Gochonour,  V.  G.  ;  Frank  LaFew^r, 
Sec. ;  Abram  Spitler,  Treas.     Meets  every  Wednesday  evening. 

Knigjits  of  Pythias. — Palestine  Lodge,  No.  46.  Instituted  April  7, 1874. 
First  officers :  S.  A.  Campbell,  P.  C;  R.  B.  Moore,  C.  C;  M.  E.  Boyd,  V. 
C;  R.  B.  Woolsey,  P.;  George  W.  Clark,  M.  of  E.:  Frank  P.  Clark,  M.  of  F.; 
Ira  B.  Jackson,  K.  of  R.  S.;  W.  H.  Augur,  M.  of  A.;  George  E.  Cartmell,  I. 
G.;  John  A.  M.  Scott,  0.  G.  Present  officers:  S.  G.  Tiley,  P.  C;  C.  B. 
Fry,  C.  C;  J.  B.  Benefiel,  V.  C;  Henry  Wright,  P.;  Thomas  W.  Gaw,  M.  of 
E.;  William  M.  Chettle,  M.  of  F.;  D.  McCaull,  K.  of  R.  S.;  Thomas 
McClurry,  M.  of  A.;  Anthony  Stewart,  I.  G.;  Robert  OAvenby,  0.  G.  Number 
of  members,  fifty.  Meets  first  and  third  Thursday  evenings  of  each  month,  at 
their  Castle  Hall,  West  Broadway. 

K.  of  P.  Endowment. — Section,  No.  148.  ,  Instituted  in  April,  187-'. 
First  officers  :  Charles  B.  Fry,  President ;  Robert  N.  Gray,  Vice  President ; 
John  W.  Hanna,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  ;  Henry  Wright,  Chaplain ;  W.  Pat- 
rick, Guide ;  Henry  Gullion,  Guard  ;  A.  Stewart,  Sentinel.  Present  officers  : 
Charles  B.  Fry,  President;  John  W.  Hanna,  Vice  President;  W.  M.  Chettle, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer ;   Henry  Wright,  Chaplain ;   L^.  Culson,  Guide  ;   Henry 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  *        391 

Oullion,  Guard  ;  Anthony  Stewart,  Sentinel.  Membership,  over  twenty-five. 
Meets  first  and  third  Thursday  evenings  of  each  month,  at  K.  of  P.  Hall. 

Knights  of  Honor. — Eureka  Lodge,  No.  598,  instituted  April  20,  1877, 
by  William  Obermeyer,  with  twenty-nine  members.  First  officers  :  J.  F.  Drish, 
Past  Dictator ;  L.  G.  Roberts,  Dictator ;  Frank  Noyes,  Assistant  Dictator ;  J. 
G.  Wright,  Y.  D.;  P.  B.  Lynn,  Reporter;  R.  S.  Holding,  F.  Reporter;  R. 
B.  Roberts,  Sentinel ;  A.  Danheiser,  Guide ;  George  Beacham,  Guardian. 
Present  officers  :  J.  G.  W^ right.  Past  Dictator  ;  H.  M.  Coulter,  Dictator  ;  S.  R. 
Coddington,  V.  D.;  Lee  Schneller,  Assistant  Dictator :  J.  L.  Matthews, 
Reporter :  A.  Danheiser,  Fin.  Reporter ;  George  Bugh,  Treasurer ;  J.  M. 
Mitchell,  Chaplain  ;  B.  F.  Hays,  Guardian  ;  J.  B.  W^ard,  Sentinel.  Member- 
ship, over  one  hundred.  Meet  every  Monday  evening  at  their  hall.  East 
Broadway. 

Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor — Alpha  Lodge  No.  28,  instituted  in  April, 
1878.  First  officers:  J.  F.  Drish,  Pro.;  Mrs.  J.  W.  Hanna,  Y.  Pro.;  L.  V. 
Woods,  Sec;  Mrs.  W.  W.  Smith,  Fin.  Sec;  Mrs.  h-a  James,  Treas.  Pres- 
ent officers :  L.G.Roberts,  Pro.;  Mrs.Norvell,  Y.  Pro.;  Harry  Coulter,  Sec; 
John  Parmalee,  Fin.  Sec;  Mrs.  Yining,  Treas.  Meets  second  and  fourth 
Thursdays  each  month  in  K.  of  H.  hall. 

Excelsior  Council  R.  T.  of  T. — Instituted  .January  10,  1879.  First  and 
present  officers  :  0.  W.  Gogin,  S.  C;  B.  W.  Hunt,  B.  C;  W.  S.  Hinkle,  1\ 
C;  T.  A.  Allison,  Sec;  Calvin  Moore,  Treas.;  U.  T.  S.  Rice,  Herald;  W. 
J.  Stotts,  Sentinel.     Meets  every  Friday  evening. 

W.  C.  T.  U.— Organized  June  5,  1878.  First  officers:  Mrs.  M.  J.  Hinkle, 
Pres.;  Mrs.  Thomas  Clegg,  Sec:  Mrs.  Lillie  Mulford,  Cor.  Sec:  Mrs. 
Maggie  Duncan.  Treas.  Meets  every  Thursday  afternoon  in  their  hall.  Fur- 
ther particulars  of  this  society,  its  objects,  etc.,  are  given  in  the  history  of  the 
city. 

ASHMORE  TOW^NSHIP. 

This  town  is  pretty  well  divided  between  prairie  and  woodland,  the  latter, 
perhaps,  predominating  to  some  extent.  Its  timber  is  principally  oak,  hickory, 
sugar-maple,  and  a  light  scattering  of  walnut.  The  township  is  watered  by  the 
main  branch  of  the  Embarrass  River  flowing  along  its  western  boundary, 
together  with  several  smaller  streams  which  have  their  source  in  its  territory,  the 
most  important  of  which  is  Pole  Cat  Creek.  The  sweet-scented  name  of  this 
stream  was  derived,  it  is  said,  from  the  fact  that  a  new-comer  first  learned  upon 
its  classic  banks  the  power  and  alacrity  of  that  species  of  feline  to  defend  itself 
against  its  enemies.  Ashmore  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Oakland  Township; 
on  the  west  by  the  Embarrass  River :  on  the  south  and  east  by  Hutton  Town- 
ship and  Edgar  County,  and  is  much  larger  tlian  a  regular  Congressional  town- 
ship. It  is  a  fine  agricultural  region,  and  contains  many  excellent  farms.  The 
Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroad  passes  nearly  through  its  center  from  east  to 


392  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

west,  and  has  been  of  incalculable  benefit  to  the  town.  The  village  of  Ashmore, 
wiiich  will  be  again  alluded  to  in  this  chapter,  is  a  thriving  place,  and  the  ship- 
ping point  for  a  large  scope  of  country. 

FIRST    SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  white  men  who  made  claims  in  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Ash- 
more  were  the  Dudleys.  James  Dudley  entered  land  here  in  1826.  He  was 
originally  from  New  Hampshire,  but  had  been  for  several  years  a  resident 
of  Edgar  County  before  coming  to  this  section.  When  he  entered  land  here  he 
put  his  brother,  Guilford  Dudley,  on  it,  and  Laban  Burr,  a  son  of  Laban  Burr, 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Edgar  County,  and  he  remained  for  several  years 
afterward  in  that  county  before  coming  to  his  new  possessions.  Guilford  Dudley 
and  Laban  Burr  were  both  single  men,  and  kept  "  bachelor's  hall "  for  several 
years.  Coles  County,  at  the  time  of  which  we  write,  was  a  part  of  Clark,  and 
the  first  frame  barn  erected  in  what  now  comprises  both  counties,  was  put  up  on 
the  Dudley  farm  about  1830.  It  was  a  frame  structure,  as  we  have  said,  of  the 
New  England  pattern,  and  after  the  frame  had  been  "raised,"  a  man  of 
the  name  of  McCracken  climbed  to  the  top  of  it  to  christen  it  by  name,  as  he 
said  was  the  custom  down  in  New  England.  With  all  due  solemnity,  and  "in 
the  name  of  the  good  people  present,"  he  pronounced  the  name  of  "Bachelor's 
Delight  and  the  Pride  of  the  Fair,"  and  then  threw  away  the  bottle,  though,  as 
our  informant  expressed  it,  bottles  then  were  rather  scarce.  What  use  they  had 
for  a  bottle  in  such  a  ceremony  we  are  unable  to  conjecture.  The  romantic  name 
under  which  the  barn  was  christened  appears  a  little  contradictory,  and  the  latter 
clause  a  misnomer,  as  the  household  at  that  time  was  said  to  have  been  a  bachelor 
one.  The  "raising"  of  the  edifice  was  quite  an  event,  and  men  came  from  the 
"Big  Creek"  settlement  (in  Edgar  County)  to  assist  in  the  enterprise. 

Guilford  Dudley,  after  taking  to  himself  a  wife,  entered  land  a  short 
distance  from  his  brother's  place,  on  which  he  remained  until  his  death  several 
years  after.  His  youngest  son,  Elbridge  Dudley,  now  occupies  the  place. 
Laban  Burr  eventually  married  Miss  Melissa  Sutherland,  of  Grand  View  Town- 
ship (Edgar  County),  and  entered  land  south  of  Dudley's,  in  what  is  now  Hutton 
Township.  James  Dudley,  mentioned  above  as  the  first  to  enter  land  in  this 
section,  after  living  a  bachelor  until  the  mid-day  of  life,  married  a  widow  lady 
named  Brown.  He  sold  his  farm  to  a  man  of  the  name  of  Olmstead  about 
1837,  and  returned  to  the  East.  Adam  Cox  is  supposed  to  have  been  from  Ken- 
tucky, and  settled  in  this  township  in  1826-27.  He  located  near  Dudley's,  and, 
after  remaining  there  a  number  of  years,  sold  out  and  removed  to  Jasper 
County,  and  finally  to  Missouri,  where  he  died.  He  settled  in  the  "  Big 
Creek  "  neighborhood  before  coming  to  this  county. 

Job  W.  Brown  was  born  in  the  old  Nutmeg  State,  but  his  parents  removed 
10  Kentucky  when  he  was  ten  years  old,  where  they  resided  several  years  ;  then 
came  to  Lawrence  County,  111.,  and,  in  January,  1825,   removed  to  Walnut 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  393 

Grove,  at  that  time  considered  the  very  outskirts  of  civilization.  In  1838,  he, 
with  his  father,  Jonathan  W.  Brown,  took  a  contract  to  build  two  sections  of  the 
Terre  Haute  &  Alton  Railroad,  which  they  completed  in  1840.  and,  the  same 
year,  he  settled  in  Ashmore  Township,  on  a  farm  he  still  owns,  and  upon  which 
he  resided  until  1877,  when  he  retired  from  active  labor,  and  removed  into  the 
village  of  Ashmore,  where  he  at  present  lives,  enjoying  a  competency  won  by 
honest  toil.  Mr.  Brown  tells  the  following  story  of  his  "sparking"  days: 
There  was  living  in  the  neighborhood  a  family  with  a  grown-up  daughter  of 
whom  he  was  rather  fond.  After  a  time,  the  family  moved  away  some  distance 
to  the  northwest,  and  he  would  mount  his  horse  semi-occasionally  and  ride  out 
to  see  her.  As  the  country  palaces  in  those  times  usually  consisted  of  one 
room,  which  served  as  parlor,  dining-room,  bedchamber,  kitchen,  etc.,  "  it 
required  a  good  deal  of  courage,"  he  said,  "  to  corner  his  girl  under  such  cir- 
cumstances," but  he  "  at  length  got  used  to  it."  Upon  an  observation  from 
us,  that,  had  we  lived  in  those  primeval  days,  we  would  have  done  our  sparking 
in  the  summer  time,  when,  with  the  fair  one  of  our  choice,  we  might  have  wan- 
dered in  the  "  darkling  wood,  amidst  the  cool  and  silence,"  or  lingered  beside 
the  "  purling  brook,  as  it  meandered  over  its  pebbly  bottom,"  etc.,  etc.,  he 
((uietly  remarked  that  "  where  there  was  a  will  there  was  a  way,"  and  that 
"  people  in  a  backwoods  country  could  get  used  to  almost  anything." 

The  severest  punishment,  he  said,  that  he  ever  received  at  school,  was  given 
him  by  his  father  when  going  to  school  to  him.  The  boys  and  girls  were  allowed 
to  "  sit  around  the  room  promiscuously,"  and  "  all  mixed  up  together."  He 
was  quite  a  large  boy,  and  one  day  a  pretty  little  French  girl  chanced  to  be 
sitting  next  him,  when,  upon  the  spur  of  the  moment,  he  put  his  arm  around 
her,  drew  her  to  him  and  kissed  her — "for  her  mother."  His  father  did  not 
see  the  performance,  but  the  titter  that  ran  round  the  room  "gave  him  away." 
The  old  gentleman  forced  some  timid  little  fellow  to  tell  the  cause  of  the  laugh, 
when  he  walked  him  and  the  little  girl  out  in  the  middle  of  the  room  and  com- 
pelled him  to  repeat  the  operation.  He  braced  himself  for  the  ordeal  and  Avent 
through  it  like  a  little  man,  but  he  observed  that  his  ''  heart  was  not  in  it  as 
it  was  the  first  time." 

John  Carter,  Pearson  and  John  Wiley,  John  Wright,  Thomas  Reed,  James 
Wells,  John  K.  Spears,  William  H.  Galbraith,  C.  L.  Duncan,  William  Woods, 
Joseph  Epperson,  Charles'D.  Phelps  and  Fountain  Turner  were  from  the  old  Blue- 
Grass  State.  Carter  was  from  the  Crab  Orchard  country,  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
1830,  arriving  in  this  township  on  the  13th  of  April,  and  settled  a  short  dis- 
tance east  of  the  present  village  of  Ashmore.  He  has  two  sons  living — Shelton 
Carter,  in  Ashmore  Township,  and  Joseph  Carter,  in  Morgan  Township  ;  both 
are  honorable,  upright  citizens.  A  daughter  married  John  Austin,  and  lives  on 
the  place  where  Mr.  Carter  built  his  first  cabin.  Mrs.  Joseph  Reed  is  also  a 
daughter,  and  Mrs.  Catharine  Young,  living  in  Washington  Territory.  Mr. 
Carter  died  in  July,  1841.     The  Wileys  came  in  1829,  and  settled  some  two  or 


394  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

three  miles  from  the  village  of  Ashmore.  Pearson  moved  to  Parker  Prairie, 
and  John  to  Douglas  County,  where  he  died.  Wright  settled  near  the  Wileys, 
and  came  about  a  year  afterward.  They  had  all  first  settled  on  Big  Creek,  be- 
fore coming  to  this  settlement,  but  had  not  remained  long  in  that  locality. 
Reed  came  in  182!',  and  settled  about  one  and  a  half  miles  northeast  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Ashmore,  and  has  been  dead  a  number  of  years.  He  died  on  his  origi- 
nal settlement,  and  where  his  son  Caleb  Reed  now  lives.  Mrs.  Walton,  a* 
daughter,  lives  in  the  town,  and  Mrs.  Galbraith,  another  daughter,  lives  in 
Hickory  Township.  James  Wells  settled  about  three  miles  south  of  the  village 
of  Ashmore.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  removed  to  Bracken 
County,  Ky.,  at  an  early  day  ;  Avas  one  of  the  very  earliest  settlers  in  that  part 
of  the  State.  James  Wells,  alluded  to  above,  came  here  in  1830,  and  still  owns 
the  original  place  on  which  he  settled,  but  for  a  year  or  two  past  has  been  liv- 
ing with  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  O'Brien,  in  the  village  of  Ashmore.  John  K. 
Spears  was  from  Jefferson  County,  near  the  city  of  Louisville,  and  came  to  this 
township  in  1834,  settling  near  Hitesville,  He  died  in  1888;  a  son.  Dr.  A. 
K.  Spears,  is  living  in  Charleston.  Woods  came  to  Coles  County  in  1834,  and 
located  in  the  east  part  of  Ashmore  Township,  and  died  in  1878.  He  has  but 
one  son  living,  Thomas  Woods,  residing  on  the  old  homestead.  Joseph  Epper- 
son settled  in  the  township  the  same  year  as  Woods,  and  came  from  the  same 
county  (Madison)  in  Kentucky.  He  died  in  1850,  leaving  several  children  in 
this  part  of  the  country  to  perpetuate  his  name.  Phelps  came  in  1830,  and  set- 
tled in  Ashmore  Township.  He  had  a  large  family  of  children,  most  of  whom 
still  live  in  Coles  County.  Mr.  Phelps  died  in  1856.  Turner  settled  in  the 
township  in  1834,  where  he  still  resides,  one  of  the  solid  men  of  the  county. 
He  and  his  wife  have  been  living  together  for  more  than  sixty  years,  and  are  hale 
and  hearty  for  their  age.  Galbraith  came  to  Coles  County  in  1830.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  removed  to  Kentucky  in  an  early  day. 
He  was  a  soldier  and  an  officer  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  served  seven 
years  under  Washington  ;  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  York- 
town,  and  one  of  the  guard  of  that  noted  prisoner  for  some  time.  He  removed 
from  Kentucky  to  Indiana  in  1816,  and  the  son  above  mentioned  to  Coles 
County,  as  noted,  in  1830,  where  he  still  lives.  Coleman  L.  Duncan,  though 
but  a  few  years  in  Coles  County,  has  lived  just  over  the  line  in  Clark  since 
1830,  and  can  give  as  vivid  accounts  of  the  privations  of  the  early  settlers 
as  any  man  now  living.  He  resides  with  his  son-in-law.  Dr.  Steele,  of  Ash- 
more. 

Hezekiah  Ashmore  came  from  Middle  Tennessee,  in  1830,  and  settled  in 
what  is  now  Oakland  Township,  and,  in  1836,  removed  to  this  town.  It, 
together  with  the  village  of  Ashmore,  was  named  for  him.  Mr.  Ashmore 
landed  here  with  37  J  cents  in  his  pocket,  but,  realizing  that  fortune  smiles  on 
those  who  help  themselves,  he  went  to  work,  and,  as  fast  as  he  accumulated  a 
little   money,  invested  it  in  land,  so  that,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  he  owned 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  395 

1,600  acres.  He  was  one  of  the  early  Justices  of  the  Peace,  and  one  of  the 
County  Commissioners  for  a  number  of  years.  He  died  in  1872,  leaving  a 
numerous  progeny  in  the  county.  William  Austin  was  also  from  Tennessee,  and 
came  to  Illinois  in  1829.  He  settled  where  the  village  now  stands,  and,  the 
ground  occupied  by  this  thriving  little  burg  was  the  first  land  which  he  culti- 
vated after  settling  in  the  neighborhood.  His  original  log  cabin  is  still  stand- 
ing, though  its  identity  is  nearly  lost  in  the  modern  improvements  made  to  it, 
since  it  first  served  to  shelter  a  pioneer  family  from  the  inclemencies  of  the 
weather.  It  has  been  weather-boarded  and  otherwise  improved,  and  is  occupied 
by  Mr.  O'Brien.  Mr.  Austin  has  been  dead  a  number  of  years,  but  has  numer- 
ous descendants  still  residing  in  the  county,  to  perpetuate  an  honored  name. 
Christopher  Sousely  is  another  of  the  early  settlers,  and  came  to  this  township 
in  1828.  He  is  still  living,  but  has  grown  feeble  as  well  as  aged,  and  is  wait- 
ing in  patience  for  the  summons  to  come.  Joseph  Henry  and  his  son,  Dr.  A.  M. 
Henry,  Isaac  Hill  and  a  Mr.  Forrest,  were  also  early  settlers,  but  of  them  not 
much  could  be  learned.  William  Birch  came  from  England,  in  1833,  and 
stopped  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  spent  three  years.  He  occupied  an  old  house 
near  Philadelphia,  once  the  residence  of  William  Penn.  In  1836,  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  near  Hitesville,  in  this  township,  and  died  in  April,  1864. 
He  has  a  son  living  near  Charleston.  Enos  Barnes  came  from  North  Carolina, 
and  settled  two  miles  north  of  the  village  of  Ashmore.  He  was  a  soldier  of 
1812,  and  was  with  Old  Hickory,  at  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  He  emi- 
grated to  Kentucky,  where  he  remained  until  1830,  when  he  came  to  Illinois, 
as  above.  His  original  cabin  stood  until  1877.  He  died  in  1872 ;  his  wife 
died  in  1855,  but  one  or  two  sons  still  live  in  the  township.  William  H.  Brown 
and  Thomas  W.  Hallock  were  from  New  York;  the  latter  settled  in  1837,  and 
Brown  in  1839.     Both  are  still  living  and  are  successful  farmers. 

John  Mitchell  was  a  native  of  the  Palmetto  State,  but  had  lived  successively  in 
Tennessee,  Kentucky  and  Indiana,  before  immigrating  to  Illinois.  He  settled 
in  Coles  County,  in  1828,  in  the  edge  of  the  Embarrass  timber,  in  Ashmore 
Township,  where  he  died  some  fifteen  years  afterward,  and  his  wife  a  year  later, 
leaving  a  family  of  eight  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  now  living,  Will- 
iam B.  Mitchell,  in  the  State  of  Kansas,  and  Mrs.  Galbraith,  Avife  of  James 
Galbraith,  in  this  township.  The  condition  of  the  country  at  the  time  Mr. 
Mitchell  settled  here,  is  illustrated  in  the  fact  that  one  of  his  sons,  Robert 
Mitchell,  went  to  Darwin,  on  the  Wabash  River,  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  for  a 
marriage  license.  Rev.  S.  J.  Bovell  is  a  son  of  one  of  the  pioneer  preachers 
of  Illinois.  He  was  born  in  Washington  County,  East  Tennessee,  and  came  to 
this  county  with  his  mother's  family,  in  1835.  His  father  was  a  native  of  the 
Old  Dominion,  and  a  graduate  of  Washington  College,  and,  in  1825,  received 
a  call  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Paris,  111.,  but  died  in  three  months  after 
taking  charge.  His  widow  removed  to  Coles,  as  above  noted,  and  located 
southwest  of  Charleston.     Mr.  Bovell  remained  on  the  farm  with  his  mother 


396  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  when,  after  completing  his  education,  he 
taught  in  various  States,  and,  in  1861,  was  licensed  to  preach,  and,  at  present, 
is  Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  village  of  Ashmore. 

Elder  Peter  K.  Honn  came  from  Kentucky  in  1835,  and  stopped  for  a  short 
time  in  Edgar  County,  and  from  there  went  to  Sangamon  County,  where  he 
remained  about  six  months,  working  at  his  trade  (blacksmith),  after  which  he 
came  to  Coles  County  and  located  at  Hitesville,  in  this  township,  and  opened  a 
blacksmith-shop,  which  he  continued  for  several  years.  In  the  mean  time  he 
purchased  a  quarter-section  of  land,  which  he  improved  in  connection  with  his 
trade  of  a  blacksmith.  He  eventually  abandoned  his  shop  and  devoted  his 
attention  to  his  farm,  until  1875,  when,  having  accumulated  a  sufficiency  of  this 
world's  goods,  he  retired  from  active  labor,  and  removed  to  the  village  of  Ash- 
more,  where  he  at  present  lives  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  well-earned  competence. 
Some  five  years  after  coming  to  the  county,  he  was  ordained  a  minister  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  his  experience  as  a  pioneer  preacher  is  vast  and  varied, 
sometimes  bordering  on  the  extremely  ludicrous,  as  is  but  natural  in  a  back- 
woods country.  With  no  intentional  disrespect  to  the  Gospel  (for  of  it  we  enter- 
tain the  profoundest  veneration),  but  as  an  illustration  of  the  state  of  the  coun- 
try at  that  time,  and  by  way  of  embellishment  of  dry  historical  facts,  we  give 
some  of  the  experiences  of  the  old  soldier  of  the  Cross,  as  related  to  us  by  him- 
self. Upon  a  certain  occasion,  when  this  country  was  the  very  center  of  the 
backwoods,  he  and  another  preacher,  whom  he  denominated  Brother  E.,  made  a 
missionary  or  preaching  tour,  at  the  latter's  special  request,  through  Clark, 
Crawford,  Jasper  and  Cumberland  Counties,  and  through  the  southern  part  of  Coles, 
to  their  homes.  The  stipulation  was,  that  wherever  they  stopped  they  should 
preach  alternately.  After  swinging  around  the  circle  into  Jasper  County, 
Brother  E.  informed  him  that  they  would  stop  at  Brother  So-and-So's  to  dinner, 
the  leading  man  of  the  neighborhood,  a  pillar  of  the  church  in  that  section,  and 
where,  it  seems,  Brother  E.  had  been  before.  He  told  Mr.  Honn  that  they 
were  good  people,  but  not  as  tidy  and  neat  as  they  might  be,  and  he  would  have 
to  harden  up  a  little.  Upon  their  arrival,  Mr.  Honn  found  that  this  nabob 
lived  in  a  mansion  composed  of  one  room,  which  served  all  purposes  a  residence 
is  usually  subjected  to,  and  very  soon  dinner  was  begun  "for  the  preachers" 
by  a  grown-up  daughter,  while  the  lady  of  the  mansion  sat  on  one  side  of  the 
fire-place  smoking  a  cob-pipe,  and  the  lord  and  master  on  the  other  side  indul- 
ging in  a  like  luxury,  the  preachers  occupying  seats  in  front  of  the  fire,  looking 
on,  Mr,  Honn  admits,  with  some  interest.  After  a  while  the  girl  lifted  a  pot 
off  the  fire,  and  opened  it  apparently  to  see  the  state  of  its  contents,  while  the 
odor  was  quite  strange  to  him,  and  he  nudged  Brother  E.  and  asked  him  what 
it  was,  who  replied  that  it  was  stewed  coon.  He  at  once  thought  of  the  hard- 
ening-up  process,  and  being  a  little  particular  as  to  his  food,  was  somewhat 
doubtful  as  to  whether  he  should  enjoy  a  very  hearty  dinner  or  not.  He  dis- 
covered eventually,  however,  that  his  stomach   was   not  quite  so  sensitive  as 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  397 

Brother  E.'s.  After  the  coon  was  cooked  to  her  satisfaction,  she  brought  forth 
some  side  pork,  very  fat,  placed  it  in  a  skillet  and  fried  the  grease  all  out  of  it, 
leaving  a  pint  or  so  of  lard  in  the  skillet.  Next  she  produced  a  "  crock  "  full 
of  buckwheat  batter,  which  she  poured  into  the  skillet  (not  all  at  once),  and  he 
had  noticed  that  a  portion  of  the  hem  of  some  of  her  undergarments  had  been 
torn  from  its  native  place  and  was  dangling  within  an  inch  or  two  of  the  floor, 
and  as  she  would  move  about  the  fire,  it  would  now  and  then  draggle  in  the  fry- 
ing batter.  Brother  E.  looked  at  him  and  he  looked  at  Brother  E.,  and  he 
noticed  that  the  latter  had  grown  rather  pale,  so  that  when  dinner  was  announced 
a  little  later,  he  could  eat  but  a  few  mouthfuls.  He  kept  his  eye  on  Brother  E. 
and,  shortly  after  dinner  was  over,  noticed  that  he  appeared  quite  uneasy  and 
looked  very  pale.  Finally  he  rose  rather  hastily  and  left  the  room,  and  upon 
following  him  out,  found  him  behind  the  house  "calling  New  York"  lustily. 
That  evening  he  had  to  preach  for  Brother  E.* 

He  was  once  called  upon  to  perform  a  marriage  ceremony  at  the  house  of 
one  of  the  well-to-do  pioneers.  When  he  arrived  at  the  cabin,  he  found  the 
bride  in  waiting,  dressed  in  all  the  glory  of  backwoods  beauty  and  fashion,  and 
the  groom  ditto.  Among  the  "assembled  guests"  were  two  very  large  and 
ungainly  curs,  walking  about  the  room  with  as  much  liberty  as  (to  use  a  slang 
expression)  blind  dogs  in  a  meat-house."  After  the  marriage,  all  were" invited 
to  a  sumptuous  dinner,  the  dogs  included  ;  or,  if  the  latter  were  not  invited, 
they  cheeked  it,  and  went  in  on  their  own  responsibility.  When  the  repast  was 
well  under  way,  some  one  dropped  a  bone,  or  threw  it  down  to  the  dogs  for  the 
purpose  of  creating  a  little  excitement.  If  for  the  latter  purpose,  they  suc- 
ceeded beyond  their  most  sanguine  expectations.  They  clinched  in  battle  (the 
dogs)  with  savage  ferocity,  rolled  under  the  table  growling,  biting  and  chawing 
each  other  generally.  Said  Mr.  Honn  ?  "  And  what  did  the  fair  bride,  faint  ? 
Not  much.  But  sprang  on  to  a  chair,  and  in  a  high  state  of  excitement, 
clapping  her  delicate  (?)  hands,  she  yelled  at  the  top  of  her  voice,  '  sick  'em  ! 
sick  "em  !  sick  'em  !'  "  After  the  guests  succeeded  in  separating  the  dogs,  din- 
ner was  finished  in  peace  and  quiet. 

One  other  episode  from  Mr.  Honn's  pioneer  experience,  and  we  will  pass 
on.  A  young  man  of  the  neighborhood,  who  was  addicted  to  sowing  wild  oats 
with  a  profuse  hand,  finally  concluded  to  marry  and  settle  down,  and  to 
this  end,  succeeded  in  persuading  a  girl  living  some  miles  away,  to  unite  her 
fortunes  with  his.  The  mother  of  the  bridegroom  elect,  who  was  a  highly 
respectable  lady,  thinking  or  at  least  hoping,  that  marriage  would  work  a 
reformation  in  her  wayward  son,  had  exerted  herself  to  bring  about  the  union, 
and  had  prepared  a  wedding  feast  for  the  occasion.  He  had  brought  the  girl  to 
his  mother's,  where  the  marriage  was  to  take  place,  and  all  things  being  in  readi- 
ness, he  posted  off  to  Charleston  for  the  documents  that  were  to  bind  together 

"  Two  souls  with  but  a  single  thought, 
Two  hearts  that  beat  as  one." 


*Ag  it  happened  It  was  Brother  E.'s  tirue  to  preach,  but  his  dinner  had  so  upset  him  that  he  could  not  come  to  tim«- 


398  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

But  at  Charleston  the  devil  tempted  him,  or  perhaps  he  met  with  some  of  his 
old  chums,  got  drunk,  and  finally  got  in  jail,  where  he  was  detained  two  or 
three  days  in  "durance  vile."  When  set  at  liberty,  he  struck  out  for  home, 
came  by  Mr.  Honn's,  and  asked  him  to  go  to  his  mother's  with  him  as  he  was 
going  to  be  married,  and  wanted  him  to  tie  the  nuptial  knot.  Thinking  the 
fellow  was  jesting,  he  demurred,  as  it  was  then  getting  dusk,  but  he  stoutly 
asserted  that  he  was  in  earnest,  so  Mr.  Honn  said,  "Well,  you  show  me  the 
marriage  license  and  give  me  a  dollar,  and  I  will  submit  to  being  fooled,  and 
will  go  with  you.  "  To  this  he  assented,  paying  over  the  last  dollar  he  had, 
and  Mr.  Honn  mounted  his  horse  and  away  they  went.  Upon  arriving,  the 
house  was  dark,  and  everybody  apparently  abed.  Mr.  Honn  told  him  that  did 
not  look  much  like  a  wedding,  but  he  said  it  was  all  right.  When  they  went 
in  they  found  all  abed,  sure  enough.  A  married  daughter  was  living  with  the 
old  ladv,  and  into  the  room  where  she  Was  in  bed,  he  was  conducted  bv  the 
young  man,  handed  a  chair  and  asked  to  take  a  seat.  The  expectant  bride- 
groom inquired  of  his  sister  where  the  girl  was,  calling  her  by  name,  and  was 
informed  that  she  was  sleeping  in  the  next  room.  "I'll  bring  her  out,"  said 
he,  Mr.  Honn  sitting  by  all  this  time,  taking  in  the  ludicrous  position  in 
which  he  was  placed.  The  young  man  went  in  where  the  girl  was  in  bed,  and 
for  a  long  time  he  heard  them  in  earnest  conversation,  he  begging  her  to  get 
up  and  be  married,  and  she  refusing.  She  told  him  he  had  "gone  back  on 
her,"  that  she  had  sent  her  clothes  home  and  had  nothing  to  wear  (unwittingly 
quoting  Flora  McFlimsey)  but  an  old,  dirty  calico  dress.  But  as  it  usually 
turns  out,  the  stronger  prevailed  over  the  weaker  vessel,  and  she  agreed  to 
"get  up  and  get  married."  provided  his  sister  would  loan  her  a  dress.  This 
modest  request  being  granted,  she  arose,  arrayed  herself  in  her  si=ter-in-law's 
(as  was  soon  to  be)  "good  clothes,""  the  knot  was  tied.  The  pair  was  spliced, 
and  the  officiating  minister  returned  to  his  home,  with  a  consciousness  that,  if 
he  had  earned  his  dollar,  he  had  at  least  enjoyed  the  earning  of  it. 

THE    NOBLE    RED    MAN. 

In  common  with  other  portions  of  the  country,  this  section  was  at  one  time 
in  possession  of  the  Indians,  and  these  forests  the  hunting-grounds  of  "ye 
noble  red  men."  They  were  plenty  here  long  after  the  whites  began  settle- 
ments in  the  country.  We  have  heard  of  no  outrages  committed  by  them  in 
this  immediate  vicinity  on  the  white  people,  but  elsewhere  in  this  history,  is  told 
how  "  war's  fierce  conflict  raged,"  and  battles  are  described  that  were  fought  on 
the  "  sacred  soil  "  of  Coles  County,  between  the  savages  and  their  pale-faced 
enemies.  But  these  events  belong  not  to  this  chapter.  Mr.  J.  W.  Brown, 
mentioned  among  the  early  settlers  of  this  township,  gives  us  the  following 
Indian  experience:  An  Indian  settlement,  adjacent  to  his  father's,  was  under 
the  administration  of  a  chief  named  Ka-Nee-Kuck,  a  fine-looking  specimen  of 
the  "noble  red  man,"'  somewhat  intelligent  and  very  religious.     He  sometimes 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  39^ 

tried  to  preach,  would  go  into  a  trance  and  see  visions,  which  he  would  detail 
to  his  people.  In  his  tribe  was  a  warrior  whose  mind  had  lost  its  balance,  and 
he  was  at  times  dangerously  crazy.  On  one  occasion  he  was  shown  some 
pictures  of  Bible  scenes,  among  them  a  serpent  representing  the  devil.  Upon 
looking  at  the  frightful  picture,  a  shudder  appeared  to  thrill  his  entire  frame, . 
and,  seizing  a  rifle,  he  shot  an  Indian  named  Black  Beaver  dead  in  his  tracks 
before  he  could  be  restrained,  or  before  anv  one  seemed  to  realize  his  intention. 
The  chief,  Ka-Nee-Kuck,  with  a  deputation,  came  to  Mr.  Brown's  father, 
Jonathan  W.  Brown,  for  his  opinion  as  to  what  ought  to  be  done  with  a  man 
under  such  circumstances.  Mr.  Brown  explained  to  them  that  the  man  was 
not  responsible  for  the  deed,  as  he  was  insane  and  ignorant  of  the  great  crime 
he  had  committed,  and  they  should  properly  secure  him  to  prevent  a  repetition 
of  the  deed.  They  took  him  to  a  grove  of  timber  and  tied  him  to  a  tree,  but 
with  the  inordinate  cunning,  common  to  crazy  people,  he  succeeded  in  making 
his  escape.  Black  Beaver,  the  man  killed,  was  buried  in  Mr.  Brown's  pasture, 
but,  in  that  early  day,  as  well  as  in  the  present  age  of  refinement,  the  graves 
of  the  dead  were  not  always  left  in  undisturbed  repose,  and  the  body  of  Black 
Beaver  was  resurrected  (it  was  supposed  by  a  medical  student  named  Smith)  to 
promote  the  cause  of  science.  These  Indian  scenes  are  all  long  past,  and  the 
very  existence  of  Indians  in  this  country  is  almost  forgotten.  Very  few  are 
living  who  remember  them  from  personal  knowledge.  They  have  faded  away 
in  the  mists  of  the  past,  just  as  the  pioneer's  hut,  with  its  yawning  fire-place 
extending  across  one  end,  its  puncheon  floor,  and  its  cracks  chinked  and  daubed 
with  mud,  have  passed  away.  These  old  relics  of  the  by-gone  days,  and  the 
ox-teams,  the  old  barshare  and  Gary  plows,  the  scythe  and  cradle,  and  the  reap- 
hook  will  soon  be  nothing  more  than  fire-side  tales.  As  we  view  the  flying 
railroad  train,  the  patent  reapers  and  mowers,  the  plows  now  in  use,  the  mag- 
nificent residences  dotting  the  plain,  and  the  beautiful  villages  scattered  here 
and  there,  we  are  forced  to  acknowledge  that  the  strides  of  invention  and  im- 
provement of  the  past  fifty  years  have  far  exceeded  the  wildest  stretch  of  human 
calculation,  and  we  turn  from  contemplating  the  world's  progress,  to  muse  on 
what  the  next  half  a  century  may  produce. 

SCHOOLS,    CHURCHES,    STORES,    ETC 

The  first  schoolhouse  in  the  township  was  built  on  che  hill  near  "  Pole  Cat 
Bridge,"  about  1832-33,  and  was  the  usual  type  of  the  backwoods  schoolhouse, 
viz.,  built  of  round  logs,  covered  with  clapboards,  chinked  and  daubed  with  mud^ 
the  fire-place  taking  up  one  end  of  the  building,  a  puncheon  floor — sometimes 
mother  earth  furnished  the  floor.  This  was  the  ordinary  temple  of  learning  in 
those  days,  and  the  school  commonly  consisted  of  a  dozen  or  so  dirty  urchins, 
presided  over  by  an  old-fogy  schoolmaster,  as  represented  in  the  following  lines  : 

"  Old  Master  Brown  brought  his  ferule  down, 

And  his  face  looked  angry  and  red. 
'  Go,  seat  you  there,  now,  Anthony  Blair, 

Along  with  the  girls,'  he  said. 


400  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

"  Then  Anthony  Blair,  with  mortified  air, 
With  his  head  down  on  his  breast. 
Took  his  penitent  seat,  by  the  maiden  sweet, 
That  he  loved,  of  all,  the  best. 

"  And  Anthony  Blair  seemed  whimpering  there. 
But  the  rogue  only  made  believe  ; 
For  he  peeped  at  the  girls  with  the  beautiful  curls. 
And  ogled  them  over  his  sleeve."  * 

The  first  school  taught  in  Ashmore  Township  was  by  a  man  named  Foster, 
before  building  the  schoolhouse  above  named.  Who  first  taught  in  the  house 
mentioned,  our  informant  had  forgotten.  The  educational  facilities  have  in- 
creased, however,  since  the  days  of  these  old-time  schools,  in  proportion  to  the 
increase  and  improvement  in  everything  else.  The  town  is  advantageously 
laid  out  in  school  districts,  elegant  and  comfortable  houses  erected,  competent 
teachers  employed  and  the  cause  of  education  liberally  supported. 

Kev.  Isaac  Hill  is  supposed  to  have  preached  the  first  sermon  in  Ashmore 
Township,  He  and  his  son,  I.  B.  Hill,  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the 
county,  and  the  elder  Hill  was  a  local  preacher.  Rev.  John  Steele  was  another 
of  the  early  preachers,  and  is  further  alluded  to  in  the  history  of  Hitesville. 
Elder  P.  K.  Honn  is  also  one  of  the  pioneer  preachers  of  the  town.  The  only 
church  edifice  in  the  township  outside  of  the  villages  and  hamlets,  is  Enon 
Missionary  Baptist  Church,  in  the  southern  part.  It  is  quite  an  elegant  brick 
edifice,  and  cost  between  §2,000  and  $2,500,  and  was  erected  in  1875.  It  was 
dedicated  by  Rev.  Mr.  Riley  (now  of  Paris)  soon  after  its  completion.  The 
first  Pastor  was  Rev.  Mr.  Thornton ;  the  present  one  is  Rev.  A.  Jones,  and  the 
society  numbers  about  fifty  members.  Its  numbers  have  been  considerably 
lessened  by  death  and  removals.  A  flourishing  Sunday  school  is  maintained 
during  the  summer,  but  is  usually  disbanded  at  the  beginning  of  the  winter 
season.     Other  church  history  is  more  fully  given  in  that  of  the  villages. 

The  first  stores  in  the  town  will  be  mentioned  in  the  history  of  the  villages 
and  hamlets,  as  will  many  other  points  generally  occurring  in  the  township 
histories.  The  first  regular  blacksmith  in  the  town  of  Ashmore  was  Peter  K. 
Honn,  one  of  the  early  settlers,  and  who  opened  a  shop  at  Hitesville  soon  after 
coming  to  the  settlement.  John  Carter  was  a  blacksmith,  but  did  not  follow  it 
as  a  regular  business,  and  Avhen  Honn  opened  a  shop,  quit  it  altogether. 
The  first  death  in  the  settlement  it  is  supposed  was  a  child  of  Adam  Cox's,  and 
occurred  about  1831.  It  was  buried  in  the  grave-yard  laid  out  near  Mr.  Wells', 
and  was  the  first  occupant  of  that  little  city  of  the  dead.  The  first  marriage 
and  the  first  birth  are  alike  forgotten,  but  that  ''such  have  been,"  the  present 
population  stands  as  incontrovertible  evidence. 

VII,LAGE    OF    ASHMORE. 

Ashmore  is  situated  on  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  about  seven 
miles  east  of  Charleston.     It  was  surveyed  and  laid  out  February  14,  1855,  by 

*  For  a  truthful  application  of  these  lines,  the  reader  is  referred  to  "  Uncle  Jobey  "  Brown,  who  can  give  a  Bome- 
what  similar  experience. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  403 

H.  J.  Ashmore  and  James  D.  Austin,  and  for  the  former  of  whom  it  was  named. 
The  entire  villao;e  stands  on  the  oriorinal  Austin  farm ;  Ashmore  had  bought 
out  some  of  the  Austin  heirs,  and  hence  owned  a  part  of  the  land  when  the 
village  was  laid  out.  The  first  store  was  opened  by  John  Hogue,  on  the  laying 
out  of  the  place.  McAllister  k  Ashmore,  who  had  a  store  on  the  road,  half  a 
mile  southwest  of  the  town  "  before  it  was,"  moved  their  store  to  the  new  village, 
and  became  the  second  house  of  the  kind  in  Ashmore.  Van  Dyke  &  Hogue  put 
up  the  first  dwelling  in  the  little  village.  The  first  blacksmith-shop  was  kept 
by  William  English.  The  Waters  boys  started  a  wagon-shop  about  the  same 
time.  The  first  mill  in  the  village  was  built  by  J.  A.  Brown  in  1856,  and  was 
burned  some  three  or  four  years  afterward.  A  brother  of  Brown's  was  the  first 
railroad  agent  at  Ashmore.  The  present  mill  was  built  by  Clement  k  Fish, 
about  1866.  It  stands  near  the  railroad  track,  just  east  of  the  station,  is  a 
frame  building,  with  two  runs  of  buhrs  and  does  a  good  business.  It  is  owned 
at  present  by  Chris  Miller,  an  efiicient  man,  who  thoroughly  understands  the 
milling  business.  The  first  tavern  was  kept  by  H.  J,  Ashmore,  is  still  standing 
and  kept  at  present  by  A.  B.  McDavid.  The  village  boasts  of  another  hotel, 
the  Franklin  House,  kept  by  John  Franklin.  The  first  post  office  was  estab- 
lished on  the  laying  out  of  the  village,  with  Thomas  O'Brien  as  Postmaster. 
Elias  Monroe  represents  Uncle  Sam  in  the  post  office  department  here  at  pres- 
ent. The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  in  1857-58,  and  was  a  kind  of  partnership 
aiFair  with  the  religious  people.  It  was  finally  purchased  for  school  purposes, 
and  so  used  until  the  building  of  the  present  edifice.  Washington  Boyer  and 
Charles  P.  Scott  were  the  first  teachers  in  the  village,  but  which  one  has  the 
honor  of  teaching  the  first  school  cannot  be  ascertained.  Prof  B.  H.  Chase  is 
Principal  of  the  school  at  present,  and  Miss  Roma  Carter,  assistant  teacher. 
The  present  fine  brick  schoolhouse  was  built  in  1871,  is  two-stories  high  and 
cost  about  §3,000. 

A  summary  of  the  business  of  Ashmore  presents  the  following  showing  : 
four  general  stores — Zimmerman  &  Monros,  F.  M.  Waters,  Waters  Brothers  & 
Davis  and  J.  R.  Snyder  ;  three  grocery  stores — Joshua  Rickets,  Peter  Shleppy 
and  George  O'Brien  ;  two  drug  stores — A.  F.  Robertson  and  W.  R.  Comstock  ; 
five  physicians — Drs.  Van  Dyke,  Steele,  Robertson,  Hobart  and  Honn  ;  one 
hardware  store — Austin,  Brown  k  KimbaU,  who  also  handle  lumber,  furniture 
and  agricultural  implements;  stoves  and  tinware,  J.  A.  Brown;  shoe-shop,  J. 
H.  Poulson ;  harness-shop,  James  C.  Coulson ;  marble-shop,  Charles  E.  Cox ; 
four  blacksmith-shops — Charles  W.  Waters  (both  wood  and  iron),  P.  B.  Parcell, 
John  Melland  Woodworth  k  Ault;  two  wood-shops — Thomas  Kincade  and  0- 
D,  Stoddert.  It  is  a  flourishing  little  village,  with  a  set  of  wide-awake,  ener- 
getic business  men.  In  addition  to  the  above  business  directory,  there  is  a  grain 
warehouse,  which  does  quite  a  business.  Considerable  grain  is  shipped  from 
this  point,  mostly  however,  by  the  merchants  of  the  place,  who  buy  in  a  small 
way.     A  good  deal  of  stock,  cattle  and  hogs,  is  also  shipped  from  this  station. 


404  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

THE   CHURCHES. 

The  village  of  Ashmore  boasts  of  three  very  stylish  church  edifices,  viz., 
Methodist  Episcopal,  Cumberland  Presbyterian  and  Old-School  Presbyterian. 
The  first  religious  society  organized  in  the  village,  or  now  located  in  the  village, 
was  the  Methodist.  It  was  originally  organized  in  the  neighborhood  in  1831, 
by  Rev.  Joseph  Henry,  a  local  preacher,  with  the  following  members :  Dr. 
West  and  wife,  C.  Sousely  and  wife,  Joseph  Mclntire  and  wife,  Robert  Modrell 
and  wife,  J.  H.  Modrell  and  wife,  Matthew  McLain  and  wife,  James  Hubanks 
and  wife,  William  Austin.  Sr.,  and  his  daughters,  Frances  and  Mahala,  Samuel 
P.  Burr,  George  Modrell,  Margery  Modrell,  Sarah  Hubanks,  Ruth  Clark, 
Jennie  Clark  and  Elizabeth  Clark,  and  perhaps  some  others.  The  name  of  the 
first  preacher,  or  circuit-rider,  was  Rev.  Mr.  Rhimon.  The  first  church  was 
built  in  1869,  in  the  village,  and  cost  about  $2,500.  About  1838,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  the  Presbyterians,  they  built  a  log  church  some  two  miles  west  of  the 
village,  Avhich  they  used  for  a  number  of  years.  This  log  church,  school- 
houses  and  settlers'  cabins  were  their  places  of  worship,  until  the  building 
of  their  church  in  Ashmore,  and  the  organization  has  been  kept  up  ever  since 
first  established  in  1831.  The  present  membership  is  thirty-five,  and  J.  A. 
Burke,  Pastor.  The  first  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  1831,  by  Methodists 
and  Presbyterians,  William  Austin  and  James  Hite,  Superintendents,  and  has 
been  run  as  a  union  school  ever  since,  until  last  summer,  when  the  Methodists 
organized  a  separate  school.  It  numbers  about  eighty  or  ninety  scholars,  with 
L.  C.  Fell,  Superintendent. 

Hebron  Church,  of  the  Old-School  Presbyterians,  was  organized  on 
the  19th  June,  1841,  by  a  committee  appointed  by  Palestine  Presbytery, 
consisting  of  Revs.  Isaac  Bennett  and  James  Reasoner,  and  Ruling  Elders  J. 
Balch  and  William  Collom.  The  original  members  who  went  into  the  organiza- 
tion were  Robert  Brooks,  Mary  Brooks,  James  H.  Bovell,  Jane  M.  Bovell, 
Alfred  J.  L.  Brooks,  Mary  Brooks,  Robert  A.  Brooks,  Samuel  Hogue,  Letitia 
Hogue,  Sarah  Moflfett,  James  Moffett,  Thomas  C.  Mitchell,  Isabella  A.  Mitchell, 
Margarist  J.  Mitchell  and  Cynthia  Moffett.  The  first  Ruling  Elders  were 
Thomas  C.  Mitchell  and  Robert  Brooks.  Rev.  Isaac  Bennett  preached  occa- 
sionally for  the  Church  for  one  year.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John 
McDowell,  who  preached  twice  a  month  for  two  years,  beginning  in  May.  1842. 
Rev.  John  Steele  was  stated  supply  for  the  Church  from  1844  to  1849,  giving  it 
one-half  of  his  time.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Joseph  A.  Jams  in  February, 
1849,  who  supplied  the  pulpit  for  two  years.  From  1851  to  1855,  Rev.  James 
Cameron,  who  lived  in  Charleston,  preached  occasionally.  For  the  next  ten 
years,  from  1855  to  1865,  various  ministers  were  connected  with  the  church  as 
stated  supplies,  giving  it  a  part  of  their  time  from  their  other  charges  in  the 
following  order :  Revs.  John  McDole,  A.  J.  Cameron,  R.  A.  Mitchell,  James 
A.  Allison,  H.  I.  Venable  and  Nathaniel  Williams.     In  October,  1865,  Rev. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  ^  405 

S.  J.  Bovell  was  called  to  the  charge  as  stated  supply,  and  has  without  any 
interruption  continued  to  hold  this  relation  up  to  the  present  time.  Since  its 
organization,  160  persons  have  been  received  into  membership,  about  60  now 
constituting  the  membership,  the  depletion  being  caused  by  death  and  removals. 
Only  three  of  the  original  members  are  nojv  living,  viz.,  A.  J.  L.  Brooks, 
James  Moffett  and  Letitia  Hogue.  I.  S.  Wright,  I.  M.  Moffett,  T.  J.  Bull 
and  A.  J.  L.  Brooks  are  the  Ruling  Elders.  The  first  church-building  was 
located  two  miles  west  of  the  village  of  Ashmore,  near  the  former  residence  of 
James  Galbraith,  and  was  a  log  structure,  and  built  in  connection  with  the 
Methodists.  In  1867,  a  neat  and  commodious  church-building  was  erected  in 
the  village,  at  a  cost  of  $3,300,  but  the  organization  still  retained  the  name  of 
Hebron,  and  was  known  as  Hebron  Church,  under  the  care  of  Mattoon  Presbytery. 
The  church  was  dedicated  on  the  20th  of  October,  1867.  The  history  of 
the  Sabbath  school  is  similar  to  that  of  the  Methodist  Church  above  given,  and 
was  a  union  school  with  that  church  until  the  past  summer,  when  the  school 
was  divided. 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  in  1858,  under  the 
ministerial  charge  of  Rev.  James  Ashmore,  who  was  the  first  regular  Pastor. 
The  church  was  commenced  in  1866  and  completed  the  following  year.  It  is 
an  elegant  brick  edifice  and  cost  about  $7,500,  and  is  under  the  pastoral  charge 
of  Rev.  A.  B.  McDavid,  with  a  membership  of  about  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five.  H.  J.  Ashmore,  one  of  the  benevolent  citizens  of  Ashmore,  contributed 
to  the  building  of  this  church  edifice  $3,500.  While  it  was  in  process  of  erec- 
tion, the  agent  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  College  at  Lincoln,  111.,  came 
to  the  village,  and  hearing  of  Mr.  Ashmore's  liberality,  called  on  him  to  know 
how  much  interest  he  wanted  in  the  Lincoln  College.  "  Two  hundred  dollars," 
replied  Mr.  Ashmore,  and  paid  over  the  money.  A  Sunday  school  was  organ- 
ized by  this  church  in  1860,  and  has  an  average  attendance  of  120,  under  the 
superintendence  of  0.  F.  Ashmore. 

Ashmore  Lodge,  No.  390,  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1863,  with  the  fol- 
lowing charter  members,  viz.  :  A.  N.  Graham,  W.  P.  Ferris,  Caleb  Reed,  Ham- 
ilton Bennett,  J.  A.  Brown,  M.  W.  Barnes,  John  Campbell,  0.  D.  Hawkins, 
W.  S.  Vanmeter,  W.  N.  Young  and  Robert  Boyd,  of  whom  the  following  were 
the  first  set  of  officers  :  W.  S.  Vanmeter,  Worshipful  Master  ;  A.  N.  Graham, 
Senior  Warden  ;  Caleb  Reed,  Junior  Warden  ;  John  Campbell,  Treasurer  ;  M. 
W.  Barnes,  Secretary  ;  W.  P.  Ferris,  Senior  Deacon  ;  W.  N.  Young,  Junior 
Deacon,  and  Robert  Boyd,  Tiler.  The  present  roll  of  officers  are  :  P.  B. 
Parcell,  Worshipful  Master ;  W.  R.  Comstock,  Senior  Warden  ;  John  Wood- 
worth,  Junior  Warden  ;  P.  M.  Shleppy,  Treasurer  ;  L.  C.  Fell,  Secretary  ;  W. 
E.  Franklin,  Senior  Deacon  ;  Christian  Miller,  Junior  Deacon,  and  I.  N. 
Moon,  Tiler,  with  the  names  of  twenty-nine  members  on  the  records. 

The  village  of  Ashmore  was  incorporated  April  19,  1867,  and  the  following 
Trustees  elected  to  look  after  its  welfare  :    Jacob  A.  Brown,  Thomas  O'Brien, 


406  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

William  Bass,  William  P.  Ferris  and  A.  F.  Robertson.  The  Board  organized 
by  electing  Jacob  A.  Brown  and  A.  F.  Robertson,  Clerk.  The  present  Board 
is  as  follows,  viz. :  Adam  Coon,  President,  and  Thomas  O'Brien,  William  T. 
March,  William  L.  Cox,  Thomas  Austin  and  John  G.  Parker.  J.  0.  Brown 
is  Clerk,  A.  F.  Robertson,  Police*  Magistrate,  and  Thomas  W.  Hogue,  Town 
Marshal. 

VILLAGE    OF    HITESVILLE. 

Hitesville  is  an  old  village,  or  would  be,  if  still  in  existence,  but  it  has 
passed  away,  "among  the  things  that  were."  It  was  laid  out  April  15,  1835, 
by  James  Hite,  for  whom  it  was  named,  and  who  appears  to  have  been  an  enter- 
prising citizen.  At  one  time,  it  was  quite  a  village,  with  stores,  shops,  and 
every  appearance  of  becoming  a  town.  But,  railroads  passing  near,  new 
villages  have  sprung  into  being,  which  have  literally  swallowed  up  Hitesville, 
leaving  scarce  a  trace  to  tell  where  it  stood.  At  an  early  day,  a  Presbyterian 
Church  was  organized  at  Hitesville,  by  Rev.  John  Steele.  The  church  was 
built  almost  entirely  by  Mr.  Hite,  the  neighbors  '  contributing  but  a  small 
amount  of  the  means  toward  its  erection.  Hite  finally  moved  away,  sold  the 
church,  which  was  converted  into  a  dwelling,  and  used  as  such  for  awhile,  and 
then  torn  down.  Prior  to  its  discontinuance  as  a  church,  however,  the 
Christian  denomination  organized  a  church,  and  erected  a  building  at  this 
place,  about  1840.  It  soon  became  too  small  for  the  increasing  membership  ; 
was  sold,  and  a  larger  one  built  during  the  late  war,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500,  and  is 
a  handsome  frame  building.  Its  present  membership  is  something  over  100, 
and  has,  since  its  organization,  numbered  200  members,  but  has  been 
thinned  out  by  death  and  removals.  The  present  Pastor  is  Elder  James  Steele, 
but  Elder  P.  K.  Honn  has  been  the  minister  in  charge  of  it  almost  from  its 
organization,  until  age  compelled  him  to  retire  from  active  labors.  This  is 
about  all  there  is  left  to  tell  where  Hitesville  once  stood. 

St.  Omer  was  never  laid  out  as  a  village,  but  at  one  time  was  a  collection 
of  perhaps  half  a  dozen  houses,  a  store,  post  office,  blacksmith-shop,  etc.  The 
Ashmores  opened  a  store  at  the  place  many  years  ago,  and  a  man  named 
Hogue  kept  one  on  the  road,  about  half  a  mile  from  St  Omer,  at  the  same 
time.  But,  like  Hitesville,  and  from  a  similar  cause,  St.  Omer  has  disappeared. 
A  church  and  two  or  three  dwellings  are  all  that  is  left.  The  church  belongs 
to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians,  and  is  one  of  the  pioneer  church  organiza- 
tions of  Coles  County.  The  society  was  originally  organized  in  a  schoolhouse 
near  the  present  village  of  Ashmore,  with  thirty-seven  members,  on  the  30th 
of  May,  1842.  John  Mitchell,  William  Austin,  Sr.,  and  Alexander  Mont- 
gomery were  the  first  elders.  Though  originally  organized  near  Ashmore,  its 
membership  was  largely  of  St.  Omer,  and  the  church-building  was  erected  at 
the  latter  place,  about  1857,  at  a  cost  of  $1,200,  not  including  the  lot  on  which 
it  stands.  It  is  a  frame  building.  30x40  feet,  with  a  membership  at  present  of 
about  one  hundred,  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  A.  B.  McDavid.     Its 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  407 

aggregate  membership  since  organization  is  about  three  hundred  and  seventy. 
The  present  Elders  are  John  Dollar,  Josiah  Bitner,  J.  Keran,  Daniel  Wicker 
and  Milton  W.  Barnes  ;  the  latter  is  the  Clerk  of  the  Board.  The  deacons 
are  Joseph  W.  Bitner  and  John  F.  Childress. 

POLITICS    AND    WAR. 

Ashmore  village  and  township,  taken  together,  are  Republican  in  politics. 
The  war  record  of  the  town  is  good.  In  all  of  our  little  "  scrimmages,"  Ash- 
more  has  participated,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent.  The  war  of  1812,  the  Black 
Hawk  Avar  of  1832,  the  Mexican  war,  and  our  last  unpleasantness,  all  had 
representatives  from  this  section,  and  even  one  or  two  soldiers  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary struggle  afterward  wandered  to  this  region.  In  our  last  war,  the  great 
rebellion,  many  of  the  citizens  shouldered  their  muskets  and  offered  themselves 
to  their  country.  The  following  are  among  the  enlistments  from  this  township 
so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  gather  them  :  Dr.  A.  F.  Steele,  Company  C, 
Sixty-second  Illinois  Infantry ;  Nathaniel  Davis,  Company  H,  Third  Missouri 
Cavalry,  as  Sergeant ;  William  T.  Moore,  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-third  Indiana  (100  days);  Elias  Moore,  Company  H,  Fifty-ninth  Illi- 
nois Volunteers ;  F.  M.  Waters,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers, as  Chief  Musician  ;  Joshua  Rickets  entered  J.  W.  Bissell's  Engineer 
Regiment  of  the  West,  as  private,  and  was  promoted  to  Second  and  then  First 
Lieutenant,  served  twenty  months,  and  resigned ;  William  C.  Kimball,  Com- 
pany H,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-second  Ohio  Volunteers  ;  Sidney  Epperson, 
Company  H,  Fifty-ninth  Illinois  Volunteers,  promoted  to  Quartermaster; 
Rhodes  Epperson,  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers ;  Martin  Turner,  Company  — ,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Illi- 
nois Volunteers,  killed  in  battle  of  Perryville ;  Thomas  J.  Bull,  Company  C, 
Iowa  Cavalry ;  Adon  Wiley,  Company  E,  Seventy-ninth  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers. There  were,  perhaps,  many  others  from  the  township,  but  we  have 
been  unable  to  learn  their  names. 


PLEASANT  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  is  the  middle  one  in  the  southern  tier  of  townships  in 
the  county.  It  is  a  little  irregular  in  shape,  being  bounded  on  the  east  by  the 
Embarrass  River,  which  follows  a  southern  course,  slightly  inclining  westward. 
The  township  is  eleven  sections  long  and  four  wide.  This  will  give  it  forty- four 
sections,  or  28,160  acres.  As  a  part  of  the  eastern  sections  are,  however, 
in  Hutton  Township,  there  is  probably  not  that  amount  of  land  by  two  thousand 
acres.  The  land  is,  in  the  main,  excellent  for  farming  purposes.  It  originally 
was  nearly  all  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  good  timber,  hence  the  township 
is  among  the  earliest  settled  in  the  county.  The  only  prairie  of  any  size  is  one 
known  by  the  very  unclassical  name  of  "  Goose-Nest  Prairie."    It  was  probably 


408  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

a  fine-look in_o-  piece  of  country  to  the  eyes  of  the  first  white  man  who  saw  it; 
but  whether  he  gave  it  that  name  from  finding  a  goose's  nest  there,  or  from  its 
fancied  resemblance  to  that  repository  of  goose  eggs,  or  whether  he  had  been  a 
classic  student  in  his  day,  and  had  read  of  the  fabled  goose  which  laid  a  golden 
egg  every  day,  and  made  it  so  valuable,  is  a  matter  of  some  dift'erence  of  opinion. 
Some  say  the  primeval  white  man  here  looked  upon  the  scene  spread  out  before 
him  and  exclaimed,  "  This  is  the  very  goose  nest."  Others  affirm  he  found  a 
goose's  nest  here,  and  hence  the  name.  If  any  of  our  readers  care  to  pursue 
the  subject  to  its  end,  and  settle  the  point,  we  refer  them  to  several  old  residents 
in  the  "Goose  Nest"  whom  they  can  examine,  and  with  whom  they  can  argue 
the  point.  Which  of  the  three  origins  is  correct  matters  but  little  now ; 
one  thing  is  certain,  that  name,  so  illustrative  of  the  disposition  of  frontier  life, 
will  always  stay. 

The  timber  originally  found  in  this  township,  much  of  which  yet  remains,  is 
composed  of  all  varieties  indigenous  to  this  part  of  Illinois.  The  most  valuable 
is  now  nearly  all  gone,  that  remaining  consisting  of  a  more  common  kind,  and 
used  chiefly  for  fire-wood  and  fencing.  As  much  of  this  abo.unds,  but  little,  if 
any,  coal  is  used  in  the  township. 

No  streams  of  water  traverse  this  part  of  the  county,  save  a  few  small  tribu- 
taries of  the  Embarrass  and  Muddy  Creek.  The  largest  is  the  little  Indian 
Creek,  which  rises  in  Section  36,  in  La  Fayette  Township,  and  flows  southeasterly 
almost  entirely  through  Pleasant  Grove.  It  has  one  small  aftluent,  rising  in  Section 
3,  Neither  the  main  creek  nor  its  branch  is  of  a  size  to  be  of  any  practical  use, 
save  drainage.  Two  little  creeks  flow  southward  through  the  western  part  of  the 
township,  affording,  like  the  Little  Indian,  a  partial  drainage  to  that  part  of 
country.  The  principal  one  is  known  as  Big  Muddy,  from  the  character  of  its 
waters.  Near  it  was  an  early  settlement  in  this  part  of  Coles  County.  The 
main  surface  of  Pleasant  Grove  Township  is  somewhat  undulating  in  appear- 
ance. There  is  not  much  wet  land  to  be  found  in  its  borders.  A  few  swamps 
are  here  and  there  to  be  seen,  but  these  admit  of  easy  drainage,  and  will,  in 
time,  all  be  brought  under  cultivation. 

On  Section  23,  in  this  township,  exists  a  natural  curiosity.  On  a  spot  of 
ground,  covering  about  one-half  acre  in  extent,  are  ten  springs,  each  sending 
forth  a  stream  of  remarkably  cold  water,  highly  impregnated  with  diff"erent 
medicinal  qualities.  What  is  strange,  is  that  no  two  springs  are  alike  in  the 
quality  of  water  they  emit.  One  spring  will  be  highly  impregnated  Avith  car-- 
bonate  of  soda,  while  near  it  will  be  another  impregnated  with  iron,  another 
with  chloride  of  sodium,  and  so,  on — as  many  diff'erent  waters  as  there  are 
springs.  As  all  are  medicinal  in  their  qualities,  many  persons  resort  here  for 
the  cure  of  various  diseases  which  these  waters  are  supposed  to  benefit.  Indeed, 
many  ai"e  bettered  by  coming  here,  and  it  is  the  intention  to  fit  up  a  place,  so  that 
accommodations  can  be  furnished  those  desiring  to  come.  The  springs  are 
now  owned  by  Dr.   Ilalbrook,  who  keeps,   temporarily,  many  patients  in  his 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  409 

house,  near  the  springs.  The  place  evidences  being  a  favorite  resort  of  the 
Indians,  as  a  great  abundance  of  relics  of  these  aboriginal  inhabitants  are 
found  here. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENTS. 

*  *  -sc-  *  *  * 

"  Then,  looking  eastward  o'er  the  plain, 
I  saw  a  slowly-moving  train 
Of  objects  coming,  far  away. 

Like  schooners  floating  on  the  bay. 

• 

"  Their  whitened  sails  were  neatly  spread, 
And  slowly  on  their  course  they  sped, 
As,  westward  still  they  kept  their  way, 
Toward  the  setting  orb  of  day." 

The  picture  presented  by  Mr.  George  Balch  of  the  coming  of  the  emigant, 
in  the  above  lines,  is  vividly  true  of  the  arrival  of  the  first  settlers  to  Central 
Illinois.  No  railways  then  existed  in  the  great  West.  Indeed,  they  were  only 
known  in  the  East,  and  were  more  dreaded  in  England,  where  they  began,  than 
liked.  They  were  then  in  crude  infancy,  and  were  not  thought  of  in  the  West. 
Hence,  the  picture  of  their  "whitened  sails  neatly  spread,"'  as  the  wagons  of 
the  pioneers  came  Westward,  is  not  in  the  least  overdrawn.  They  came  chiefly 
from  the  South — from  Tennessee,  Kentucky  and  Alabama — as  the  sequel  shows 
in  the  mention  of  each  one. 

Emigrants  coming  from  these  various  Southern  localities,  at  that  day,  gen- 
erally converged  at  a  point  on  the  Ohio  River,  at  or  below  Louisville.  From 
there  they  came  north,  through  Western  Indiana,  to  Vincennes,  the  oldest  set- 
tlement on  the  Wabash.  From  this  place,  sometimes  they  came  directly  west 
to  their  various  localities,  or  went  on  north  to  Terre  Haute,  and  from  that  place 
went  to  their  chosen  homes.  Sometimes,  however,  they  went  on  down  the 
"beautiful  river,"  on  llatboats,  to  old  Shawneetown,  where  they  disembarked, 
reloaded  their  goods  and  themselves  into  their  wagons,  and  came  north  to  Carmi 
or  Mount  Carmel ;  from  either  of  which  places  they  could  find  routes  north- 
ward. While  on  the  way,  they  encamped  wherever  night  overtook  them,  gen- 
erally making  some  grove  of  trees  and  stream  of  water  their  halting-places. 
Mr.  Balch  in  his  poem,  from  which  two  verses  are  already  quoted,  further 
describes  their  mode  of  camp-life.  We  subjoin  it,  as  better  descriptive  of  that 
scene  than  anything  we  have  found  : 

"  Four  hundred  miles  behind  them  lay 
Their  native  land,  so  far  away — 
Their  childhood's  home,  their  place  of  birth, 
Their  father's  and  their  mother's  hearth. 

"  Before  them  stretched  the  boundless  West, 
In  all  its  native  grandeur  dressed  ; 
Where,  fresh  from  the  Almighty's  hand, 
There  lay  a  second  Promised  Land . 


410  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

"  But  now  the  sun,  adown  the  west, 
In  crimson  clouds  was  robed  for  rest ; 
While  in  the  east,  with  hidden  sheen, 
The  Goddess  of  the  Night  was  seen, 

"  Too  modest  to  unveil  her  light 
Until  her  lord  had  passed  from  sight. 
The  weary  day  being  almost  spent, 
The  pilgrims  halt  and  pitch  their  tent. 

"  Beside  a  limpid,  babbling  rill, 
With  shady  groves  along  the  hill 
Where  savage  bands,  in  other  days, 
Had  seen  their  sparkling  camp-fire  blaze ; 

"  And  round  it  danced  in  savage  glee 
Like  beasts,  as  wild,  like  birds,  as  free. 
But  as  they  now  far  west  had  fled. 
The  pilgrims  had  no  foes  to  dread. 

"  Their  jaded  steeds  were  loosed,  at  will 
To  crop  the  herbage  from  the  hill ; 
Their  sparkling  camp-fire's  cheerful  light 
Kept  back  the  gathering  shades  of  night, 

"  Which  drew  their  sable  curtains  round 
The  pilgrims'  lonely  camping-ground. 
While  cheerful  chats  and  cheering  song 
Soon  whiled  a  pleasant  hour  along 

"  In  which  their  meal  had  been  prepared. 
And  by  each  one  was  gladly  shared. 
Then,  ere  the  pioneers  retire. 
They  gather  round  their  cheerful  fire, 

"  And  talk  of  scenes. in  other  years. 
Of  rising  hopes  and  boding  fears, 
Of  childhood's  happy  hours,  now  fled. 
Of  once  loved  friends,  who  now  are  dead, 

"  Of  kindred  dear,  they  left  behind 
When  starting  west,  new  homes  to  find. 
In  fancy  saw  the  schoolhouse  still, 
As  once  it  crowned  their  college  hill, 

"  While  in  its  shady  groves  they  strayed. 
And   '  hide-and-seek  '   in  fancy  played  ; 
Or  gathered  round  their  grape-vine  swing 
And  heard  their  comrades'  voices  ring. 

"  Those  comrades  too,  had  left  their  plays — 
Forever  gone  their  childhood  days — 
And  now,  with  trusty  sword  and  shield, 
Like  them  were  on  life's  battle-field. 

"  Some  talked  of  '  mother's  '  earnest  prayer ; 
Some  of  '  father's  '  anxious  care  : 
These,  too,  they  feared  they  ne'er  would  meet 
This  side  the  '  city's  golden  street.' 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  411 

"  The  little  church,  to  them  so  dear, 
Engaged  their  thoughts  and  claimed  a  tear ; 
They  prayed  that  God  would  bless  the  place 
Where  first  they  tasted  of  his  grace. 

"  They  called  to  mind  their  pastor's  care, 
His  counsel  wise,  and  faithful  prayer ; 
Rejoicing  that  they  had  a  friend 
Whose  prayers  for  them  would  still  ascend 

"  To  God,  who,  though  enthroned  on  high. 
Will  hear  the  lowly  when  they  cry. 
And  now  to  Him  their  thoughts  are  turned, 
While  in  their  hearts  for  Him  they  yearned  : 

"  For  man  is  sure,  when  left  alone, 
To  think  of  God,  and  heaven  and  home. 
But  darker  grew  the  shades  of  night. 
The  evening  star  had  passed  from  sight, 

"  The  Pleiades  shone  from  on  high 
Like  sparkling  gems  set  in  the  sky  : 
While  higher  still  Orion  swung, 
And  sweeter  evening's  anthems  sung. 

"  And  there,  around  that  lone  camp-fire, 
Before  the  pioneers  retire, 
They  bow  beneath  the  solemn  grove 
And  chant  to  God  these  lines  of  love. 

"  With  heart  and  voice,  and  bended  knee. 
Our  Father,  God,  we  come  to  Thee; 
No  temple  built  by  human  skill, 
No  ritual  made  by  human  will, 
Have  we  to  bring. 

"Our  hearts  shall  be  Thy  temple  home, 
Where  Thou  shalt  reign,  and  Thou  alone; 
And  in  these  temples  built  for  praise. 
Our  humble  notes  of  song  we  raise. 
Thy  love  to  sing. 

"We  praise  Thee  for  Thy  constant  care; 
For  grace,  the  ills  of  life  to  bear  ; 
For  streugth  to  help  us  on  our  way. 
And  bread  of  life  from  day  to  day, 
AVhich  we  partake. 

"  And  now,  we  give  ourselves  to  Thee, 
Oh,  keep  Thy  trusting  children  free  ! 
And  guard  us  through  the  shades  of  night. 
And  wake  us  with  the  moruing  light. 
For  Jesus'  sake. 

"Thus  trusting  on  a  Sovereign  Lord, 
They  rose  from  otf  the  grassy  sward, 
And  soon  retired  to  peaceful  rest. 
With  naught  but  love  within  each  breast. 


412  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

"Their  jaded  steeds  rest  on  the  hill. 
Their  tinkling  bell  is  hushed  and  still, 
And  silence  reigns  throiigiiout  the  earth, 
Like  that  which  reigned  before  its  birth." 

Mr.  Balcli  continues  in  this  poem  to  note  the  rise  in  the  morning  of  the 
pioneers  ;  their  search  for  a  home  ;  their  success  in  finding  one  in  a  forest  through 
which  a  stream  courses  its  way,  and  the  erection  of  their  cabin-home.  ■  It  is 
very  strikingly  portrayed,  and  .«peaks  well  for  his  native  genius.  Had  he  had 
the  advantages  of  an  education,  he  would  take  rank  with  many  writers  widely 
known.  As  it  is,  we  understand  he  intends  publishing  a  volume  of  his 
poems,  in  which  the  remainder  of  the  poem  we  quote  will  appear.  Its  length 
precludes  further  quotation  in  our  pages. 

Just  who  was  the  first  settler  in  Pleasant  Grove — often  called  Pleasant 
Prairie — is  now  hard  to  determine.  Mrs.  Chowning  states  that  her  father, 
John  Gordon,  came  to  the  Kickapoo  settlement  in  1826,  and  the  next  year,  she 
thinks  in  the  spring,  he  moved  down  to  Pleasant  Grove,  where  she  is  now  living. 
There  he  found  an  unfinished  log  cabin,  built  by  an  old  Baptist  preacher,  called 
"  Daddy  "  Barham.  This  cabin  Mr.  Gordon  completed  and  used  as  a  residence. 
Others,  however,  differ  from  this  statement.  Some  assert  that  the  first  settle- 
ment was  made  in  this  township  in  1827,  by  Isaac  Fancher  and  Buck  Houchin, 
near  the  head  of  Muddy  Point  Creek.  This  is  the  generally  accepted  view,  and 
is  given  as  true  by  Capt.  Adams  in  his  Centennial  Address.  Still,  others 
claim  that  Jack  Price  came  here  prior  to  Fancher  or  Houchin,  and  that  to  him 
belongs  the  honor.  From  a  pretty  close  investigation  of  the  subject  we  are 
inclined  to  the  opinion  given  by  Capt.  Adams.  The  weight  of  testimony  is  in 
favor  of  Fancher  and  Houchin.  Price  must  have  followed  them  closely,  how- 
ever,  and  may  have  been  with  them. 

It  is  likely  that  these  persons  are  all  that  settled  in  this  township  that  year. 
If  they  brought  their  families  as  Mr.  Gordon  did,  there  were  four  settlers  and 
four  pioneer  homes  in  the  township  that  fall. 

The  next  year,  Mr.  Joseph  Glenn,  then  a  young  man,  visited  this  settle- 
ment. After  satisfying  himself  as  to  its  desirableness,  he  determined  to  locate. 
He  informed  Mr.  George  Balch  afterward,  that  Avhen  he  came  here,  there  were 
five  families  in  this  settlement,  and  that  he  thought  no  others  existed  in  the 
township.  He  says  Dorcas  Tulley,  who  lived  near  the  south  line  of  the  county 
where  John  T.  Jones  now  resides,  was  among  the  number.  He  also  mentions 
Mr.  Fancher.  He  named  all  of  them,  but  the  names  have  escaped  Mr.  Balch's 
memory.  Those  that  we  have  mentioned  would  make  just  this  number,  and  are, 
probably,  the  families  Mr,  Glenn  referred  to.  Mr.  Glenn  lived  here  until  a 
short  time  since,  when  his  death  occurred.  He  was  rather  widely  known,  and 
was  blessed  with  an  excellent  memory.  It  is  to  be  regretted  now  that  he  did 
not  write  down  for  preservation  his  recollections  of  the  days  he  first  lived  here, 
and  the  events  passing  at  the  time.  He,  like  many  another,  did  not  realize 
their  value,  and  thus  much  of  the  early  history  of  this  part  of  Illinois  is  lost. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  413 

Mr.  Glenn  went  to  Lawrence  County  in  the  fall  of  1829.  He  married  Ellen 
Reynolds  in  1830  or  1831,  who  was  born  in  Illinois  in  1808  or  1809,  and  is 
yet  living.  She  is  one  of  the  oldest  native-born  citizens  in  this  county.  Mr. 
Glenn's  farm  was  long  known  as  the  "Glenn  Place,"  and  was  brought  by  its 
owner  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 

In  the  spring  of  1829,  quite  a  number  of  settlers  came.  "  Goose-Nest  Prai- 
rie "  was  settled  this  spring  by  Rev.  Daniel  Barham  ("  Daddy  "  Barham,  already 
referred  to)  and  his  sons  John  and  Nathan,  and  Thomas  Barker,  who  erected 
the  first  cabins  there.  If  these  were  the  first  cabins  built  by  the  good  minister, 
then  the  statement  that  he  erected  a  cabin  near  the  Gordon  grave-yard  in  1827, 
or  before,  is  evidently  an  error  by  a  year  or  two.  As  there  is  now  no  one  left 
who  lived  through  this  time  and  is  cognizant  of  it  all,  in  all  its  details,  it  is 
extremely  difficult  to  settle  the  point  of  the  first  settler.  Rev.  Barham  was  an 
efficient  Baptist  minister,  and  labored  earnestly  in  his  Master's  calling,  and 
may  have  been  here  as  early  as  Mrs.  Chowning  thinks ;  but,  from  the  best 
testimony  we  are  able  to  gather,  it  is  two  years  later,  i.  e.,  in  1829.  "  The 
same  spring  that  '  Daddy'  Barham,  his  sons  and  Mr.  Barker  came,"  says  Capt. 
Adams,  "Michael  Taylor  and  son,  Elijah,  John  and  Patrick  Gordon  and  Dow 
Goodman  located  in  the  '  Goose  Nest.'  "  This  is  further  proof  that  Mrs.  Chown- 
ing's  father  came  in  1829,  instead  of  1827. 

The  first  settlement  on  Indian  Creek  was  made  this  same  year.  At  the 
head  of  this  creek,  was  an  old  Indian  camping-ground,  evidencing  use  in  many 
generations  past.  It  was  a  convenient  spot  for  pasturage  and  water,  and,  as 
such,  was  regarded  favorably  by  the  pioneers.  It  is  in  the  north  and  northeast 
part  of  the  township,  and  may  be  considered  the  third  settlement  in  the  town- 
ship. Its  pioneers  were  Zeno  Campbell,  Gershom,  William  and  Thomas  Balch, 
who,  as  stated,  located  in  1829. 

This  same  year,  the  Muddy  Point  settlement  was  augmented  by  the  arrival 
of  Joseph  Glenn,  Daniel  Edson,  Daniel  Beals  and  his  two  sons,  Oliver  and  Jesse, 
and  William  Dryden  and  Alfred  Balch,  who  came  to  view  the  country.  The 
next  year,  William  Gammill  and  his  sons  Andrew  and  Samuel,  and  sons-in-law, 
A.  Balch  and  Isaac  Odell,  also  Abner  Johnston,  whose  son  is  now  President  of 
the  First  National  Bank  at  Charleston,  came  to  Indian  Creek  and  Muddy  Point 
settlements.  The  year  before,  Jesse  Fuller  and  his  family  came  from  Virginia 
and  bought  the  farm  now  known  as  the  "  Sell  "  place.  Mr.  Fuller  remained 
here  until  his  death.  Mr.  Theron  E.  Balch  located  with  his  family  this  season, 
also.  Mr.  Balch  became  a  very  prominent  man  in  his  time.  He  was  the  first 
school-teacher  in  the  township,  was  a  firm  friend  of  religion  and  was  one  of  the 
best  men  in  the  pioneer  days  of  the  community.  He  arrived  with  his  family  in 
October,  and  settled  in  the  timber,  near  the  "  Goose-Nest  Prairie."  Here  he 
built  him  a  small  pole  cabin,  and  during  this  winter,  it  is  thought,  taught  the 
pioneer  school  in  the  township,  in  a  small  pole  cabin,  in  Muddy  Point  settlement, 
near  where  the  Cumberland  Presbvterian  Church  is  no'w  situated.      He  and  his 


414  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

wife  were  strong  Abolitionists,  liberating  their  slaves  in  the  South  before  they 
came,  bringing  sorae  with  them.  Mr.  Balch  was  one  of  the  earliest  adherents 
to  that  party,  and  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  the  first  seven  men  to  vote  that 
ticket.  Mrs.  Balch  is  yet  living  in  Wisconsin,  eighty-six  years  of  age,  blind 
and  deaf.  She  has  been  a  most  remarkable  woman  in  her  time.  She  lives  with 
one  of  her  daughters,  and  has  with  her  one  of  her  liberated  woman  slaves,  who 
is  almost  as  old  as  her  mistress. 

The  reader  will  observe  that  quite  a  number  of  persons  located  in  the  first 
two  years  of  the  settlements  here.  As  many  of  them  belonged  to  the  Cumber- 
land and  Regular  Presbyterian  Churches,  they  united  in  August,  1830,  and 
formed  a  Presbyterian  Church  under  the  care  of  the  Old-School  body — as  it 
would  be  better  known  by  that  name — and  began  to  hold  services.  As  immigra- 
tion was  rapid  during  the  next  three  or  four  years,  however,  a  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  was  organized,  and  those  professing  that  creed  drew  off 
from  the  other  Church  as  soon  as  this  opportunity  afforded  them  a  chance  to 
join  a  church  of  their  own  choice. 

On  the  19th  of  November  following  the  organization  of  the  Church  at  Indian 
Creek,  the  settlement  in  Pleasant  Grove  was  joined  by  a  colony  of  sixteen 
grown  persons  and  eleven  children  from  Bedford  County,  Tenn.,  about  fifty 
miles  south  of  the  city  of  Nashville.  They  came,  like  their  predecessors,  in  the 
old  Virginia  wagons,  drawn  by  two  and  four  horse  teams,  making  the  journey  of 
400  miles  in  a  few  months.  Now  it  is  made  in  a  day  and  a  night.  They 
camped  out  on  the  way,  and  while  in  Indiana,  about  fifteen  miles  south  of  Vin- 
cennes,  they  were  obliged  to  stop  and  bury  one  of  their  number,  a  child,  a  son 
of  Isaac  and  Mary  Odell.  A  number  of  years  ago,  George  D.  Prentice, 
the  veteran  Louisville  editor  and  poet,  stood,  he  records,  at  the  grave  of  a  little 
child  in  Arkansas,  buried  from  an  emigrant  wagon.  He  embalmed  the  incident 
in  verse,  which  is  so  touching,  and  which  applies  to  the  burial  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Odell's  little  child  so  well,  that  we  reproduce  a  verse  here : 

"Not  in  the  church-yard's  hallowed  ground, 
Where  marble  columns  rise  around, 
By  willow  or  by  cypress  shade, 
Are  thy  poor  little  relicts  laid. 
Thou  sleepest  here,  all,  all  alone, 
No  other  grave  is  near  thine  own. 
'  Tis  well,  'tis  well;  but  oh,  such  fate 

Seems  very,  very  desolate. 

*  *  *  * 

But  yet  it  matters  not,  poor  child. 
That  thou  must  sleep  in  this  lone  wild ; 
Each  springtime,  as  it  wanders  past, 
Its  buds  and  blooms  will  round  thee  cast ; 
The  thick -leaved  boughs  and  moonbeams  pale. 
Will  0  er  thee  spread  a  solemn  veil, 
And  softest  dews  and  showers  will  lave 
The  blossoms  on  the  infant's  grave." 


HISTORY    OF  COLES  COUNTY.  415 

The  colony  mentioned,  coming  in  the  fall  of  1830,  were  headed  by  William 
Oammill  (already  noticed),  who  knew  something  of  the  country,  and,  with 
Alfred  M.  Balch,  was  one  of  ^ the  projectors  of  the  move.  In  addition  to  these 
two,  there  were  Mr.  Balch's  children — Ann  Jane,  who  afterward  became  the 
wife  of  H.  J.  Reynolds,  of  Neoga;  Nanny  Caroline,  who  died  in  Mai'ch,  1853 ; 
Rhoda  E.,  who  died  at  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  whose  memory  her  brother 
Oeorge  B.  has  touchingly  preserved  in  verse.  George  B.  was  then  very 
young,  and  has  lived  all  his  life  in  the  township,  noting  all  its  changes,  and  has 
recorded  many  of  them  in  poetry.  Another  family  (and  we  shall  name  each 
family  of  this  colony)  was  J.  J.  and  Martha  Adams,  and  their  one  child,  W.  E. 
Adams,  then  eleven  days  old.  On  his  arrival,  Mr.  Adams,  like  the  others, 
hastily  erected  a  pole  cabin,  into  which  he  moved.  Before  he  could  properly 
inclose  it,  the  winter  set  in  exceedingly  cold,  and  with  great  difficulty  could  they 
preserve  themselves  and  their  child  from  freezing.  The  covers  of  the  wagon 
were  taken  off,  hung  inside  the  cabin  walls,  and  with  one  device  and  another, 
aided  by  the  huge  fire  kept  constantly  burning  in  the  great  chimney,  they  man- 
aged to  live  through  the  winter.  Many  of  their  neighbors  were  no  better  oft". 
The  next  year,  he  and  all  the  colonists  raised  a  very  good  crop,  putting  it  in  with 
the  old-fashioned  barshare  plows,  remodeled  and  repaired  their  cabins,  and  by 
winter  were  prepared  to  stand  the  rigors  of  a  Western  winter.  It  will  be  recol- 
lected that  the  one  before  was  made  memorable  by  the  ''deep  snow,"  and  the 
great  freshet  in  the  spring  consequent  upon  the  melting  of  the  snow.  It  is  fully 
noticed  elsewhere,  and  need  not  be  repeated  here.  It  was  the  same  over  all  the 
country,  only  of  a  greater  depth  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State.  As  a  portrait 
and  full  sketch  of  Col.  Adams'  life  appear  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  we  will 
omit  any  further  mention  of  his  deeds  here.  They  are  all  worthy  a  place  in  the 
annals  of  Coles  County,  and  when  the  Colonel  died  a  few  months  since,  he  left 
behind  him  a  record  worthy  of  imitation  by  all. 

Isaac  and  Mary  Odell,  son-in-law  and  daughter  of  Mr.  Gammill,  were  also 
of  this  company.  It  was  their  child  that  died  in  Indiana  and  was  left  sleep- 
ing on  the  roadside.  Their  next  son,  George  W.  Odell,  was  the  first  child  born 
in  Charleston,  which  town  was  laid  out  the  next  summer  after  the  colony's  arrival. 
Col.  Adams  and  A.  M.  Balch  cut  logs  and  built  some  of  the  first  houses  in  that 
aspiring  town.  One  of  these  may  yet  be  seen  on  a  hill  in  the  western  part  of 
town,  just  east  of  where  the  Ashmore  mill  was  burned.  Of  all  the  members  of 
that  colony  who  were  men  and  women  when  they  came,  Mrs.  Odell — "  Aunt 
Polly  " — is  the  only  survivor. 

The  next  family  was  Andrew  and  Jane  Gammill  and  their  three  children, 
all  of  whom  are  living  yet.  One  is  Mrs.  Caroline  Shoemaker,  of  La  Fayette 
Township,  another  Mrs.  Adaline  Hendricks,  now  in  Missouri,  and  the  third 
Mrs.  Lucinda  Whetstone,  of  Pomona,  Kan.  Mark  and  Matilda  Baker  with 
their  two  children,  Joseph  and  Matilda,  are  the  next  family  mentioned.  Both 
the  children  are  now  dead.     The  father  died  in  about  two  years  after  coming. 


416  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

from  malarial  diseases.  His  wife  aftei-Avard  married  M.  Tyra  Hays,  and  gave 
fame  to  Pleasant  Grove  by  giving  existence  to  three  boys  at  one  birth,  all  of 
whom  are  yet  living. 

Andrew  Clark  and  wife  were  also  in  this  colony.  They  had  no  children 
when  they  came.  Mr.  Clark  was  afterward  well  known  in  Charleston  in  the 
hotels  there,  being  one  of  the  early  landlords  of  the  town.  In  this  colony 
were  two  young  men,  Philip  Odell  and  S.  K.  Gammill,  who  should  be  noticed 
here.  The  first  named,  Odell,  died  in  Charleston,  about  1835.  In  the  early 
issues  of  newspapers  there,  his  obituary  was  published,  wherein  some  friend 
embalmed  his  memory  in  verse  which  we  now  recall,  and  which  many  of  the 
old  people  will  doubtless  remember: 

"Could  I  the  sacred  nine  command. 
Or  inspiration  guide  my  hand 
In  numbers  sweet  but  sad,  I'd  tell 
The  virtues  uf  our  friend  Odell." 

The  other  young  man,  S.  K.  Gammill,  afterward  beca\ne  prominently  known 
in  the  south  part  of  the  county.  He  married  Elizabeth  Dryden,  who  yet 
lives.     Mr.  Gammill  died  about  twelve  years  ago,  of  cholera. 

The  majority  of  the  persons  coming  in  this  little  colony,  were  members  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  in  their  native  State.  They  found  no 
church  of  their  own  here,  and  the  majority  went  into  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Indian  Creek.  They  remained  here,  however,  but  a  few  years,  when,  being 
joined  by  more  of  their  own  profession,  they  formed  a  church  at  Muddy  Point, 
and  began  services  there. 

The  winter  following — 1830-31 — Avas,  as  has  been  observed,  one  of  great 
severity.  The  intense  cold,  the  deep  snow,  the  scanty  provisions  and  poor 
accommodations  made  the  pioneer's  life  one  of  privation,  and  to  those  who  had 
enjoyed  the  milder  serenity  of  a  more  southern  clime,  it  called  for  the  stron- 
gest powers  of  fortitude  and  courage.  The  following  spring,  owing  to  the  great 
snoAV,  was  very  wet,  and  it  was  late  before  crops  could  be  planted.  The  cabins 
were  repaired,  or  new  and  better  ones  built,  fields  were  cleared,  and  prepara- 
tions to  found  that  home  they  all  desired  went  steadily  on.  They  Avent  to  the 
Wabash  Point  timber  for  mail,  where  George  M.  Hanson  had  the  year  before 
obtained  a  post  office,  and  where  quite  a  number  of  families,  chiefly  Meth- 
odists in  religion,  were  settled.  Those  of  Pleasant  Grove  also  came  here  to 
mill,  for  Slover's  Mill  was  about  the  only  one  in  this  part  of  the  country.  It 
was  during  this  summer,  it  is  thought,  that  C  Campbell  opened  a  blacksmith 
shop  in  the  township.  His  shop  was  near  the  residence  of  Zeno  Campbell. 
He  was  a  good  workman,  making  excellent  axes,  Cary  plows  and  various 
other  implements,  Avhich  could  not  have  been  obtained  nearer  than  Paris,  in 
Edgar  County,  or  equally  as  distant  places.  It  might  be  well  to  mention  of 
Zeno  Campbell  that  he  was  run  for  the  Legislature  on  the  Whig  ticket,  from 
this  part  of  the  county.     He  was  an   excellent  man,  but  quiet  and  a  little 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  417 

eccentric  in  his  manner,  refusing  to  go  out  and  "stump"  the  field.  This  was 
very  likely  the  cause  of  his  defeat,  as  he  was  well  respected  wherever  known. 
He  gave  the  ground  on  which  the  Presbyterian  Church  was  erected  in  1832, 
and  with  his  wife  lived  to  the  good  old  age  of  more  than  fourscore  years.  It 
will  be  remembered  they  came  to  Pleasant  Grove  in  1829. 

The  summer  of  1831,  brought  with  it  a  new  influx  of  immigration.  Those 
who  stayed  in  this  township  were  chiefly  Presbyterian  in  religious  views,  while 
those  who  went  to  the  Wabash  Point  settlement  were  largely  Methodist.  It 
was  a  kind  of  common  understanding  between  the  two  settlements  that  persons 
coming  to  the  new  communities  were  to  be  mildly  drawn  to  whichever  settle- 
ment their  religious  sentiments  favored.  This  they  were  always  ready  to  do, 
ias  all  desired  to  keep  up  the  home  practices  and  felt  easier  and  more  content 
among  their  own  church  people.  Among  the  emigrants  of  this  season  may  be 
mentioned  John  and  Michael  Whetstone.  John  settled  the  farm  where  the 
mineral  springs  were  found,  supposed  to  have  been  known  to  the  aboriginal 
inhabitants  for  ages.  We  have  already  described  these  springs  and  forbear  any 
further  mention  of  them.  Other  settlers  were  Hezekiah  and  Mary  Balch  and 
a  son  Walter  AV.,  who  is  yet  living  in  the  neighborhood.  They  were  from 
Alabama,  from  the  same  community  that  had  before  sent  out  Theron  E.  Balch 
and  his  wife.  With  Hezekiah  and  his  family  came  Dr.  Emmett  Balch,  who  is 
now  at  Buckley,  111.  John  W.  and  Louisa  Rodgers  came  with  Dr.  Balch  from 
Alabama  and  settled  with  him  here.  Thomas  and  William  Jeffi'ies,  twa 
prominent  men,  with  their  families,  came  this  same  season  from  Kentucky. 

The  old  storehouse,  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Azariah  Jeffries,  has  a  history  in 
itself  which  is  Avell  worth  narrating.  It  is  thus  told  by  Mr.  Jeff'ries  :  "  The  old 
storehouse  is  situated  on  Section  10,  on  land  entered  by  Thomas  Jeffries,  the  first 
Justice  in  this  township.  His  children  are  Sallie  Dieahl,  James,  John  and 
Azariah.  His  house  was  built  in  September,  1852,  for  a  store  by  T.  A.  Mar- 
shall and  Milton  True.  Afterward,  Mr.  Marshall  was  elected  to  the  State 
Senate,  and  afterward  a  colonel  in  the  army.  Mr.  True  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature,  and  was  a  general  in  the  army.  Gideon  Edwards,  their  clerk,  was 
elected  County  Judge.  When  the  two  proprietors  left  the  store,  they  sold  to 
I.  H.  Johnston  and  Abram  Highland,  and  the  singular  luck  for  office-holding 
seemed  to  fall  upon  them.  Mr.  Johnston  was  elected  Sheriff"  and  Mr.  Highland 
County  Treasurer.  They  sold  the  building  to  Clay  Worthen  and  Jefferson 
Doren.  Mr.  Worthen  was  twice  elected  Circuit  Clerk.  The  mantle  failed  to 
fall  on  the  shoulders  of  Mr.  Doren,  it  seems,  as  it  is  not  recorded  he  succeeded 
in  being  elected,  though  twice  he  ran  for  County  Treasurer.  While  they  owned 
the  building.  Dr.  C.  H.  Brunk,  a  prominent  physician  in  Shelby  County,  had 
his  office  with  them.  They  sold  to  W.  L.  Funckhouser  and  John  Hackley.  Mr. 
F.  is  the  largest  land-owner  in  the  township,  and  Mr.  H.  was  Postmaster  some 
time.  These  men  sold  to  John  W.  Crawford,  who  was  Postmaster,  and  who, 
with  Dr.  T.  A.  Kemper,  a  prominent  physician,  who  had  his  office  in  the  store- 


418  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTT. 

house,  kept  the  building  till  he  sold  to  the  present  owner,  Azariah  Jeffries. 
He  has,  as  a  consequence  it  seems,  been  elected  School  Trustee  three  years  ; 
Director,  nine  years ;  Commissioner,  two  years  ;  member  of  Legislature,  two 
years  ;  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  Convention  in  Baltimore  that  nominated 
Horace  Greeley  ;  been  Chairman  of  the  County  Democratic  Convention,  Foreman 
of  grand  jury,  on  the  petit  jury,  and  a  variety  of  other  minor  oflfices." 

Verily,  the  house  has  a  history  and  a  fatality  unequaled  in  the  West. 

Thomas  and  Hezekiah  Balch  were  the  first  two  Justices  of  the  Peace  elected 
in  this  part  of  the  county.  William  Jeffries  was  the  second  County  Sheriff, 
serving  from  1834  to  1838.  The  first  incumbent  of  this  ofiice  was  Ambrose 
Yocum.  elected  at  the  first  election  of  the  county  in  February,  1831.  He  died 
before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office,  and  Mr.  Jeffries  was  elected  to 
the  vacancy  and  to  another  term.  The  voting-place  in  Febi'uary,  1831,  was  at 
the  house  of  James  Ashmore,  situated  where  Parker  Clark  now  lives,  in 
La  Fayette  Township.  Every  one  in  the  county  entitled  to  a  vote  came  here, 
and,  as  the  county  then  included  Douglas  and  Cumberland  Counties,  many  of 
the  voters  came  a  considerable  distance  to  discharge  the  duties  of  citizenship. 
When  Pleasant  Grove  was  made  a  precinct,  the  voting-place  Avas  fixed  at  Beni 
White's  house,  in  the  south  part  of  the  precinct.  It  afterward  was  made  at 
Tully's  still,  now  in  Cumberland  County.  It  then  went  to  Thomas  Jeffries,  where 
it  remained  a  few  years,  and  was  then  taken  to  a  log  schoolhouse  on  Indian 
Point,  near  where  the  Presbtterian  Church  now  is.  The  next  move  was  not 
till  after  the  organization  of  the  township,  when  it  was  moved  to  the  Balch 
Schoolhouse,  where  it  stayed  thirteen  years.  About  two  years  ago,  it  was  taken 
to  the  Nicholson  Schoolhouse,  where  it  will  probably  abide  some  time.  The  still 
house,  mentioned  as  one  of  its  abiding-places,  might  be  more  fully  noticed.  It 
was  built  by  Dillard  Tulley  as  a  horse-mill  in  1832,  and  was  the  first  enterprise 
of  the  kind  in  this  part -of  the  county.  It  was  afterward  converted  into  a  still, 
and  as  such  was  a  pioneer.  In  those  days  every  one  drank  whisky ;  no 
Avedding,  no  house-raising,  no  harvesting,  no  election,  was  carried  on  without 
plenty  of  that  animating  beverage  being  used.  It  was  considered  essential, 
and  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  necessities  of  life.  Maybe,  to  save  carrying 
Avhisky  to  elections,  was  one  reason  why  they  were  held  here.  Anyway,  it  was 
a  place  of  popular  resort,  and  was  certain  to  call  out  all  the  voters ;  that  was 
one  consideration.  When  Cumberland  County  was  set  off  from  Coles,  there 
Avas  left  a  strip  of  land  a  mile  or  two  wide,  on  the  north,  which  has  since  been 
attached.  In  this  strip  the  still  was  located.  A  very  common  Avay  to  get  the 
Avhisky  was  to  take  a  bushel  of  corn  and  a  coffee-pot,  and  go  to  the  still, 
exchange  the  corn  for  a  gallon  of  Avhisky  and  bring  it  home  in  the  coffee-pot. 
That  was  before  the  era  of  jugs.  Capt.  Adams  says  he  was  often  sent  to  Tul- 
ley's  still  in  that  way  Avhen  a  boy.  He  tells  a  story  on  himself,  which  is  worth 
preserving  here,  as  illustrative  of  the  customs  in  the  "good  old  days."  He 
says  he  was  once  sent  Avith  the^bushel  of  corn  and  a  ncAv  jug — they  having  just 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  419 

been  introduced — for  the  customary  gallon  of  whisky.  He  used  a  fresh  cob  for 
a  cork  in  the  jug,  and,  on  his  return,  kept  pulling  out  the  cob  and  sucking  the 
whisky  it  absorbed.  By  the  time  he  reached  home,  he  was,  to  use  his  own 
expression,  "  as  full  as  a  goose  I  "  His  mother  quickly  noticed  his  condition, 
and,  turning  to  her  husband,  remarked,  emphatically :  "  There,  Jefferson, 
that's  the  last  time  that  boy  goes  to  the  still  I  "  And  it  was  the  last  time. 
Good  men,  one  after  another,  saw  the  evil  tendency  of  the  habit,  and,  one  after 
another,  banished  it  from  their  tables,  firesides  and  harvest-fields. 

The  same  summer  of  1831,  Theron  Balch  established  a  Sunday  school  in 
his  own  cabin.  He  was  aided  by  the  first  minister  in  this  part  of  the  county — 
Rev.  Isaac  Bennett,  who  came  here  under  the  care  of  the  Philadelphia  Presby- 
tery, to  look  after  this  field.  He  preached  the  first  sermons  heard  in  this  part 
of  Illinois,  coming  all  the  way  from  Philadelphia  on  horse-back.  Further 
mention  will  be  made  of  him  in  the  chapter  devoted  to  churches  in  this  town- 
ship. The  summer  this  pioneer  Sunday  school  vras  established,  Julia  Balch,  a 
daughter  of  Theron,  taught  a  day  school  in  the  little  pole  cabin  where  her  father 
had  wielded  the  birch  the  winter  before. 

We  have  mentioned  the  fact  of  the  settlers  going  to  Slover's  Mill  and  to 
George  M.  Hanson's  post  office,  at  the  Wabash  Point  timber.  This  summer, 
however,  they  came  to  the  county  seat,  just  then  established,  for  mail,  and  as 
Thomas  Travis,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  year,  erected  a  horse-mill,  thev 
could  get  grinding  nearer  home.  In  addition  to  the  one  at  the  Wabash  Point, 
they  had  gone,  in  some  instances,  to  a  mill  where  Greenup,  in  Cumberland 
County,  is,  on  the  Embarrass.  The  mill  of  Mr.  Travis,  and  the  blacksmith- 
shop  of  Mr.  Campbell,  brought  commodities  nearer  their  doors,  and  made  many 
of  the  inconveniences  heretofore  experienced  things  of  the  past.  Already  a 
brighter  day  was  coming. 

The  season  of  1832  brought  still  more  persons  seeking  homes  in  the  West. 
Now  they  began  to  come  in  so  rapidly  that  it  is  impossible  to  name  all.  We 
will,  however,  give  the  names  of  some,  as  far  as  we  could  gather  them.  It  is 
not  necessary  to  get  all,  nor  to  attempt  to  follow  their  fortunes.  The  story  of 
one  is  the  story  of  all.  The  biographical  portion  of  this  work  shows  more 
fully  than  we  can  hope  to  show  the  lives  of  many  of  the  pioneers  and  their 
deeds  in  the  land  of  their  choice.  Among  those  who  came  in  1832,  we  will 
mention  James  and  Lyda  Glenn,  with  two  or  three  children.  They  came  from 
Lawrence  County,  and  both  are  long  since  dead.  Another  member  of  this 
family  was  William,  an  older  brother  than  either  the  others.  He  was  a  o-reat 
hunter  in  his  time,  a  veritable  Daniel  Boone,  as  it  were.  There  were,  also,  Dan- 
iel and  Rachel  Edson,  with  one  or  two  children.  They  settled  the  farm  where 
the  widow  Landers  now  lives.  Then  there  were  Wells  Needham  and  his  wife, 
and  others  of  that  company.  All  the  old  settlers  will  doubtless  remember  John 
Harvey,  an  old  teacher  of  the  old  school.  He  was  a  great  fiddler,  and,  in 
that  capacity,  was  in  constant  demand  for  the  old-time  dances.    He  was,  withal, 


420  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

a  little  superstitious,  and  believed  in  witches.  Possibly  he  read  the  story  of 
the  witches  so  often  he  became  imbued  with  their  reality.  His  greatest  delight 
was  to  hunt  squirrels,  and  in  this  he  became  a  veritable  Nimrod.  One  of  his 
oddities  was  a  habit  of  pulling  his  nose  when  eating.  It  in  some  way  seemed 
to  assist  him  in  swallowing  his  food. 

The  readers  of  these  narratives  will  doubtless  observe  the  absence  of  roads 
at  this  period  in  the  history  of  the  county  or  that  of  the  townships.  Until  this 
year,  there  were  no  organized  efforts  in  this  direction.  For  several  reasons,  no 
roads,  save  bridle-paths,  were  to  be  seen  in  any  place.  The  settlers  were  too 
much  occupied  in  preparing  their  homes  so  they  could  live  in  comfort ;  in  get- 
ting crops  sown  and  gathered,  so  they  might  have  something  aside  from  wild 
meat  and  "johnny-cake"  to  eat,  and  in  various  enterprises,  all  necessary  to 
their  life  here  The  roads  were  part  of  the  economy  of  pioneer  life  that  could 
be  allowed  to  wait  other  developments. 

The  season  of  18'32  is  made  memorable  by  the  breaking-out  of  the  Black 
Hawk  war.  The  causes  of  this  war,  and  its  history  in  a  general  way,  are  fully 
given  in  the  history  of  the  Northwest,  in  this  volume,  and  for  this  purpose  we 
omit  any  mention  save  locally.  Col.  Adams,  who  seems  to  have  always  pos- 
sessed a  combative  spirit,  and  was  always  foremost  in  defending  the  frontiers, 
raised  a  portion  of  a  company,  with  which  he  repaired  to  Shelbyville,  where 
the  full  number  was  obtained,  and  where  they  were  properly  enlisted.  Col. 
Adams'  companions  from  Pleasant  Grove  were  Obadiah  Vincent  and  Harry 
Wilson,  both  of  whom  are  yet  living.  They  furnished  their  own  horses,  pro- 
visions and  ammunition.  From  Shelbyville  they  went  to  Fort  Dixon,  on  Rock 
River,  thence  to  the  Four  Lakes,  where  Madison,  Wis.,  now  stauds,  and  fol- 
lowed the  retreating  Indians  till  the  capture  of  Black  Hawk  and  the  termina- 
tion of  the  war.  After  their  return  home,  they  resumed  their  former  avocations, 
and  were  never  afterward  called  upon  to  assist  in  subduing  the  red  men. 

The  fall  of  that  year  is  made  memorable  by  the  brilliant  meteoric  shower. 
As  that  event  is,  however,  fully  described  in  the  history  of  Mattoon  Township^ 
and  as  it,  like  the  "deep  snow"  and  "  sudden  freeze,"  occurred  over  all  the 
country,  one  description  applies  to  all. 

Following  on  down  through  the  coming  years  we  can  note  no  events  out  o^ 
the  usual  order  of  frontier  life.  Improvements  were  constantly  going  on  ;  new 
homes  were  being  built ;  more  emigrants  came  yearly,  until  the  country  in 
1827,  when  the  first  settlers  came,  was  changed  from  a  wilderness  to  one  occu- 
pied by  many  busy,  happy  homes,  full  of  enterprise,  and  all  realizing  the  hopes 
entertained  when  they  came. 

The  financial  crisis  of  1840,  incident  on  the  failure  of  the  grand  system  of 
internal  improvements,  effected  all  the  residents  of  the  State.     True,  no   lines 
of  roads  had  been  projected  through  Pleasant  Grove,  but  the  proposed  construc- 
tion of  two  railroads  in   the  county,  the  hopes  excited  by  their  building  and 
their  failure  in  common  with  all  the  rest,  made  times  hard  in  every  township  in 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  421 

the  county.  The  country  was,  however,  full  of  resources,  and  in  ten  years' 
time  had  provided  for  the  payment  of  its  enormous  indebtedness,  and  was  again 
on  the  road  to  prosperity.  The  citizens  of  Pleasant  Grove  had  partaken  of  this 
general  improvement  in  various  ways.  These  were  exemplified  in  better  habita- 
tions, now  built  of  brick  and  frame.  Schoolhouses  were  getting  plenty,  school 
terms  were  longer,  and  were  more  efficient.  Other  denominations,  such  as 
the  Methodists  and  Cumberland  Presbyterians,  were  pi-eparing  to  build  houses 
of  worship,  and  more  of  the  luxuries  of  life  were  apparent.  The  era  of  log 
cabins,  and  their  accompanying  discomforts,  was  passing  away. 

A  good  story  it  told  of  two  aspiring  youthful  Ninirods  in  this  township, 
which  is  certainly  worth  a  place  in  its  annals.  A  certain  fanner  had  a  field  of 
corn,  where  the  grass  had  been  allowed  to  grow  after  it  was  planted  until  a  good 
growth  had  been  gathered.  Deer  and  all  kinds  of  game  abounded  then  in 
great  numbers.  The  deer  would  come  to  this  field  at  night,  soon  after  the  corn 
was  cut,  and  eat  the  leaves  from  the  stalks  around  the  shocks.  By  this  means 
they  had  destroyed  a  good  deal  of  fodder.  This  the  owner  did  not  relish  much 
but  could  see  no  way  to  help  himself  The  two  youthful  hunters  determined 
securing  some  of  the  deer,  and  secretly  made  arrangements  therefor.  Going 
into  the  field  in  question  after  dusk,  they  had  not  long  to  wait  till  they  heard  a 
rustling  in  the  leaves,  and  waited  with  beating  hearts  the  approach  of  the  game. 
Soon  a  dark  object  came  near  enough  and  one  of  them  raised  his  gun  and  fired. 
The  object  fell.  "Now,"  said  the  other,  "  havn't  we  done  it?"  "  We!" 
replied  his  comrade,  contemptuously,  "  haven't  /done  it?  "  By  this  time  they 
had  reached  the  object,  which  gave  a  pitiable  bleat,  and  they  found —  a  calf. 
"  Now,"  said  the  one  who  had  fired  the  shot,  "  haven't  we  done  it  ?  "  "  Yes," 
said  the  other,  "haven't  yow  done  it?  "  To  the  boys'  credit,  it  must  be  said, 
they  skinned  the  calf,  took  the  hide  to  the  owner,  and  paiii  him  for  the  damage. 
They  could  have  gone  off  and  no  one  known  who  had  killed  the  calf.  But  for 
many  a  day  they  heard  not  the  last  of  "  that  calf  story  !  " 

The  young  men  learned  to  enjoy  it  with  all  the  rest,  and  will,  if  they  are  liv 
ing  and  see  this  description,  enjoy  a  laugh  over  their  exploit. 

Of  the  remaining  history  of  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  little  can  be  said. 
That  of  the  churches  and  schools  will  appear  in  separate  chapters,  and  will  add 
to  the  value  of  these  annals.  On  down  through  the  Mexican  war,  in  which 
Col.  Adams  and  a  few  of  her  citizens  took  a  part ;  through  the  era  of  the 
rebuilding  of  railroads,  in  1854,  1855  and  1856,  to  the  time  the  Grayville  and 
Mattoon  Road  was  begun  and  until  it  was  completed,  we  find  no  incidents  of  con- 
sequence. The  G.  &  M.  Railroad  brought  a  market  near  the  township  and  affords 
an  easy  outlet  for  its  products.  There  is,  in  the  history  of  this  township,  the 
narrative  of  one  family,  who  produced  a  man  whose  name  and  deeds  will  live 
while  the  world  shall  endure,  which  must  not  be  omitted.  We  have  reserved 
mention  of  them  until  this  time,  as  we  desired  giving  what  could  be  gleaned 
concerning   them  in  an  unbroken   account.     We  refer  to  the  Lincoln  family. 


422  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

They  were  from  Kentucky,  and  traced  their  lineage  to  an  ancient  family  on 
Atlantic  Coast.  The  parents  of  the  President,  who  lived  during  their  declining 
years  in  this  township,  are  the  only  ones  of  the  name  who  dwelt  in  this  county 
or  even,  we  believe,  in  this  State.  Thomas  Lincoln  was,  all  his  life,  one  of 
those  easy,  honest,  commonplace  men,  who  take  life  as  they  find  it,  and,  as  a 
consequence,  generally  find  it  a  life  of  poverty.  He  left  Kentucky,  where  he 
had  in  vain  essayed  to  prosper,  about  the  year  1816,  and  located  on  the  north 
shore  of  the  Ohio  River,  in  Spencer  County,  Ind.,  where  he  and  his  son,  then  a 
lad  of  about  eight  years  old,  kept  a  ferry.  He  remained  here  a  few  years,  when 
he  removed  to  a  farm  which  he  purchased,  a  few  miles  north  of  the  county  seat,  in 
Spencer  County.  Here  Abraham's  mother  died,  and  here,  in  a  little  country 
church-yard,  unmarked  by  any  stone,  and  shaded  by  a  few  straggling  forest- 
trees,  she  is  quietly  sleeping.  Two  years  after,  his  father  married  again. 
In  1830,  the  family  removed  from  Spencer  County  to  Macon  County, 
111.,  settling  about  ten  miles  southwest  of  Decatur.  Here  Abe  Lin- 
coln, then  just  of  age,  aided  the  family  in  their  start  on  the  prairies,  and  here 
he  split  the  rails,  which,  in  after  years,  cut  the  important  figure  in  politics 
almost  akin  to  the  log  cabin  and  hard  cider  in  Harrison's  day.  The  next 
spring,  the  young  man  went  into  life  for  himself,  earning,  it  is  said,  his  first 
money  on  a  flatboat.  The  parents,  left  to  themselves,  made  a  poor  living,  and, 
a  little  over  a  year  after,  removed  to  the  southwest  part  of  Coles  County,  near 
the  line  between  Paradise  and  Pleasant  Grove,  and  essayed  to  begin  life  anew. 
They  arrived  here  in  the  fall  of  1831,  having  been  in  Macon  County  since 
the  spring  of  1830.  They  settled  near  Buck  Grove,  where  they  built  a  cabin, 
and  remained  a  few  months,  probably  till  the  following  spring,  when  they 
moved  to  Goose-Nest  Prairie,  obtained  some  land,  erected  a  cabin  and  settled 
down  to  life.  Mr.  Lincoln,  though  an  excellent  man,  and  a  much-esteemed 
citizen,  possessed  no  faculty  whatever  of  preserving  his  money,  when  he 
made  any,  hence  he  always  remained  poor.  He  was  easily  contented,  had 
few  wants,  and  those  of  a  primitive  nature.  He  was  a  foe  to  intemperance, 
strictly  honest,  and,  supposing  others  the  same,  often  suffered  pecuniary 
losses.  He  left  the  active  management  of  his  affairs  gradually  to  his 
stepson,  John  Johnston,  and,  erecting  himself  a  cabin  on  a  knoll,  on  the  west- 
ern part  of  his  land,  passed  his  declining  days  in  comparative  ease,  measured 
by  his  own  estimate.  He  lived  to  see  his  son  an  excellent  lawyer,  and,  when 
Abe  was  on  his  circuits,  practicing  law,  he  always  came  out  to  the  old  cabin  to 
visit  his  parents.  It  was  his  custom,  on  such  occasions,  to  load  his  buggy  with 
provisions  and  take  them  with  him.  Thomas  Lincoln  lived  on  the  farm  until 
January  9,  1851,  when  he  died,  from  an  attack  of  fever.  Abraham  Lincoln 
had  come  to  see  him  in  response  to  his  wish  through  a  lettei"  from  Mr.  A.  H.  Chap- 
man, and  spent  some  time  Avitli  him.  He  left  word  to  send  ftr  him  in  case  the 
disease  assumed  a  malignant  form.  A  severe  attack  soon  followed  his  depart- 
ure, proving  fatal,  and  before  Abe  could  be  notified,  his  father  was  gone.     In 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  423 

his  early  life,  he  joined  the  Baptists  ;  afterward,  the  "  Presbyterian-Baptists," 
as  they  were  called,  and  finally,  owing  to  a  disaffection  in  the  church,  the  Chris- 
tians, in  whose  communion  he  died.  He  had  learned  to  read  and  write,  after 
his  marriage ;  but  as  far  as  any  further  education  was  concerned,  he  had  none. 
He  was  noted  for  his  peaceable  qualities ;  for  settling,  arbitrarily,  disputes 
among  his  neighbors,  and  was,  in  that  respect,  universally  respected.  While  in 
the  old  cabin,  where  he  lived  and  died,  we  were  shown  the  family  record,  copied 
by  Mr.  Hall  from  a  leaf  of  the  family  Bible.  It  is  well  worth  recording,  and 
we  give  it  entire.     It  reads  : 

"  Thomas  Lincoln  was  born  Jan.  6,  1778,  and  was  married  June  6,  1806, 
to  Nancy  Hanks,  who  was  born  Feb.  5,  1784. 

"Sarah  Lincoln,  daughter  of  Thomas. and  Nancy  Lincoln  was  born  Feb. 
20,  1807. 

"  Abraham  Lincoln,  son  of  Thomas  and  Nancy  Lincoln,  was  born  Feb. 
12,  1809. 

"  Sarah  Bush,  first  married  to  Daniel  Johnston  and  afterward  second  wife 
of  Thomas  Lincoln,  was  born  Dec.  13,  1788. 

"  John  D.  Johnston,  son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  Johnston,  was  born  May  10, 
1810,  and  married  to  Mary  Barker  Oct.  13,  1834,  who  was  born  July  22, 
1816." 

When  Mr.  Lincoln  died,  the  estate  came  into  Mr.  Johnston's  hands,  who, 
not  then  realizing  the  value  attached  to  many  of  the  family  records,  allowed 
them  to  be  carelessly  carried  off  by  idle  curiosity-hunters  and  become  lost.  Mr. 
Lincoln  now  lies  buried  in  the  little  Gordon  church-yard,  no  monument  marking 
his  grave  save  "  a  hillock  and  bowlder."  Mr.  George  B.  Balch  has  embalmed 
the  spot  in  poetry,  which  we  present  our  readers  in  preceding  pages.  After 
Abraham  Lincoln  was  elected  to  the  Presidency,  he  visited  the  grave  of  his 
father  in  company  with  A.  H.  Chapman  and  John  Hall.  It  was  on  a  rather 
cold  day  in  February,  just  preceding  his  inauguration,  and  after  viewing  the 
spot,  the  party  returned  to  Farmington,  where  a  sumptuous  dinner  had  been 
prepared  for  the  distinguished  man.  When  Mr.  Lincoln  returned  to  Charleston, 
he  asked  one  of  the  younger  members  of  the  Hanks  family  to  find  out  the 
probable  cost  of  a  tombstone  for  his  father's  grave.  During  the  conversation 
on  the  subject,  Mr.  Lincoln  asked  Mr.  Chapman  what  he  thought  the  expense 
would  be.  Mr.  Chapman  answered  not  less  than  |40,  or  more  than  $60,  he 
thought.  "  Well,"  said  the  President,  "  see  what  it  will  cost  and  let  me  know 
at- Washington,  and  I  will  send  you  an  inscription  I  Avant  put  on."  The  war 
came  on,  and  he  could  not  attend  to  it.  It  has  been  erroneously  supposed  that 
he  left  money,  and  it  was  not  appropriately  used.  This,  Mr.  Chapman  says,  is 
untrue,  and  that  the  only  ai-rangement  made  was  the  one  already  given.  Fur- 
ther proof  is  givon  in  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Lincoln  after  her  husband's  untimely 
death,  wherein  she  refers  to  the  thought  often  expressed  by  the  President  that 
as  soon  as  his  term  of  office  expired,  he  would  return  here  and  see  to  the  erec- 


424  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

tion  of  the  monument.  As  his  estate  is  ample  now  to  put  such  a  monument  as 
will  perpetuate  the  memory  of  Thomas  Lincoln,  when  properly  presented 
before  the  heirs,  they  will  no  doubt  attend  to  it.  Another  rumor  is 
prevalent  in  the  community  where  Thomas  Lincoln  died.  It  is  supposed 
that  Avhen  the  President  visited  the  grave  at  the  time  mentioned,  he  cut  the 
letters  "  T.  L."  on  a  walnut  board  and  drove  it  into  the  ground  at  the  head  of 
the  grave.  This  the  writer  of  these  pages  endeavored  to  find,  but  could  not. 
Mr.  Chapman  says  he  did  not  cut  the  letters  and  place  the  board  at  the  grave 
as  represented.  He  was  with  him  all  the  time,  and  he  says  no  such  thing 
happened.  The  board  in  question  was  found  by  the  writer  to  be  the  end  of  a 
fence  rail,  with  the  letters  "  T.  E."  cut  in  it,  and  standing  at  the  foot  of  the 
grave.  Rumors  of  all  kinds  are  easily  started  ;  but  no  one  could  be  found  who 
knew  the  board  was  there,  or  who  kneiv  the  money  was  left.  "Nathan  had  told 
Nathan's  son,"  and  that  was  all  there  was  about  it.  After  the  death  of  Thomas 
Lincoln,  "  Grandmother  Lincoln,"  as  she  was  always  called,  lived  on  the  old 
farm  or  with  her  relatives  in  Charleston  and  Farmington.  She  was  a  kind, 
good  woman,  and  died  universally  respected.  She  lies  buried  in  the  same 
church-yard  with  her  husband,  and  like  him  has  no  stone  to  mark  her  resting- 
place.  During  her  life,  she  was  allowed  the  benefits  of  the  farm,  which  after 
her  death  passed  into  the  hands  of  her  son,  John  Johnston.  Mr.  John  Hall 
purchased  it  from  him  and  now  resides  there. 

THE   SCHOOLS. 

As  has  been  noticed,  Theron  E.  Balch  taught  a  school  in  a  small  pole  cabin 
in  the  winter  of  1829-30.  Some  place  it  the  next  winter  ;  but  the  weight  of 
opinion  favors  the  time  given.  School  was  continued  here  with  commendable 
regularity  each  winter,  and  sometimes  in  the  summer.  All  were  supported  by 
subscription.  Each  patron  subscribed  as  many  pupils  as  he  could  send  at  $2.50 
each  per  quarter — three  months,  and  paid  the  tuition  in  various  articles  of  bar- 
ter, coonskins,  beeswax,  hides,  honey,  or  whatever  the  dominie  could  exchange 
for  board  or  clothing.  As  the  different  parts  of  the  precinct  settled,  other 
schools  were  built,  and  as  these  settlements  grew,  better  houses  appeared.  But 
little  if  any  change  occurred  in  the  modes  of  instruction,  length  of  term,  and 
mode  of  paying  the  teacher  until  a  revenue  was  derived  from  the  State  Treasury 
from  the  sale  of  school  lands.  Again,  in  1844, 1845  and  1846,  the  revenue  was 
farther  augmented  by  the  gradual  adoption  of  free  schools,  ^.  e.,  supported  by  a 
general  tax.  These,  in  time,  superseded  the  old  subscription  schools.  Now. 
the  law  compels  each  district  to  conduct  a  school  a  certain  number  of  months  in 
the  year  to  derive  any  benefit  from  the  general  fund.  In  addition  to  this,  the 
Directors  of  each  district  may  levy  such  a  tax  as  they  deem  sufficient  to  carry 
on  the  school  a  month  or  two  in  excess  of  the  time  required  by  law.  This 
gives  in  many  districts,  school  from  six  to  nine  months  in  each  year.  The 
old  log  school  with  its  puncheon  floor,  slab  seats,  paper  window,  long  writing- 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  425 

desk,  broad,  open  fire-place,  cross  teacher,  Smiley's  Arithmetic,  American 
Speller,  and  other  primitive  appliances,  is  now  a  thing  of  the  past.  Since 
1860,  better  houses  and  higher  grades  of  instruction  are  required,  and  a  con- 
sequent advantage  and  advancement  the  result.  Frame  houses  began  to  appeal 
in  1858, 1859  and  1860  ;  and,  in  1853,  a  brick  one  arose  on  the  site  of  Farm- 
ington.  It  Avas,  however,  intended  as  a  seminary,  but  after  serving  a  while  in 
that  capacity,  became  a  common  schoolhouse,  and  finally  a  store. 

CHURCHES. 

Incidental  mention  has  been  made  throughout  the  preceding  pages  of  churches 
and  schools  in  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  reserving  a  more  extended  notice  of 
these  subjects  in  a  separate  chapter.  The  first  church  in  this  part  of  the 
county  was  built  on  the  Little  Indian  Creek  in  1832.  Two  years  before,  on 
August  30,  1830,  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Pleasant  Prairie,  so  say  the  rec- 
ords, was  organized  by  the  Rev.  B.  F.  Spillman,  connected  with,  and  under 
the  care  of,  the  General  Assembly.  The  organization  was  effected  with  four- 
teen members.  They  were  Thomas  Mayes,  Agnes  Mayes,  Theron  Balch, 
Ann  Boyd,  Thomas  McCracken,  Nancy  McCracken,  James  Ashmore,  Cassandra 
Ashmore,  Rachel  Ashmore,  Margaret  Ashmore,  William  Wayne,  Mary  Wayne, 
James  Logan  and  Elizabeth  Logan.  Of  these  persons  none  are  now  living. 
They  met  for  organization  at  the  house  of  Theron  Balch,  it  is  supposed,  or,  if 
the  pole  cabin  schoolhouse  was  erected,  there.  Whether  Mr.  Spillman  remained 
long  preaching  here,  is  not  known.  Probably  not,  as  it  is  thought  he  was 
over  this  part  of  Illinois  looking  after  scattering  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
congregations,  and  organizing  them  into  churches.  Hence,  he  would  be  here 
but  a  little.  Their  earliest  minister  was  Rev.  Isaac  Bennett,  a  rather  eccentric 
character,  w;ho,  it  will  be  observed,  is  noticed  elsewhere  in  this  work.  He  was 
here  some  three  or  four  years.  This  church  was  the  first  Presbyterian  Church 
established  in  the  county,  and  was,  for  a  number  of  years,  the  only  place  of 
worship  in  the  township.  The  Church  records  show  no  additions  until  the 
next  summer.  On  July  24,  1831,  fourteen  more  members  are  received,  eleven 
on  certificate,  and  three  on  profession.  These  are  the  members  of  the  colony 
whose  history  is  given  on  previous  pages.  They  came  the  fall  after  the  or^ni- 
zation  of  the  Church,  but,  being  principally  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church,  waited  a  while  hoping  to  found  a  church  of  their  own.  As  the 
settlement  was  young,  however,  they  gave  up  such  plans  for  awhile,  and  joined 
with  the  Indian  Point  Church. 

The  next  summer — 1832 — on  June  1,  the  members  met  and  ascreed  to 
donate  so  many  days  of  work  each,  in  building  a  church.  It  'was  to  be  of 
logs.  24x30  feet  in  size.  The  original  list  of  [subscriptions  show  from  two 
to  twelve  days'  labor  subscribed  by  each  one,  while  Mr.  Barnett  subscribed 
twenty-six  spikes,  and  William  Wayne  thirty  ^bushels  of  lime.  In  all,  eighty 
days  were  subscribed,  and,  that  fall,  the  church  was  raised  and  covered.     It 


426  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

could  be  used  only  in  the  warm  weather,  as  no  floor  or  windows  were  yet  made. 
The  flooring  was  afterward  sawn  out  by  a  whip-saw,  an  exceedingly  long  and 
tiresome  process,  while  the  siding  and  roof  were  made  from  slabs  split  out  with 
a  maul  and  wedges,  and  dressed  with  a  frow.  The  church,  made  in  this  man- 
ner, was  considered  quite  an  aflair,  for  the  times,  and,  considering  the  appli- 
ances at  hand,  and  the  labor  necessary  to  build  a  frame  house  in  that  manner, 
it  is  certainly  creditable.  It  had  two  doors  in  front,  between  which  the  pulpit 
was  placed.  The  latter  was  one  of  those  high,  old-fashioned,  box-like  aff'airs, 
behind  which  the  minister  was  pretty  eff"ectually  screened.  It  is  said  that, 
when  Mr.  Bennett  sat  down  in  it,  the  top  of  his  head  only  was  visible  to  the 
congregation.  The  seats  in  this  church  were  made  by  placing  long  slabs  on 
trestles.  They  were  without  backs,  and  placed  rather  closely  together.  If 
any  one  became  sleepy  then,  as  now,  and  wanted  to  lean  his  head  forward  on  the 
seat  in  front,  he  had  a  poor  chance,  surely.  May  be  they  did  not  get  sleepy 
then,  as  they  do  now  ;  the  room  was  always  well  ventilated,  and  the  sermon 
more  of  a  rarity  than  now.  The  church  remained  in  its  unfinished  condition 
about  two  years.  The  one  who  subscribed  the  lime  failed  to  produce  it,  and, 
as  Rev.  John  McDonald,  now  the  Pastor,  possessed  energy  in  worldly  matters, 
as  well  as  in  spiritual,  he,  with  the  aid  of  Mr.  Nicholson,  yet  living  in  the 
neighborhood,  prepared  to  remedy  the  deficiency,  and  make  the  house  comfort- 
able in  cold  as  well  as  in  warm  weather.  Rev.  McDonald  found  a  lime-rock  in 
the  Indian  Creek,  and  it  was  determined  to  upe  it  to  plaster  the  church.  Logs 
were  hauled  by  the  members  and  piled  around  and  on  it,  and,  being  set  on 
fire,  burned  it  to  a  pulverized  condition.  By  the  aid  of  sand,  also  found  here, 
Mr.  McDonald  and  his  parishioners  made  an  excellent  plaster,  and,  having  put 
split  lath  on  the  inner  side  of  the  house,  the  worthy  minister  plastered  the 
church  with  his  own  hands.  As  the  weather  was  cold  at  the  time,  he  took  up  ^ 
the  floor  of  the  church,  made  a  bed  of  sand  in  the  center  of  the  inclosure,  and 
therein  kept  a  great  fire  burning  until  the  plastering  was  thoroughly  dried. 

In  1834,  the  congregation  employed  Rev.  James  H.  Shields,  of  Indiana,  one- 
half  his  time.  He,  however,  sent  them  word,  afterward,  that  he  could  not 
attend.  The  congregation  was  growing  very  well  at  this  date,  the  main  losses 
being  those  who  left  to  unite  with  other  churches  of  their  own  particular  creed, 
which  they  could  not  find  when  they  came  first  to  the  country.  Rev.  Bennett 
remained  here,  at  different  times,  several  years.  He  had  been  in  the  county 
when  it  was  first  settled  ;  had  made  three  trips  on  horse-back  between  Philadel- 
phia and  his  charges  in  the  West,  and  had  seen  the  infant  congregations  expand 
into  self-supporting  charges.  His  old,  faithful  horse  passed  its  declining  days 
in  this  part  of  the  State,  dying  at  last  in  Lawrence  County,  where,  out  of 
respect  to  its  master  and  its  own  good  service,  it  was  given  a  decent  interment 
by  some  young  men. 

In  examining  old  records  of  the  Church,  and,  indeed,  of  all  churches  of 
that  date,  we  find  many  phases  of  human  life  exemplified.      Then  the  church 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUIITY.  427 

assumed  more  of  the  functions  of  a  court  than  now,  and  tried  persons  who  com- 
m'itted  acts  unworthy  their  profession.  The  records  of  Indian  Point  Church 
show  that  a  certain  member  was  found  "  guilty  of  making  cheese  on  the  Sab- 
bath Day,"  and  was  suspended.  Others  are,  at  times,  "admonished."  The 
church  grew  alt  the  while,  and,  where  any  took  offense  at  such  proceedings, 
they  were  at  liberty  to  withdraw. 

This  part  of  the  West  was  too  remote  in  the  wilderness  to  note  the  trans- 
actions of  important  events  when  they  transpired.  It  took  several  weeks  for 
the  news  to  reach  the  inland  settlement  of  Illinois  at  that  day.  Hence,  when 
the  dismemberment  of  the  great  Presbyterian  Church  occurred,  we  find  no  note 
is  taken  of  it  in  Pleasant  Prairie  until  a  year  or  two  after  it  had  occurred.  On 
August  9,  1839,  the  members  of  the  Pleasant  Prairie  Church  met  to  consider 
that  question,  and  after  a  discussion  and  explanation  of  the  division,  a  ballot 
was  taken  to  decide  to  which  of  the  two  great  bodies — technically  called  Old  and 
New  School — they  should  annex  themselves.  They  seemed  to  be  pretty  evenly 
divided,  as  a  majority  of  3  votes  was  cast  to  remain  with  the  "  Old  School." 
The  dissenters  to  this  view  numbered  thirty-one,  and  drawing  off"  formed  a  new 
Church,  and  from  this  date  down  to  the  re-union  in  1871,  we  find  two  congrega- 
tions. They  were  so  amicably  situated  that  by  an  outsider,  however,  the  differ- 
ence could  not  have  been  detected.  Both  congregations  used  the  same  house, 
though  each  employed  their  own  Pastor  and  managed  their  own  aff"airs.  The 
old  Church  was  left  with  twenty-five  members,  whose  first  minister  was  Rev. 
John  McDonald,  who  had  come  from  Ohio  to  the  north  part  of  the  State,  and 
who  had  attended  the  first  meeting  of  a  Presbyterian  Presbytery  in  Illinois,  at 
the  house  of  Rev.  Stephen  Bliss,  in  Wabash  County.  When  he  came  to  Pleas- 
ant Prairie,  he  lived  in  a  split-log  or  pole  cabin,  near  the  church,  that  had  here- 
tofore been  used  for  a  schoolhouse.  He  lived  in  this  until  he  could  erect  a  house 
for  himself  and  his  family,  into  which  they  moved  when  it  Avas  completed.  He 
died  about  twelve  years  ago.  The  family  still  reside  on  the  old  homestead. 
He  remained  in  charge  of  the  Church  until  his  health  failed,  even  then  preach- 
ing occasionally.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Adams,  who  came  from 
Philadelphia,  and  remained  about  two  years.  He,  in  turn,  by  Rev.  R.  A. 
Mitchell,  who  lived  in  Charleston  ;  he,  by  Rev.  Elliott ;  he,  by  James  W.  Alli- 
son ;  he,  by  A.  Kemper,  of  Mattoon  ;  he,  by  Nathaniel  Williams  ;  he,  by  Ellis 
Howell,  under  whose  ministry  the  re-union  occurred ;  he,  by  Robert  Ash  ;  he, 
by  George  W.  Davis,  and  he,  by  the  present  Pastor,  R.  G.  Ross. 

The  New-School  branch  first  employed  Rev.  John  C.  Campbell.  His  suc- 
cessors were  C.  H.  Palmer,  Joseph  Wilson,  who  remained  here  a  number  of 
years,  and  E.  Kingsbury.  When  the  congregation  re-united  with  the  other  and 
original  one,  they  came  under  the  care  of  the  minister  there. 

The  old  church,  built  by  contribution  of  labor,  spikes  and  lime,  and  plastered 
by  Rev.  McDonald,  remained  in  use  until  1852,  when  the  Old-School  branch 
built  the  house  standing  just^back  of  the  present  church.     This,  like  its  prede- 


428  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

cessor,  was  used  by  both  congregations  until  1857,  when  the  New-School  branch 
built  a  neat  frame  church  in  the  village  of  Farmington.  They  were  assisted  in 
the  effort  by  the  Methodists  in  that  vicinity,  who  were  allowed  to  use  the  house 
in  consequence.  This  was  done  till  1866,  when  they  completed  their  own 
church.  The  Old-School  congregation  used  the  church  built  in  1852  till  186G, 
when,  becoming  too  small  and  worn  out,  it  was  replaced  by  the  present  one; 
dedicated  when  Rev.  Howell  was  Pastor. 

On  the  14th  of  October.  1871,  the  Mattoon  Presbyterv  united  the  two 
Churches  as  one  congregation  again,  employing  one  minister,  still  keeping  both 
houses  of  worship,  holding  services  alternately  in  each. 

As  has  been  incidentally  mentioned,  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians  and  the 
Methodists  began  organizing  Churches  about  the  year  1850  or  1852 — possibly, 
earlier.  The  strongest  Methodist  community  was  in  INIattoon  Township,  then 
Paradise  Precinct,  at  the  head  of  the  Wabash  Point  timber.  Its  history  will 
be  found  in  the  history  of  that  settlement,  and  there,  it  will  be  observed,  it 
antedates  the  Indian  Creek  Presbyterian  Church  a  year  or  two  in  point  of 
organization.  The  denomination  began  holding  meetings  in  Pleasant  Prairie 
early  in  the  life  of  that  settlement.  They  united  with  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
l)yterians  in  the  west  side  of  the  township  in  erecting  a  house  of  worship,  about 
1852  or  1853,  and -with  them  occupied  it,  alternately,  until  1866,  the  centen- 
nial year  of  American  Methodism,  when  they  completed  their  present  house  of 
worship,  situated  near  the  southwestern  part  of  the  township.  It  was  dedicated 
April  29,  1866,  when  Rev.  J.  H.  Aldrich  was  Pastor.  The  dedicatory  sermon 
was  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  Phillips.  The  Church  is  known  as  the  Muddy  Point 
M.  E.  Church,  from  its  location  in  the  vicinity  of  that  stream,  and  can  trace 
its  origin  to  the  time  the  original  Methodist  Church  at  Wabash  Point  divided 
into  three  congregations,  to  suit  the  members,  who  were  too  widely  scattered  to 
attend  there,  and  organized  churches  in  their  own  neighborhoods.  Almost 
cotemporary  Avith  the  organization  of  the  Muddy  Point  Church,  one  was  formed 
in  the  "Goose-Nest  Prairie."  They,  like  all  other  infantile  congregations, 
held  meetings  at  first  in  each  other's  cabins.  When  the  brick  schoolhouse  was 
built  in  Farmington,  in  1853,  they,  with  the  Presbyterians,  occupied  that. 
Then,  when  this  latter  denomination  built  their  church  in  the  village,  the 
Methodists  aided  them,  and  were,  in  consequence,  allowed  the  use  of  their 
house  of  worship.  This  arrangement  was  continued  until  they  built  their  own 
church,  in  1866.     They  have  a  good  congregation  at  present. 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterians  organized  their  first  Church  at  Muddy  Point 
in  1833.  It  is  known  as  the  Good  Prospect  Church,  and  was  organized  by 
Rev.  Isaac  Hill.  They  met  in  dwellings  and  schoolhouses,  at  first,  continuing 
the  practice  till  1864,  when  they  completed  their  present  house  of  worship. 
For  several  years  prior  to  this  time,  they  occupied  a  large  schoolhouse,  which 
answered  every  purpose.  Their  principal  pastors  have  been  Revs.  Isaac  Hill, 
Daniel  Campbell,  James  Ashmore  and  J.  W.  Woods.     The  latter  is  now  living 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  429 

in  Mattoon.      The  membership  is  now  about  eighty  ;    the   Sunday  school  of 
about  the  same  number. 

The  second  church  of  this  denomination  is  the  outgrowth  of  a  great  revival, 
occurring  in  1837.  Those  who  are  now  living  and  attended  that  revival  will, 
doubtless,  remember  the  powerful  sermon  preached  by  Rev.  Mitchell,  of  Charles- 
ton, then  expecting  to  go  to  China  as  a  missionary.  As  the  result  of  this 
revival,  a  large  accession  accrued  to  the  Church ;  and,  in  1843,  the  second  con- 
gregation, known  as  Pleasant  Grove  Church,  was  organized  by  Rev.  J.  W. 
Woods.  Their  first  meetings  were  held  in  the  houses  of  William  •Gammill  (who 
will  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  early  members  in  the  Indian  Point  Presbyte- 
rian Church)  and  John  Whetstone,  and  in  a  schoolhouse  in  the  neighborhood. 
The  principal  members  were  those  named  and  the  families  of  Alfred  Alexander, 
Michael  Whetstone  and  C.  J.  Dexter.  Their  pastors  have  been  Revs.  Woods, 
Isaac  Hill,  James  Ashmore  and  others.  The  membership  is  now  about  seventy, 
and  the  attendance  at  Sunday  school  about  the  same.  Their  house  of  worship 
was  erected  in  1856,  and  was  used,  occasionally,  by  the  Methodists,  who  assisted 
in  its  erection.  These  two  Churches  and  the  Methodist  Church  are  all  in  this 
part  of  the  township.     They  evince  a  people  religious  in  feeling. 

FARMINGTON. 

This  village,  the  only  one  in  the  township,  is  situated  on  Section  16.  It 
was  laid  out  April  25,  1852,  by  Thomas  Lytle,  a  surveyor,  for  John  J.  Adams, 
owner  of  the  land  on  which  it  is  situated.  A  post  ofiice  had  existed  for  some 
time  before  this  in  this  community,  known  as  Campbell  Post  Office,  as  it  was 
started  by  Frank  Campbell,  the  first  Postmaster  here.  ^I'he  office  at  Farming- 
ton  is  yet  known  by  that  name.  The  village  received  its  name  from  Mrs. 
Adams,  who  named  it  for  Farmington,  Tenn.  There  being  one  post  office  of 
that  name  in  the  State,  when  the  village  started,  the  Post  Office  Department 
refused  to  change  the  office  name  to  correspond,  hence  it  is  yet  known  as  Camp- 
bell's Post  Office.  Soon  after  the  village  was  platted,  Leander  Burlingame 
built  a  house  and  store  and  opened  a  stock  of  goods.  About  the  same  time. 
Dr.  Halbrooks  and  Samuel  A.  Reel  erected  a  store  and  began  business.  Which 
of  these  two  stores  was  first  is  hard  to  determine.  It  is  probable  they  were 
erected  at  the  same  time  and  opened  within  a  few  days  of  each  other.  The  post  office 
was  soon  after  moved  into  the  village,  a  blacksmith  named  Gr.  F.  Biddle  came, 
and  the  life  of  the  village  assumed  tangibility.  The  next  year  the  residents 
in  this  community,  desirous  of  better  educational  advantages,  erected  a  very 
good  and  substantial  brick  schoolhouse,  intending  it  for  seminary  purposes.  It 
was  named  Farmington  Seminary,  and,  for  a  time,  a  very  creditable  school  was 
maintained  here.  It  also  served  as  a  place  of  public  worship  for  the  Meth- 
odists, who  were  numerous  in  this  part  of  the  township.  It  answered  the 
double  purpose  of  school  and  church  until  1857,  when  the  Presbyterians  erected, 
with  the  aid  of  the  Methodists,  a  neat  frame  house   of  worship  in  the  western 


430  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

part  of  town,  and  public  religious  services  were  thereafter  held  there.  The 
advent  of  the  free  schools  brought  a  better  system  of  education,  and  the  Seminary 
was  abandoned,  the  building  turned  over  to  the  school  authorities  of  the  town- 
ship, and  common  school  held  therein.  After  the  village  grew  so  that  the 
building  became  too  small,  it  was  sold,  changed  into  a  store,  and  the  present 
two-roomed  house  erected. 

The  foregoing  narrative  shows  the  earliest  attempts  to  found  a  church  in  the 
village :  As  early  as  1835,  the  Methodist  ministers  were  in  this  part  of  the 
county,  organizing  classes  and  laying  the  foundations  for  churches.  Rev. 
McKee  was  one  of  the  earliest  remembered.  Rev.  Ryan,  another  early  circuit- 
rider,  organized  a  class  of  ten  or  twelve  members  in  Goose-Nest  Prairie,  at 
George  Rogers'  house,  not  long  after  the  settlement  was  made.  They  used 
each  other's  cabins  at  first,  then  the  log  schoolhouses,  next  the  brick  seminary, 
then  the  Presbyterian  Church  they  assisted  in  building,  which  they  occupied 
until  they  completed  their  own  house  of  worship  in  1866.  It  is  a  comfortable, 
neat  frame  church  and  accommodates  a  good  congregation.  The  history  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  village  need  not  be  repeated  here,  as  it  is 
sufficiently  given  in  the  sketch  of  the  churches  in  the  township  history.  The 
Pastor  of  both  charges — practically  one  congregation — resides  in  the  village, 
preaching  alternately  in  each  church. 

The  village  is  yet  small,  containing,  perhaps,  one  hundred  inhabitants.  The 
tiouring-mill  of  Adams  &  Freeman,  erected  in  1866,  by  Harris  &  Crow,  does  a 
very  fair  business.  It  has  only  a  local  trade  ;  but  it  is  constant  and  self-sup- 
porting. They  can  readily  find  a  market  for  all  they  can  grind  above  the  wants 
of  their  customers. 

The  post  office,  Larna,  is  kept  by  Mr.  George  B,  Balch,  who  aided  the  rail- 
road in  this  section,  and  who  makes  a  stopping-place  at  his  house  for  the  trains. 
It  is  a  very  convenient  place  for  the  neighborhood,  and  should  be  maintained, 
and  a  depot  erected.  Another  stopping-place  is  made  a  few  miles  north,  on  the 
farm  of  Mr.  Miller,  from  whom  the  place  takes  its  name.  No  depot,  office  or 
platform  is  made  here,  however. 

We  have  now  given  in  outline  the  history  of  Pleasant  Grove  Township.  Its 
details  would  fill  a  volume.  There  would,  however,  be  much  repetition,  Avhich  we 
have  found  difficult  to  avoid,  and  which  we  trust  we  have  accomplished.  The  biog- 
raphies of  many  of  her  citizens  given  elsewhere  in  these  pages  show  much  of  the 
history  which  this  volume  perpetuates,  and  in  away  it  only  can  be  perpetuated. 
Had  a  similar  work  been  published  in  the  counties  wherein  we  were  raised,  who 
would  not  prize  it  ? 

HUTTON    TOWNSHIP. 

The  township  of  Hutton  forms  an  important  part  of  the  history  of  Coles 
County,  inasmuch  as  the  first  settlement  within  its  present  limits  by  civilized 
white  men  was  made  in  this  township  more  than  half  a  century  ago.     How 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  431 

-many  pages  have  been  added  to  the  history  of  the  world  in  that  period  of  time ! 
Empires,  kingdoms,  nations  and  principalities  have  been  blotted  out,  and 
the  remembrance  of  their  glory  has  almost  faded  from  the  minds  of  men  as  the 
"  waves  of  dark  oblivion's  sea  sweep  o'er  them,"  scarcely  leaving  a  trace  to  tell 
how,  or  when,  or  where  they  sunk.  "Thrones  tottering  have  fallen;  crowns 
crumbling  have  disappeared;"  ancient  palaces,  in  whose  spacious  halls  the 
"  mightiest  monarchs  proudly  trod,''  have  been,  as  it  were,  swept  from  the  very 
face  of  the  earth.  The  storm  of  war  has  raged  through  our  own  fair  land,  con- 
vulsing the  Republic  from  its  "  center  to  its  circumference,"  and  threatening 
for  a  time  its  total  destruction.  The  tempest  roared  and  howled  with  terrific 
force,  then  passed  by,  and  the  olive  branch  of  peace  bloomed  over  the  nation 
fairer  than  ever.  These  are  but  a  few  of  the  mighty  events  that  have  transpired 
in  the  half-century  gone  by  since  the  first  settlement  was  made  here  by  white 
people. 

Hutton  Township  lies  in  the  southeast  part  of  Coles  County,  and  is  bounded 
on  the  south  and  east  by  Cumberland  and  Clark  Counties,  on  the  north  by  Ash- 
more  Township,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Embarrass  River.  It  is  well  drained  by  the 
latter  stream,  and  the  small  water-courses  that  meander  through  it.  At  the  time 
of  the  early  settlement  of  Hutton,  it  contained  much  fine  timber-land,  though 
about  half  of  the  town,  perhaps,  is  prairie.  It  is  considerably  above  the  size  of 
a  Congressional  township,  embracing  within  its  limits  some  fifty-four  sections  of 
land.  No  railroads  intersect  it,  but  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroad 
passes  in  a  few  miles  of  its  north  line,  and  the  Vandalia  line  a  little  south  of  it, 
so  that  its  railroad  facilities  are  not  at  all  restricted. 

SETTLEMENT. 

As  we  stated  above,  the  first  settlement  in  the  county  was  made  in  Hutton 
Township.  In  1824,  John  Parker  and  his  sons,  Benjamin,  Daniel,  Silas  and 
James  Parker,  and  Samuel  Kellogg  and  his  wife,  made  a  settlement  here,  and 
composed  this  first  colony  of  pioneers  in  Hutton  Township.  But  one  of  the 
little  band  of  pilgrims  is  now  alive — the  widow  of  Samuel  Kellogg,  who  lives  at 
present  in  the  city  of  Charleston.  They  settled  on  the  Embarrass  River,  just 
opposite  where  the  Blakeman  Mills  now  stand.  Some  of  the  Parkers  afterward 
settled  in  Charleston  Township,  where  they  are  noticed  among  the  early  settlers 
of  that  section.  Most  of  them  moved  to  Texas  years  ago,  as  elsewhere  men- 
tioned, and  where  two  or  three  members  of  the  family  suffered  severely  by  the 
Indians,  two  of  them,  at  least,  losing  their  lives.*  A  daughter  of  James  Par- 
ker was  taken  prisoner  by  the  savages,  and  held  for  some  time  in  captivity,  sub- 
jected to  all  kinds  of  cruelty.  She  was  married  to  a  man  named  Plummer,  who 
was  killed  at  the  fort  where  the  Parkers  were  living  at  the  time  she  was  capt- 
ured. During  her  captivity  among  the  Indians,  she  gave  birth  to  a  child, 
which  the  savages  killed  before  her  eyes.     Her  father  had  a  long  search  for  her, 

*Since  the  above  was  written,  we  have  been  informed  liy  Mr.  Hutton  that  John  Parlier,  the  old  gentleman,  and  two 
of  his  SODS,  were  killed  by  the  Indians  in  Texas.  A  mention  of  the  .sons  being  killed  is  made  in  the  general  county 
history. 


432  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

visiting  many  of  the  tribes  then  in  Texas  before  lie  found  her,  but  finally  did 
find  her,  and  succeeded  in  obtaining  her  release.  John  Parker  (High  Johnny, 
his  friends  called  him)  was  a  Baptist  preacher,  and  one  of  the  first  in  Coles 
County.  lie  was  of  the  old  Predestinarian  belief,  and  many  humorous  anec- 
dotes are  related  at  the  old  gentleman's  expense.  One  or  two  of  his  sons  were 
also  preachers ;  in  fact,  the  Parkers  seem  to  have  been  a  family  of  preachers, 
and  proclaimed  the  Word  freely  to  perishing  sinners.  They  ignored  the  doc- 
trine, although  of  divine  origin,  that  "the  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire,"  and 
would  accept  no  pay  for  the  promulgation  of  the  Gospel,  but  zealously  toiled  in 
the  cause  of  the  Master,  without  money  and  without  price.  Taken  all  in  all, 
they  were  a  remarkable  family,  and  rather  above  the  mediocre  in  intellect  and 
ability.  Daniel  Parker,  one  of  the  sons,  was  a  preacher,  and  perhaps  the  most 
intelligent  one  of  the  name.  He  represented  Crawford  County  (before  their 
removal  to  this  county)  in  the  Legislature  a  term  or  two,  and  was  an  able  repre- 
sentative as  well  as  preacher.  It  is  told  of  him,  that,  although  a  minister  of 
the  Gospel,  he  would  work  all  the  week  on  his  farm,  and  then  take  his  gun  on 
Sunday,  and  kill  deer  enough  to  furnish  his  family  in  meat  until  the  next  Sun- 
day. When  some  of  the  stricter  people  spoke  to  him  in  regard  to  such  a  ques- 
tionable way  of  serving  the  Lord,  he  told  them  if  he  ever  got  able  to  live  with- 
out having  to  work  so  hard,  and  to  have  time  to  kill  his  meat  in  the  week,  he 
would  cheerfully  do  it,  but  then  it  was  a  case  of  the  boy  and  the  woodchuck, 
"he  had  to."  Daniel  Parker  is  mentioned,  in  another  page,  as  preaching  the 
first  sermon  in  Hutton  Township,  and  Benjamin  Parker  as  building  the  first 
mill. 

Another  family  of  Parkers,  and  not  related  to  those  above  mentioned,  set- 
tled in  this  township  in  the  winter  of  1825-26,  on  what  is  called  Parker 
Prairie,  and  from  them  the  prairie  received  its  name.  George  Parker  and  his 
sons,  Samuel,  Daniel,  Jeptha  and  William  Parker  composed  this  settlement. 
They  were  originally  from  Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  removed  to  Crawford 
County,  111.,  in  1817,  locating  south  of  Palestine,  where  they  remained  until 
their  settlement  in  this  town,  on  Parker  Prairie.  Samuel  Parker  went  back  to 
Crawford  Countv  and  died  there,  some  of  them  died  here,  and  Daniel  and 
Jeptha  are  still  living  in  the  township,  prominent  farmers.  George  Parker  is 
said  to  have  entered  the  first  land  in  Coles  County. 

John  Hutton,  one  of  the  esteemed  citizens  of  this  township,  has,  probably, 
been  acquainted  with  Coles  County  longer  than  any  man  now  living.  There 
are  older  residents  of  the  county  than  he,  but  none  who  knew  it  so  early.  He 
assisted  the  Parkers  in  moving  to  this  township,  in  1824,  and  spent  several 
days  in  bee-hunting  in  the  heavy-timbered  sections.  Says  that  he  was  on  the 
ground  where  Charleston  now  stands  during  that  trip,  and  that  there  is  not 
another  man  living  that  can  truthfully  make  the  same  statement — a  fact  that  is, 
perhaps,  undisputed.  While  here  at  that  time,  he  heard  the  first  sermon 
preached   in  the  present  territory  ol  Coles   County.     It  was   in  a  small  log 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  433 

cabin,  and  though  every  man,  woman  and  child  in  the  county  were  present,  the 
house,  he  says,  was  by  no  means  crowded..  Daniel  Parker  preached  the 
sermon,  and,  at  its  close,  old  "Father  High  Johnny  "  made  the  quaint  remark 
quoted  in  another  page  :  "  Brethren,  we  have  wandered  far  into  the  wilderness, 
but  even  here  death  will  find  us." 

When  Mr.  Hutton  started  back  home  (he  then  lived  in  Crawford  County), 
he  took  a  straight  course  through  the  forests  and  across  the  prairies  to  save  dis- 
tance, as  around  the  trail  was  much  further.  He  had  an  ox-team,  with  which 
he  had  hauled  a  load  of  "  plunder  "  for  the  Parkers  to  their  new  home,  and  trav- 
eled very  slowly  ;  consequently,  was  several  days  making  the  trip.  When  night 
came,  he  would  tie  up  his  cattle,  and  ''camp  till  morning."  One  night,  a 
panther  "  squalled  and  screamed  "  around  his  lonely  camp  for  an  hour  or  two, 
frightening  his  oxen  considerably,  and  himself  somewhat ;  but,  as  he  kept  up  a 
bright  fire,  it  finally  retired  without  making  an  attack.  Notwithstanding  he 
traveled  through  the  unbroken  country,  where  no  trail  had  been  marked,  he 
made  the  trip  in  safety,  and  without  the  least  bewilderment.  So  well-skilled 
were  the  pioneers  in  woodcraft,  that  they  read  signs  in  the  forest  like  a  printed 
book,  and  the  very  bark  of  the  trees  was  to  them  the  points  of  the  compass. 

Mr.  Hutton  is  a  native  of  Montgomery  County,  Ky.,  and  came  to  Illinois, 
with  his  parents,  when  quite  young,  and  settled  in  Crawford  County,  in  1816, 
where  he  remained  until  1834,  when  he  removed  to  Hutton  Township,  where 
he  has  since  lived.  His  mother  came  here  with  him,  his  father  having  died  in. 
Crawford  County.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  from  the  latter- 
named  county,  and  went  out  in  the  company  commanded  by  Capt.  Alexander 
Huston,  long  a  resident  of  Palestine.  He  was  one  of  the  few  "pale-faces" 
who  crossed  the  Mississippi  after  the  Indians  in  that  memorable  campaign.  He 
has  always  been  a  prominent  and  enterprising  man  in  his  neighborhood ;  was 
one  of  the  Commissioners  to  lay  off  the  county  into  townships,  and  was  the 
first  Supervisor  of  Hutton  Township,  an  office  beheld  three  terms  in  succession, 
and  from  him  the  town  received  its  name.  He  was  a  great  fox-hunter,  in  his 
day,  and  many  are  the  stories  he  can  tell  of  his  exciting  chases  after  Reynard. 
He  kept  a  pack  of  hounds  for  the  purpose,  and  a  fox-chase  was  his  most  enjoy- 
able pastime.  Though  in  his  seventy-ninth  year,  Mr.  Hutton  has  an  excellent 
memory,  and  is  enjoying  fine  health  for  his  advanced  age.  To  his  vivid  recol- 
lection we  are  indebted  for  many  particulars  that,  but  for  him,  would  ere  now 
have  been  lost. 

Kentucky  contributed  the  following  early  settlers  to  Hutton  Township: 
The  Conleys,  the  Rennelses,  Richard  0.  Wells,  the  Beavers,  the  Branden- 
burgs,  George  and  John  J.  Cottingham,  the  Goodmans,  the  Evingers,  William 
Stivers,  and  perhaps  others.  The  Conleys  emigrated  to  Indiana,  and  lived 
some  time  in  Lawrence  County  before  coming  to  Illinois.  Joel  Conley,  the 
father  of  all  the  Conleys,  was  a  North  Carolinian,  but  removed  to  Kentucky, 
and  from  thence  to  Indiana,  and  in  1832,  to  this  township.      He  died  on  the 


434  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

farm  where  his  son,  Edmond  Conley,  now  lives.  His  son,  Jack  Conley,  went  to 
Texas,  and  William  to  California,  where  they  died.  Edmond,  Elijah  and 
Washington  Conley  still  live  in  Hutton  Township,  and  are  among  the  prosper- 
ous and  energetic  men  of  the  community.  The  Rennelses  came  from  Madison 
County,  and  located  in  what  is  known  as  the  Rennels  Settlement,  a  mile  or 
two  from  the  little  village  of  Salisbury.  James  Rennels  was  the  first  one  to 
settle  in  the  township,  locating  on  Section  32,  in  1832,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided.  John  Rennels,  his  father,  came  to  the  township  in  1837,  and 
settled  near  by,  where  he  died  in  1866,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-five  years. 
He  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  Delaware,  and  emigrated  to  Kentucky  at  an 
early  day,  when  the  Indians  were  extremely  hostile,  and  committing  all  sorts 
of  depredations  in  the  "dark  and  bloody  ground."  William  Rennels,  another 
son,  moved  here  at  the  same  time  his  father  came,  and  settled  on  the  place 
where  he  still  lives.  The  Rennels  family  is  a  large  one,  and  embraces  some  of 
the  thrifty  farmers  of  the  country.  Richard  0.  Wells  was  from  Bourbon 
County,  and  settled  in  Hutton  Township  in  1838.  He  remained  here  but  a 
few  years,  when  he  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  resided  there  until  1853,  and 
moved  back  to  this  township  and  settled  where  he  now  lives.  F.  M.  Wells,  a 
son  of  his,  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Twenty-first  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  died 
in  1865,  on  his  way  home  from  the  war.  It  is  a  melancholy  reflection.  He 
had  served  through  the  war  and  the  banner  of  peace  again  waved  over  the 
country,  but  he  died  before  reaching  home,  where  loved  ones  anxiously  awaited 
his  coming.  The  Beavers  are  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion,  but  emigrated  to 
Kentucky  when  it  was  in  a  wild  state,  and  the  hunting-grounds  of  hostile 
Indians.  William  Beaver  came  to  Illinois  in  1827,  and  settled  in  the  Rich 
Woods,  in  the  present  bounds  of  Clark  County,  where  he  remained  until  1830, 
when  he  came  to  this  township  and  entered  the  land  upon  which  he  now  lives. 
For  forty-nine  years  he  has  been  living  on  the  same  farm — a  lifetime  of  itself. 
When  he  came  to  this  State,  the  land  was  owned  by  the  Kickapoo  Indians, 
who  were  thick  in  the  neighborhood.  He  remembers  when  cutting  some  "bee 
trees"  at  Long  Point,  of  seeing  the  runners  sent  out  by  Black  Hawk  to  sum- 
mon the  Indians  to  the  grand  powwow,  of  Avhich  the  Black  Hawk  or  Sac 
war  was  the  final  result.  Mr.  Beaver  is  over  eighty  years  old,  is  remarkably 
active,  and  seemingly  good  for  another  decade.  Mathias  Beaver  came  from 
Meade  County,  and  settled  in  Hutton  in  1833,  where  he  still  resides,  an  enter- 
prising farmer.  Albert  Beaver  was  a  soldier  in  the  Fifty- fourth  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers in  the  late  war,  but  was  discharged  on  account  of  ill-health.  Solomon 
Brandenburg,  the  progenitor  of  the  Brandenburg  family,  came  to  this  toAvnship 
in  1829,  and  settled  on  Section  14,  where  he  died  in  1861.  He  first  settled  at 
White  Oak  Point,  on  Grand  Prairie,  but  did  not  remain  there 'long  until  he 
removed  to  Hutton,  as  above  noted.  Among  the  worthy  farmers  and  citizens 
of  the  town,  are  his  sons,  James,  William,  Solomon,  Calvin  and  Charles  Bran- 
denburg.     George   Cottingham   was   originally   from    Maryland,  but   a\  nit   to 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  435 

Kentucky  in  the  early  times.  In  1836,  he,  with  his  family,  removed  to  Illi- 
nois and  settled  in  this  neighborhood,  where  he  resided  until  1859,  when  he 
came  to  Charleston  to  live  with  his  son.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  and  of  the  war  of  1812.  In  the  former  he  served  under  Uen.  Wash- 
ington, and  professed  to  have  been  well  acquainted  with  the  Father  of  his 
country,  and  for  years  made  Gen.  Washington's  shoes  and  boots.  He  had  a 
strong  desire  to  live  to  vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  for  President  in  1860, 
and  claimed  to  have  voted  for  every  President  from  Washington  down.  What 
a  history.  How  many  changes  he  had  seen  in  the  country  he  had  fought  to 
free  it  from  British  oppression.  From  the  thirteen  feeble  colonies,  he  had  seen 
it  expand  into  nearly  three  times  that  number,  of  great  and  prosperous  States. 
He  died  soon  after  the  Presidential  election  of  1860,  at  the  extreme 
age  of  one  hundred  years.  John  J.  Cottingham,  his  son,  came  to 
Hutton  Township  in  1836,  having  first  settled  in  Clark  County,  where 
he  remained  but  a  short  time.  He  removed  to  the  city  of  Charleston, 
in  1859,  and  died  there  in  1863.  There  are  still  many  younger  members 
of  the  family  living  in  the  township,  and  Mrs.  Hutton,  John  Hutton's 
wife,  is  a  daughter  of  the  elder  Cottingham,  mentioned  above.  The  Goodman 
family  came  from  Putnam  County,  Ind.,  though  originally  they  were  from 
Kentucky.  William  Goodman  died  on  the  way  here,  and  John  and  Thomas 
Goodman  settled  in  the  town  very  early.  John  Goodman  is  dead,  but  Thomas 
is  still  living.  He  is  a  minister  and  lives  in  Charleston.  The  Evingers  were 
among  the  early  settlers  here,  and  came  from  the  vicinity  of  Louisville.  Of 
those  who  were  prominent  men  in  the  township,  were  Daniel,  Jacob,  Henry 
and  Frederick  Evinger.  There  is  a  large  family  of  them,  and  they  are  of  the 
Very  best  men  in  the  neighborhood.  William  Stivers  came  here  about  1829-30. 
He  had  "  run  off  from  Kentucky  and  left  his  woman,"  is  the  way  old  friend 
Beaver  put  it,  and  she  followed  him  to  this  country  and  took  charge  of  him 
"  whether  or  no."  He  was  a  si ey maker  (we  do  not  mean  a  vehicle  on  runners, 
but  an  "implement  "  used  by  our  mothers  and  grandmothers  for  weaving  cloth) 
and  used  to  manufacture  these  useful  articles,  when  the  pioneer  ladies  were 
accustomed  to  make  the  cloth  whereAvith  their  families  were  clothed.  Forty 
or  fifty  years  ago,  the  people  in  this  country  (male  and  female)  wore  few  "store 
clothes,"  but  were  thankful  to  have  sufficient,  even  of  homespun,  to  keep  them 
warm.  As  pertinent  to  the  subject,  and  in  illustration  of  the  times  of  which 
we  write,  we  give  space  to  a  little  poem  from  the  bard  of  Pleasant  Grove : 

"  I  have  been  charmed  by  the  sweet-sounding  lute, 
Oft  been  entranced  by  the  organ  and  flute  ; 
These  things  I  heard,  but  the  music  I  feel 
Is  the  far-  oiF  roar  of  my  mother's  wheel, 
As  with  midnight  lamp  by  its  side  she  stood. 
Still  spinning  the  yarn  to  clotlie  her  dear  brood. 

•'Its  echoes  still  float  up  through  the  long  years, 
To  solace  my  heart  and  sweeten  my  tears  ; 


436  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

And  as  down  life's  stream  my  little  bark  sails, 
Sweet  sounds  may  often  be  borne  on  the  gales  ; 
But  sweeter  by  far,  on  my  soul  will  steal, 
My  childhood's  music — my  dear  mother's  wheel." 

There  are  many  living  in  Coles  County  who  will  recognize  the  truth  of 
these  simple  lines,  and  doubtless  when  they  read  them,  memory  will  roll  back 
over  the  years  that  have  past,  to  kindred  scenes  in  their  own  childhood  homes. 

John  Ashby  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  but  had  lived  some  time  in 
Tennessee  before  emigrating  to  Illinois.  When  he  came  to  this  State,  he  set- 
tled in  Crawford  County,  near  Palestine,  where  he  remained  a  few  years,  and 
then  came  to  this  township  about  1828-29.  He  was  a  blacksmith,  the  first  of 
that  useful  trade  in  the  town ;  he  died  here  many  years  ago.  Another  old 
North  Carolinian  is  Jeremiah  Cooper.  He  came  to  the  township  in  1837,  and 
is  the  oldest  man  now  in  it,  and  perhaps  the  oldest  in  the  county,  being  in  his 
ninety-fifth  year.  Nicholas  Lemming  is  eighty-eight  years  old.  He  is  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  early  days  emigrated  to  Ohio,  then  to  Indiana,  and 
from  thence  to  Crawford  County,  111.,  where  he  remained  a  short  time,  and,  in 
1835,  removed  to  Hutton  Township,  where  he  still  lives,  quite  an  active  man  of 
his  age. 

Grifiin  Tipsoward  was  an  early  settler  in  this  township,  but  after  a  residence 
of  a  few  years,  moved  to  the  neighborhood  of  Kaskaskia.  He  was  an  old  sol- 
dier of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  made  application  for  a  pension  under  a  law 
of  Congress  passed  in  1832,  On  the  early  records  of  the  County  Court  we 
find  the  following  declaration  : 

State  of  Illinois,  1^  p_  jggg^ 

Coles  County,      j 

On  the  ir)th  day  of  October,  personally  appeared  in  open  court  before  Isaac  Lewis  and  James 
S.  Martin,  County  Commissioners  for  the  County  of  Coles,  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  now  sitting, 
and  constituting  said  County  Commissioners'  Court,  Griffin  Tipsoward,  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  in  the  County  of  Coles  and  State  of  Illinois,  aged  77  years,  who,  being  first 
duly  sworn  according  to  law,  doth  on  his  oath  make  the  following  declaration,  in  order  to  obtain 
the  benefit  of  the  Act  of  Congress  passed  June  7th,  1832:  That  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
United  States  as  a  Revolutionary  soldier  under  the  following-named  officers,  and  served  as  herein 
stated,  viz.:  In  General  Rutherford's  Brigade,  Colonel  McKatty's  Regiment,  Major  Horn's  Bat- 
talion and  Captain  Grimes'  Company ;  that  he  entered  the  service  about  the  18th  of  July,  1775, 
and  was  discharged  by  General  Washington  at  the  close  of  the  war,  which  discharge  was  sunk 
in  the  Ohio  River.  That  he  was  in  the  engagement  at  the  battle  of  Eutaw  Springs,  under  General 
Greene,  Col.  McKatty,  Major  Horn  and  Captain  Grimes  ;  that  he  was  in  the  battle  of  King's 
Mountain,  under  Col.  Slielby  ;  that  he  was  in  the  battle  of  Charleston,  under  Col.  McKatty  and 
Capt.  McGwire;  that  he  was  iu  the  battle  of  Cross  Creek,  under  General  Gates,  Col.  McKatty 
and  Capt.  McGwire ;  that  he  was  in  the  battle  of  Hawe  River,  commanded  by  Genl.  Greene,  Col. 
Chamberlain,  Major  Peat  and  Capt.  John  Galloway.  He  states  that  he  was  here  wounded  by  a 
musket-shot  from  the  enemy's  gun.  That  he  marched  first  after  leaving  North  Carolina  into  the 
State  of  Virginia;  that  he  was  at  the  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  under  General  Washington, 
Col.  McKatty  and  Capt.  McGwire.  That  he  lived  in  the  County  of  Roan  and  State  of  North 
Carolina,  when  he  entered  the  service ;  that  he  was  first  drafted  for  three  months ;  he  then,  at 
the  end  of  the  three  months,  volunteered,  and  was  enlisted  during  the  war.  That  he  was  born  in 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  near  the  Susquehanna  River,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  176o ;  that  he 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  437 

has  no  record  of  his  age  that  he  knows  of.  That  he  moved  to  Kentucky  the  second  year  after 
the  expiration  of  the  war;  that  he  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  Boonesborough,  where  he 
resided  until  he  moved  to  the  Territory  of  Illinois,  in  which  Territory  and  State  he  has  resided 
about  twenty  years.  That  he  now  resides  in  Coles  County  and  State  of  Illinois ;  that  he  supposes 
his  name  will  be  easily  found  on  the  Continental  Rolls.  He  hereby  relinquishes  all  claims  what, 
ever  to  a  pension  or  annuity,  except  the  present,  and  declares  that  his  name  is  not  on  the 
pension-roll  of  the  agency  of  any  State. 

Sworn  to  and  subscribed  the  day  and  year  aforesaid.  nia 

Griffin  X  Tipsoward. 
mark 

The  truth  of  this  declaration  is  attested  to  by  John  Parker  and  Joseph 
Painter,  Revolutionary  soldiers  themselves,  and  who  file  similar  declarations  on 
their  own  behalf.  The  honesty  and  respectability  of  the  petitioner  is  also 
attested  by  another  certificate  from  John  Parker,  "  a  minister  of  the  Gospel," 
and  James  Nees,  after  which  is  a  certificate  from  the  County  Commissioners, 
stating  that  they  believe  the  "foregoing  declaration  to  be  true,  and  that  the 
said  GriflSn  Tipsoward  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier  and  served  as  therein 
stated,"  and  recommended  that  the  pension  applied  for  be  paid  him. 

Stephen  Sargent  was  originally  from  New  Hampshire,  but  removed  to  Ken- 
tucky when  that  State  was  in  its  infancy.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1836,  to  Hutton 
Township  in  1838,  and  settled  on  Section  11,  where  he  resided  until  his  death 
in  1878.  Stephen  Stone  was  originally  from  Virginia,  and  was  one  of  the  very 
early  settlers  of  this  town.  He  died  here  many  years  ago.  Reddick 
Cartwright,  a  relative  of  the  famous  pioneer  preacher,  Peter  Cartwright, 
came  to  this  section  about  1827-28.  He  was  from  Tennessee,  and  is 
long  since  dead.  John  Wilkerson,  John  Walker  and  Hugh  Doyle  were  among 
the  early  settlers.  Where  Wilkerson  came  from  is  not  remembered ;  he 
removed  to  Texas  a  good  many  years  ago.  Walker  was  from  Indiana  here,  and 
died  long  ago.  Doyle  came  here  from  Crawford  County,  and  moved  to  Missouri, 
where  he  died.  Andrew  Endsley  came  from  Ohio  in  1838,  and  settled  near 
the  present  village  of  Salisbury,  where  he  died.  A  son,  Andrew  Endsley,  Jr., 
is  still  living  in  the  neighborhood,  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  the  country. 
Charles  Harris  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Hutton  Township.  He  was 
originally  from  Kentucky,  but  had  been  living  in  the  south  part  of  the  State 
for  some  time  before  coming  to  this  section.  Charles  R.  Martin  came  to  Hut- 
ton in  1837,  and  is  from  Kentucky.  He  has  a  clock,  one  of  the  old-timers,  that 
extends  from  the  floor  to  the  ceiling,  that  has  been  keeping  time  for  ninety  years. 

David  Weaver,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  township,  and  who  has  passed 
to  his  reward  since  we  began  our  work  of  compiling  the  history  of  the  county, 
was  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  In  an  early  day,  his  father  having  determined 
to  emigrate  to  the  West,  packed  his  earthly  all  into  a  wagon,  crossed  the  Alle- 
ghanies  and  continued  the  journey  until  he  reached  Lawrence  County,  Ind. 
Here  he  located,  and,  in  1833,  David  and  a  brother  came  to  Coles  County. 
David  Weaver  settled  in  the  eastern  part  of  what  is  now  Hutton  Township. 
He  is  represented  as  an  energetic  and  public-spirited  man,  joining  heartily  in 


438  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

whatever  was  calculated  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  country.  He  appears 
to  have  been  of  a  rather  restless  disposition,  and  not  contented  long  in  one 
place.  He  entered  land,  bought  land,  and  would  locate,  plant  an  orchard, 
and,  in  a  few  years,  remove  to  another  location.  At  one  time,  he,  with  two 
others,  owned  a  saw-mill  in  what  was  called  "  String  Town,"  and,  a  few  years 
later,  he  and  George  Oliver  had  a  saw-mill  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Embarrass 
River.  The  following  story  is  told  of  his  attempt  to  take  a  flatboat  out  of  the 
Embarrass  River  :  "  During  the  winter,  he  built  the  boat,  upon  the  bank  of 
the  river,  loaded  it  with  hoop-poles  and  waited  for  the  spring  rain  to  raise  the 
river.  Finally,  the  anxiously-expected  freshet  came,  and  his  boat  floated  down 
the  raging  stream.  All  went  well  until  it  reached  Newton,  the  county  seat  of 
Jasper  County,  when  it  became  unmanageable,  drifted  from  the  main  channel, 
struck  a  snag,  and  became  a  total  wreck."  The  following  extract  is  from  an 
obituary  notice  in  the  Charleston  Plaindealer :  ''  While  it  is  true  that  he  has 
gone  to  the  land  'from  whose  bourn  no  traveler  returns,'  yet,  he  is,  and  will 
long  be  remembered,  'by  the  word  he  has  spoken,  the  things  he  has  done.' 
There  has,  perhaps,  been  none  other  of  Coles  County's  pioneers,  who  did  more 
for  the  benefit  of  the  county,  during  its  infancy,  than  Mr.  Weaver.  Beside  fur- 
nishing the  county  with  many  orchards,  he  did  many  other  things  for  its  advance- 
ment. He  aided  in  surveying  and  clearing  out  the  Charleston  and  Westfield 
road,  took  an  active  part  in  the  business  of  the  county,  and  truly,  made  him- 
self a  necessity  to  the  people  in  their  time  of  need.  By  trade,  he  was  a  car- 
penter. As  a  neighbor,  he  was  kind  and  generous,  always  ready  to  lend  a 
helping  hand.  He  died  at  his  residence  in  Hutton  Township,  February  6, 
1879,  leaving  his  aged  companion  to  mourn  his  loss." 

William  Waldruflf  and  Anthony  Cox  settled  in  the  town  in  1828,  on  the 
Parker  Prairie.  Anthony  Cox,  Jr.,  was  a  soldier  in  Company  K,  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-third  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Perry- 
ville,  October  8,  1862.  Jonathan  Parker,  of  Company  F,  same  regiment,  was 
killed  in  same  battle.  James  Nees,  Charles  Miller  and  William  Cook  settled 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  township,  near  the  present  village  of  "  Dog  Town." 
Joseph  Painter*  settled  in  the  neighborhood  soon  after.  He,  too,  was  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier,  and  made  application  for  a  pension  under  act  of  Congress  of  1832. 

This  concludes  the  early  settlers  of  Hutton  Township,  together  with  the 
time  of  their  settlement,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn  them.  There 
are,  doubtless,  many  omissions,  but,  after  tlie  lapse  of  all  these  years,  and  with 
the  fact  that  so  few  of  the  pioneers  are  still  living,  it  is  not  at  all  strange  that 
names  are  overlooked  that  are  deserving  of  record  in  these  pages. 

EARLY    HISTORY. 

When  the  first  white  people  came  to  this  township,  the  whole  country,  north 
and  west,  was  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness,  in  possession  of  the  aborigines. 

*  Joseph  Painter  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  filed  a  declaration  in  the. County  Commissioners'  Court,  apply- 
ing for  a  pension,  similar  to  that  of  Tipsoward,  given  in  this  chapter. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  439 

Wild  beasts,  and  men  as  wild  and  savage  as  they,  roamed  through  it  at  will, 
its  undisputed  masters.  There  are  a  few  still  living  in  Hutton  Township 
who  knew  it  fifty  years  ago,  who  have  known  it  ever  since.  They  remember 
the  "pole  cabins  "  put  up  by  the  early  settlers  as  temporary  shelters  from  the 
fury  of  the  elements ;  they  remember  the  cabins  built  of  logs  split  open,  "  to 
make  them  go  further  ;"  the  puncheon  floors,  with  cracks  large  enough  for  a  child 
to  fall  through ;  the  yawning  fire-place  and  the  chimney  built  of  sticks  and  "  cats 
and  clay."  They,  too,  remember  the  old  Gary  and  barshare  plows,  the  slow- 
going  oxen,  the  "  scythe  and  cradle  "  and  the  wooden-tooth  harrow.  And 
they  remember  the  time  when  they  went  to  the  Sangamon  and  Wabash  Rivers 
to  mill,  spending  a  week  on  the  trip,  and  the  time  when  they  pounded  their  corn 
in  a  block,  sifted  it,  made  bread  of  the  finest  and  hominy  of  the  coarser  meal. 
They  have  seen  the  wilderness  they  first  knew  develop  into  as  fine  and  pros- 
perous a  country  as  the  sun  shines  on. 

The  first  mill  in  Hutton  Township  was  built  by  Benjamin  Parker  in  1824-25, 
on  the  Embarrass  River,  opposite  where  the  Blakeman  Mills  now  stand.  This 
was  supposed  to  be,  as  it  is,  an  excellent  mill-site,  and  thus  attracted  attention 
at  an  early  day.  Before  Parker  built  his  mill  here,  which  was  completed  and 
commenced  operation  in  the  latter  part  of  1825,  the  few  people  then  in  the 
community  used  to  go  to  the  Sangamon  River  to  mill,  and  to  the  Wabash,  near 
Vincennes.  Parker  sold  this  mill  to  a  man  named  Shaw,  and,  after  operating 
it  for  a  time,  Shaw  sold  it  to  Norfolk  &  Baker,  of  Charleston.  They  moved  it 
across  the  river,  to  the  spot  where  the  Blakeman  Mills  stand,  and  where  they, 
later,  erected  the  elegant  mills  now  owned  by  Blakeman.  These  famous  mills 
consist  of  a  large  frame  building,  to  which  there  has  been  added  a  large  brick  struct- 
ure, making  altogether  quite  a  huge  pile  of  buildings.  Several  runs  of  buhrs  are 
kept  pretty  busily  in  motion  to  supply  the  trade.  A  circular-saw  mill  has  been 
added,  which  does  a  large  business  in  lumber. 

The  first  blacksmith  in  Hutton  was  John  Ashby,  mentioned  as  one  of  the 
early  settlers,  who  came  here  from  North  Carolina,  and  opened  a  shop  about 
1827-28,  not  far  from  the  present  village  of  Salisbury.  He  kept  a  shop 
here  many  years,  and  finally  died  in  the  neighborhood.  The  first  orchard 
planted  in  the  township  was  by  David  Weaver,  about  1834-35,  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Smoot  farm.  Previous  to  this  effort  at  fruit-culture,  the  people 
had  to  content  themselves  with  "  sour  grapes."  Who  sold  the  first  goods  in 
the  settlement  it  is  hard  to  say,  at  the  present  time,  but  a  little  store  in  "  String 
Town"  was  perhaps  the  first.  The  first  man  who  administered  to  the  ills  of 
the  body  was  James  Hite,  long  a  resident  of  Ashmore  Township.  He  was  not 
a  regular  physician,  but  being  a  man  of  considerable  intelligence  and  some 
knowledge  of  the  science  of  medicine,  he  could  handle  the  ague  and  bilious 
fever  pretty  successfully,  and  in  such  cases  did  a  great  deal  of  gratuitous  prac- 
tice. Dr.  Ferguson,  of  Charleston,  was  the  first  regular  physician  who  practiced 
in  the  community,  and  for  many  years  visited  the  sick  of  Hutton  Township. 


440  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

The  first  bridge  in  this  township  was  built  across  the  Embarrass  River 
at  the  Blakeman  Mills,  but  just  what  year  is  not  now  remembered.  It 
was  a  wooden  structure,  and  served  for  a  number  of  years,  and  becoming 
useless  was  replaced  with  another  of  its  kind,  which,  in  turn,  was  finally  super- 
seded by  the  splendid  iron  bridge  now  spanning  the  river  at  this  point. 
Mr.  Hutton  was  the  first  person  who  crossed  this  iron  bridge.  Going  to 
Charleston  on  business  one  day,  the  workmen  told  him  they  would  have  the 
new  bridge  ready  for  him  to  cross  on  as  he  came  back.  As  he  returned 
home,  the  floor  not  being  quite  finished,  they  laid  down  loose  plank  so  that 
he  could  cross  over. 

Joel  Conley  and  James  Gill  (the  latter  now  living  in  Cumberland  County) 
were  the  first  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  Hutton  Township.  When  the  county 
adopted  township  organization,  in  1859-60,  John  Hutton  was  the  first  Super- 
visor, and  held  the  office  for  three  terms,  successively,  and  James  Rennels  was 
the  first  Town  Clerk.  At  present,  the  township  officers  are  as  follows,  viz.  : 
W.  R.  Cox,  Supervisor ;  A.  B.  Tucker  and  W.  D.  Merritt,  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  and  Frederick  E.  Cottingham,  Town  Clerk. 

RELIGIOUS    AND    EDUCATIONAL. 

In  our  meanderings,  we  discovered  nine  church-buildings  ;  how  many  others 
are  nestled  among  the  hills  of  Hutton,  we  are  unable  to  say.  Since  that  first  ser- 
mon was  preached  by  Daniel  Parker,  on  the  banks  of  the  Embarrass,  fifty  yearsago, 
the  Gospel  has  spread  in  this  region  proportionately  with  everything  else.  The 
town  has  three  Christian  Churches,  two  United  Brethren,  two  "  Separate "' 
Baptist,  one  Missionary  Baptist,  and  one  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The 
latter  church  was  built  in  1870,  and  is  located  within  a  few  rods  of  Mr.  Hut- 
ton's  residence.  It  is  a  modern  frame  building,  and  has  a  large  and  flourishing 
congregation  ;    Rev.  Mr.  Burks  is  Pastor. 

The  first  of  the  Christian  Churches  was  built  at  "  String  Town,"  about 
1836-37,  and  was  a  little  log  building.  Before  its  erection,  they  held  their 
religious  services  in  the  "  Hickory  "  schoolhouse,  so  called  from  being  built  of 
hickory  logs.  After  using  their  log  church  for  a  number  of  years,  they 
replaced  it  with  a  substantial  brick.  We  do  not  know  if  this  house  was 
built  upon  the  sand,  but  were  told  that;  the  "winds  blew  and  the  floods  came 
and  beat  upon  that  house,  and  it  fell."  In  May,  1876,  it  was  blown  down  to 
the  floor,  during  a  severe  storm.  Since  then,  a  handsome  frame  structure  has 
been  built  on  the  old  brick  foundation.  This  Church  has  a  large  membership, 
of  which  Rev.  Mr.  Young  is  the  spiritual  adviser.  Northeast  of  Salisbury,  is 
another  Christian  Church,  a  brick  building,  and,  west  of  it,  is  also  a  Christian 
Church. 

North  of  Salisbury,  is  a  United  Brethren  Church,  and  southeast  of  the 
little  village,  three  and  a  half  miles,  is  another  of  the  same  denomination. 
Both  of  these  churches  are  in  the  bounds  of  the  same  circuit,  and  Rev.  Mr. 


I 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUIJTY.  441 

Collins  is  the  Pastor  of  both.  The  first  church  erected  in  the  township  was  by 
the  United  Brethren,  just  across  the  line  from  Westfield,  and  was  a  large  frame. 
It  is  still  standing,  but,  since  the  building  of  the  church  at  Westfield,  has  been 
evacuated,  and  is  not  used  now.  There  is  quite  an  extensive  burying-ground 
at  it,  where  sleep  many  of  the  Hutton  pioneers. 

About  three-fourths  of  a  mile  west  of  Mr.  Button's  is  what  is  called  a 
"  Separate"  Baptist  Church,  and  was  built  in  1857  or  1858.  It  is  a  substan- 
tial frame  building.  Rev.  Mr.  Turner  is  Pastor  of  it.  A  very  pretty  little  ceme- 
tery, studded  with  white  marble  slabs,  is  adjacent  to  this  church.  Two  miles 
south  of  Hutton  post  office  is  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  of  which  Rev. 
Mr.  Thornton  is  Pastor :  and,  a  mile  or  two  north  of  the  Hutton  post  office,  is 
another  church  of  the  "  Separate"  Baptists.  One  of  the  very  early  preachers 
of  this  town,  and  the  first  who  ever  preached  on  the  "  Hurricane"  waters,  was 
Rev.  Stanley  Walker.  He  was  a  Hardshell  Baptist,  but  finally  joined  the 
"Separate"  Baptists.  In  the  village  of  Diona,  just  on  the  line  between  this 
county  and  Cumberland,  is  a  church  of  the  United  Brethren  and  Cumberland 
Presbyterians. 

As  to  who  taught  the  first  school  in  the  township,  there  is  some  doubt.  One 
of  the  first  remembered,  however,  was  taught  by  a  man  named  Ellis ;  but 
whether  it  was  the  first  of  all,  cannot  be  ascertained  now.  The  house  in 
which  it  was  taught  was  a  small  log  cabin,  of  the  style  usually  devoted  to  school 
purposes  in  the  early  times.  The  town,  at  the  present  day,  is  well  supplied 
with  good  comfortable  schoolhouses,  and  excellent  schools  are  maintained  dur- 
ing the  school-term.  No  township  in  the  county  has  more  extensive  school 
facilities  than  Hutton. 

The  first  death  in  Hutton  Township  was  a  Mrs.  Whitten,  the  wife  of  a 
millwright  who  was  engaged  on  the  Parker  Mill,  and  was  the  first  death  in 
Coles  County  as  well  as  in  Hutton  Township.  Her  death  occurred  in  1825, 
and  she  was  buried  on  the  bluff,  a  few  hundred  yards  east  of  the  mill.  The 
first  marriage  in  the  town  is  lost  in  the  mists  of  antiquity,  and  the  first  birth 
involved  in  some  doubt.  A  birth  occurred  in  the  family  of  William  Beaver, 
soon  after  his  settlement  here,  but  whether  the  first  in  the  neighborhood  is  not 
known. 

POLITICS    AND    PATRIOTISM. 

Hutton  Township  has  always  been  a  Democratic  town.  In  the  days  when 
it  was  a  voting  precinct,  and  Whigs  and  Democrats  the  prevailing  parties,  it 
voted  for  Gen.  Jackson.  It  is  Democratic  now  by  from  fifty  to  one  hundred 
votes.  In  patriotism,  Hutton  ranks  with  any  town  in  the  county.  It  has 
has  always  had  its  heroes  in  the  way  of  old  soldiers.  There  were  John 
John  Parker,  Griffin  Tipsoward,  George  Cottingham  and  Joseph  Painter, 
who  faced  the  legions  of  King  George  in  our  struggle  for  Independence. 
Among  the  heroes  of  1812,  are  George  Cottingham,  John  Scott  and  Nicholas 
Lemming,  and  John  Hutton,  of  the  Black  Hawk  war.     In  the  late  war,  Hut- 


442  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

ton  Township  was  ably  represented.  When  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded  through 
the  land,  her  sturdy  sons  left 

"  The  plow  in  the  mid-furrow  stayed," 

and,  seizing  their  "  target  and  claymore,"  marched  for  the  front.  Hutton 
kept  ahead  of  all  the  calls  of  the  Government,  furnishing  her  full  complement, 
even  before  called  for.  She  never  had  a  draft,  and  could  have  stood  another 
call  without  being  subjected  to  one.  Several  of  her  sons  never  returned  ;  their 
dust  mingles  with  that  of  the  far-oflf  battle-fields  where  they  fell,  "  victims  to 
atone  the  war."  Peace  to  their  ashes,  and  lightly  may  the  clods  rest  upon  them. 

THE  VILLAGES. 

Salisbury  or  Hutton  is  located  on  Section  9,  and  has  scarcely  attained  to 
the  dignity  of  a  village,  being  nothing  more  than  a  cluster  of  a  dozen  or  two 
houses.  It  is,  however,  an  old  place,  having  been  laid  out  as  a  village  December 
28,  1837,  and,  no  doubt,  at  some  remote  period  of  its  existence,  entertained 
lofty  aspirations  of  becoming  a  place  of  magnitude.  But  railroads  passing 
within  a  dozen  miles  of  it,  have  forever  blasted  these  bright  anticipations.  It 
was  laid  out  by  George  K.  Harris  and  John  Hulin.  The  place  was  first  called 
Stewart,  but  when  a  post  office  was  obtained,  there  was  found  "  another  Rich- 
mond in  the  field,"  otherwise  a  post  ofiice  already  of  that  name,  and  this  then 
was  called  Ashby.  But  this  name  being  so  similar  to  Ashley,  the  "wrong 
mail  frequently  went  to  the  wrong  place."  The  little  town  by  this  time  had 
assumed  so  much  importance  that  one  name  was  found  to  be  insufficient,  and 
so  matters  were  compromised  by  calling  the  post  ofiice  Hutton  and  the  town 
Salisbury,  for  Salisbury,  N.  C,  the  native  place  of  Mr.  Hulin,  one  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  place.  A  man  named  Gilbert  built  the  first  house  in  Salisbury, 
or  Saulsbury  as  the  people  call  it,  and  he  and  a  man  named  Bartness  kept  the 
first  store.  Who  kept  the  post  office  first,  is  not  now  remembered,  but  it  is 
supposed  to  have  been  kept  by  one  of  the  last-named  gentlemen.  The  present 
Postmaster  is  Dr.  J.  S.  Garner,  who  was  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  K, 
Forty-eighth  Regiment  Kentucky  Volunteers,  during  the  late  war.  Salisbury 
has  no  churches  or  schoolhouses  within  its  corporate  limits,  but  it  is  surrounded 
by  both  just  outside  of  its  "embattled  walls."  It  has  a  Masonic  Lodge — 
Hutton  Lodge,  No.  698 — which  was  organized  in  1872.  The  first  officers  were: 
George  Bidle,  Worshipful  Master;  C.  P.  Rosencrans,  Senior  Warden ;  John 
A.  Stull,  Junior  Warden;  C.  Fuqua,  Treasurer;  Allen  Hill,  Secretary  ;  S.  S. 
Bills,  Senior  Deacon ;  F.  E.  Cottingham,  Junior  Deacon,  and  Owen  Wiley 
Tiler.  The  present  officers  are :  A.  N.  Rosencrans,  Worshipful  Master ;  John 
A.  Stull,  Senior  Warden ;  J.  B.  Lee,  Junior  Warden ;  T.  A.  Bensley,  Treas- 
urer, and  F.  E.  Cottingham,  Secretary,  with  between  fifty  and  seventy  members. 
The  business  of  Hutton  is  as  follows :  One  store,  Endsley  &  Co. ;  one 
millinery  store,  Mrs.  Sarah  McDonald ;  three  blacksmith-shops,  two  with  wood- 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  443- 

shops  added  ;  one  physician,  Dr.  J.  S.  Garner,  and  Postmaster ;  one  Justice  of 
Peace,  A.  B.  Tucker,  and  one  Masonic  Lodge. 

The  village  of  Diona,  usually  called  by  the  poetic  name  of  "  Dog  Town," 
in  point  of  population  is  about  the  equal  of  Salisbury.  Small  as  it  is,  however, 
one  county  is  not  large  enough  to  hold  it,  and  it  is  located  about  equally  in 
Coles  and  Cumberland  Counties.  It  is  divided  into  four  wards  by  the  county 
line,  and  the  Congressional  township  line,  the  latter  running  through  it  from 
north  to  south,  and  the  county  line  from  east  to  west.  Diona  has  never  been 
laid  out  as  a  village,  but  is  merely  an  accidental  collection  of  houses,  as  it 
were,  with  a  store  or  two,  a  post  office,  shops,  etc.  Nicholas  McMorris  is  Post- 
master. He  lives  in  Cumberland  County,  but  his  store  and  post  office  are  in  Coles 
County.  Matthews  &  Fulkerson  also  have  a  store  here,  and  there  is  a  Church 
of  the  United  Brethren  and  Cumberland  Presbyterians,  as  elsewhere  stated. 

"String  Town  "  is  merely  a  nickname  given  to  a  rather  thickly-settled 
neighborhood,  on  account  of  several  mechanic-shops,  a  saw- mill,  a  church  and  a 
little  store  formerly  kept  here.  Thomas  Goodman  kept  a  store  here  at  one 
time,  also  a  man  of  the  name  of  Peppers.  But  all  is  past,  and  the  glory  of 
String  Town  has  departed.  There  is  nothing  left  but  the  church  and  one  or 
two  residences  to  tell  where  erst  "  String  Town  "  stood. 


EAST  OAKLAND  TOWNSHIP.   . 

In  a  country  like  ours,  the  department  of  history  can  claim  to  chronicle 
no  mighty  events,  nor  relate  any  of  those  local  traditions  that  make  many 
countries  of  the  Old  World  so  famous  in  story  and  song,  yet  they  serve  the 
purpose  of  directing  attention  to  the  rise,  progress  and  present  standing  of 
places,  which  may  fairly  claim  in  the  future  what  has  made  others  great  in 
the  past.  With  these  lines  of  preface,  we  will  say  a  few  words  of  the  boundary 
and  topography  of  one  of  the  finest  sections  of  Coles  County. 

Oakland  Township,  or  East  Oakland,  as  it  is  called,  lies  in  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  county  ;  bounded  on  the  north  and  east  by  Douglas  and  Edgar 
Counties  on  the  south  by  Ashmore  Township,  and  on  the  west  by  Embarrass 
River.  It  is  a  little  more  than  a  full  Congressional  township,  being  seven  sec- 
tions from  north  to  south,  and  six  full  sections  wide  in  the  narrowest  place, 
while  in  some  of  the  bends  of  the  river  it  extends  in  nearly  a  section  deeper. 
Brush  Creek  is  the  principal  stream  aside  from  the  Embarrass  River,  but  the 
land  does  not  need  additional  drainage.  The  town  contained,  originally,  much 
fine  timber,  of  all  the  different  varieties  common  in  this  portion  of  the  State, 
and,  although  a  great  deal  of  it  has  been  consumed,  there  is  still  left  enough 
for  all  practical  purposes.  The  Illinois  Midland  Railway  passes  through  the 
north  part  of  the  town,  from  east  to  west,  and  has  added  much  to  the  impor- 
tance of  this  section  of  the  county.  The  village  of  Oakland  is  a  thriving  place 
of  four  or  five  hundred  inhabitants,  and  will  be  more  fully  described  further  on. 


444  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

THE    SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  white  settler  in  this  vicinity,  is  supposed  to  have  been  Samuel 
Ashmore.  He  came  to  this  immediate  neighborhood  in  1829,  though  his  first 
settlement  was  in  what  is  now  Douglas  County,  but  included  for  years  in  Coles 
County.  He  settled  on  what  was  known  as  the  Laughlin  farm,  and  now  owned 
ty  Andrew  Gwinn.  Here  he  remained  but  a  couple  of  years,  when  he  removed 
to  the  present  limits  of  Oakland  Township.  He  was  from  the  State  of  Tennes- 
see, and  was  Captain  under  Gen.  Jackson  in  the  war  against  the  Creek  Indi- 
ans, and  in  the  battle  of  New  Orleans,  and  always  retained  the  warmest  vener- 
ation for  "  Old  Hickory.  When  he  removed  to  this  section,  three  of  his  sons 
— Clayborne,  at  the  time  married,  and  George  W.  and  Madison,  single — came 
with  him.  At  the  time  of  Mr.  Ashmore's  location  here,  Paris  and  Grand  View 
were  the  nearest  settlements  to  him.  From  the  Oakland  Herald  we  make  the 
following  extract :  "  Resolving  to  leave  Tennessee,  whose  chattel-slavery  he 
thoroughly  detested,  with  his  brothers  William,  James  and  Amos,  and  all  their 
families,  he  came  to  the  Wabash  country.  Here  he  soon  fell  into  the  chronic 
frontier  style  of  life,  common  to-day  as  it  was  then.  First  to  make  an  improve- 
ment and  next  to  make  a  sale,  and,  when  that  is  made,  go  to  chopping 
upon  another  claim.  If  it  be  true  that  a  rolling  stone  gathers  no  moss,  it  is 
apparent  that  the  tramp-farmer  is  a  failure.  By  the  help  of  his  sons,  he  opened 
a  farm  near  Darwin,  cleared  oif  one  hundred  acres  of  bottom  timber,  built  a 
two-story  house  and  several  stables  and  out-houses;  after  that,  he  sold  the  whole 
'  caboodle  '  to  his  son-in-law  for  $600,  in  order  to  get  to  the  Embarrass  country. 
*  *  *     Having  succeeded  in  selling  his  first  location  to  Mr.  Laughlin, 

Mr.  Ashmore  moved  down  to  Hoge's  Branch,  where  most  of  his  sons  and  sons- 
in-law  had  by  this  time  settled;  he  commenced  work  on  what  is  now  known 
as  the  Barbour  farm.  Here,  after  filling  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  he 
died  in  1838  ;  aged,  as  his  tombstone  states,  sixty  years."  Mr.  Ashmore,  as 
stated,  had  several  sons,  who  settled  in  this  section  at  an  early  day.  Some  of 
them  came  with  him,  and  others  a  few  years  later.  In  1831,  James  and  Hez- 
ekiah  Ashmore  settled  in  the  neighborhood.  These  were  his  sons,  and  the 
latter,  after  remaining  here  a  short  time,  removed  to  Ashmore  Township,  where 
he  is  more  fully  noticed.  Samuel  Hoge,  a  son-in-law  of  Samuel  Ashmore, 
settled  here  also  in  1831.  James  Black,  another  son-in-law,  came  at  the  same 
time.     They  are  long  since  dead. 

Stanton  Pemberton  came  in  the  fall  of  1831.  He  was  from  Washington 
County,  Va.  The  Herald,  which  published  some  reminiscences*  a  year  or  two 
ago,  says  of  the  Pembertons  :  "  Mr.  Pemberton  was  not  healthy,  and  lived  but 
a  few  years.  His  widow  continued  with  us  till  1854,  and  lies  buried  in  the 
upper  grave-yard.  She  was  remarkable  for  three  things — her  candor,  her  good 
cooking  and  her  genuine  hospitality.      Her  son,  Alfred  D.  Pemberton,  still  lives 

'■■These  reminiscences  were  published  during  the  summer  of  1877,   aud   contain  much   pertaining  to  the  early 
history  of  this  section.     Uence  we  shall  make  frequent  extracts  from  them. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  445 

on  the  old  place,  and  '  Uncle  Jack,'  as  the  children  call  him,  continues  with  us 
in  the  village — a  well-preserved  specimen  of  the  olden  time."  Two  sons  of  Mr. 
Pemberton,  A.  D.  and  J.  J.  Pemberton,  and  two  daughters,  are  still  living  in 
the  neighborhood  where  they  located  nearly  fifty  years  ago.  John  King  came 
from  Tennessee  in  1832,  and  may  be  reckoned  among  the  early  settlers.  He 
moved  to  Iowa,  where  he  still  lived  at  last  accounts  of  him. 

In  1830,  James  Reddin  and  Eli  Sargent  settled  in  Oakland  Township. 
Reddin  built  a  horse-mill,  the  first  institution  of  its  kind  in  the  country,  and 
one  of  great  convenience  to  the  scattered  pioneers.  His  descendants  still  own 
the  land  upon  which  he  settled  so  long  ago.  Sargent  was  from  Ohio,  and 
located  adjoining  Mr.  Ashmore.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  man  of  considerable 
wealth,  and  entered  several  hundred  acres  of  land.  "  He,  too,  brought  with 
him  his  sons  and  daughters.  The  latter  made  the  journey  on  horse-back,  and 
had  a  gay  old  time  riding  through  the  wilderness.  The  world  was  not  so  wide 
then  as  it  is  now,  and  he  and  Mr.  Ashmore  soon  discovered  an  incompatibility 
of  temperament,  which  the  narrow  bounds  of  the  country  aggravated  exceed- 
ingly."* Mr.  Sargent  was  not  a  healthy  man,  and  suffered  long  and  severely. 
He  died  in  1834,  and,  says  the  Herald^  referring  to  his  death,  "  of  his  family 
there  survive  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Guinn,  and  his  stepdaughter,  Mrs.  Sargent, 
of  this  village,  who  have  the  honor,  we  believe,  to  be  the  only  ones  who  remain 
with  us  of  the  immigration  of  1830."  We  make  no  excuse  for  the  following 
lengthy  extracts  from  these  reminiscences.  Referring  to  a  pioneer  family,  it  is 
of  interest  as  a  part  of  the  early  history  of  the  country.  "  After  Mr.  Sargent's 
death,  his  widow  bought  the  Samuel  Hoge  farm,  and  with  her  son,  John  L. 
Berry,  and  her  daughter  Rachel,  made  her  home  there,  where  she  died  in  April 
1847,  in  her  sixtieth  year.  Afflicted  with  asthma,  she  was  an  inveterate  smoker, 
of  course,  but  possessed  uncommon  business  capacity.  Mounted  on  '  Old 
Ned,'  in  rain  or  sunshine,  day  or  night,  she  attended  all  calls  upon  her  pro- 
fessional services,  and  in  this  particular  alone  was  an  exceedingly  useful  person. 
Ned  was  a  favorite — a  large,  brown,  pacing  horse,  which  she  had  reared  from  a 
colt.  Within  the  thirty  years  of  his  life,  he  had  carried  her  everywhere  that 
she  went ;  three  times  from  the  Embarrass  to  the  Scioto.  He  survived  his 
mistress  a  year.  Reared  in  Kentucky,  Mrs.  Berry  had  been  left  a  widow,  with 
poverty  and  several  young  children  for  an  inheritance.  Her  effects  then  con- 
sisted of  twenty  acres  of  ground,  her  horse,  Ned,  a  slave  woman  and  her  chil- 
dren. Sickness  came,  bread  became  scarce  and  the  wolf  looked  in  at  the  door. 
The  slave  woman  and  the  horse  did  the  farming,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the 
woman  and  the  horse,  her  family  would  have  come  to  absolute  want.  When 
she  married  Mr.  Sargent  (who  was  a  rich  man),  she  went  with  him  to  Ohio, 
taking  Ned  and  two  of  the  five  children  of  the  colored  woman.  To  her  she  left 
the  land,  who,  after  a  trial  of  eighteen  months,  left  it  and  went  as  a  cook  to  a 
hotel  in  Louisville.     Here  she  died,  and  Mrs.  Sargent  had  her  other  three  chil- 

*Oakland  Herald. 


446  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

dren  sent  to  Ohio,  and  ultimately  brought  them  all  to  this  country.  Her  most 
judicious  advisers,  including  her  husband,  had  urged  her  to  sell  them,  to  put 
them  in  her  pocket,  etc.,  and  showed  her  the  'black  laws  '  of  Illinois  and  all 
the  difficulties  of  the  situation.  But  no,  the  memory  ot  that  woman  and 
horse  toiling  in  the  sun,  to  raise  bread  for  her  and  her  children  when  she  lay 
sick  and  prostrate,  was  not  to  be  overcome.  Worldly  woman  as  she  was,  she 
possessed  a  determined  will,  and  she  decided  never  to  sell  them.  *  *  * 
Mrs.  Sargent  was  a  woman  of  limited  education,  and  knew  nothing  about  the 
abstract  doctrine  of  human  rights.  She  was  a  Baptist,  and  neither  knew  nor 
cared,  perhaps,  for  Wesley's  opinion  on  the  'sum  of  all  villainies,'  and  of 
Abolitionism,  she  concurred  in  the  then  common  opinion,  that  its  advocates 
were  thieves  of  a  hideous  character.  What  was  it  that  caused  her  to  withstand 
the  pressure  of  interest  ?  Was  it  gratitude,  or  was  it  instinct,  or  was  it  both  ? 
Thirty  years  have  passed  away,  but  it  seems  to  us  as  but  yesterday  that  we  saw 
her  sitting  by  her  great  fire-place,  indulging  in  her  pipe,  with  death  awaiting  at 
her  elbow ;  a  picture  of  stoical  calm,  which  we  have  never  seen  equaled  within 
our  threescore  years  of  time." 

Another  of  the  early  settlers  in  this  township,  and  who  deserves  more  than 
a  mere  passing  notice,  was  Thomas  Affleck.     He  came  from  the  "lowlands  "  of 
Scotland  in  1832,  and  first  settled  on  the  Wabash,  near  Clinton,  but  came  to 
this  settlement  in  1836.     His  wife  is  said  to  have  been  a  most  amiable  woman, 
and  died  in  1840.     Mr.  Affleck  is  spoken  of  as  a  fine  violinist,  and  spent  much 
time  in  exercising  on  the  sweet  and  pathetic  airs  of  "  Bonnie  Scotia."     Says 
one  :     "  His  rendering  of  '  Roy's  Wife  of  Aldivalloch '  was  such  as  none  but  a 
native  Scot  could  equal.     With  his  chin  pressed  down  upon  his  fiddle,  his  large 
head  and  great  staring  eyes  above,  together  with  his  powerful  voice,  he  repeated 
and  practiced  the  music  of  his  native  land."     He  was  a  model  farmer  and  spent 
much  time  and  labor  in  looking  after  his  farm,  digging  ditches  and   otherwise 
improving  it.     He  had  once  been  a  grocer  in  Dumfries,  Scotland,  his  native 
place,  and  though  long  out  of  the  business  when  he  came  to  this  country,  it  is 
said  he  was  almost  unequaled  in  putting  up  packages  of  goods,  and  could  put 
up  more  coffee,  sugar  or   pepper  in  a  paper  than  any  merchant  in  Oakland. 
And  that  when  he  had  completed  a  job  of  this  kind,  the  form  of  the  package 
and  the  turns  of  the  wrapping  thread  would  be  very  artistic.     He  was  quite  a 
hunter,  and  when  he  wanted  game  he  would  "  harness  "  up  a  yoke  of  cattle  to 
his  sleigh  and  strike  out  for  the  hunting-grounds,  where,  turning  his  cattle  loose 
to  feed,  he  would  sit  and  wait  and  Avatch  for  his  game,  and  would  rarely  miss  a 
single  shot  in  bringing  it  down.      He  was  a  great   mechanical  genius,  and  on 
this  point  a  Dr.  Pease,  an  amateur  phrenologist,  found  his  head  on  measure- 
ment to  be  twenty-four  inches  in  circumference — equal  to  a  No.  9  hat — and  his 
"  bump  of  mechanics"  the  largest  he  had  ever  examined.      Referring  to  his 
mechanical  genius,  the  reminiscences  published  in  the  Herald,  from  which  we 
have  already  quoted  extensively,  say :     "  One  of  these  was  a  mode  of 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  447 

sandbars  and  deepening  the  outlet  channels  of  rivers  and  harbors.  This  proc- 
ess, as  he  often  described  it  to  us,  was  very  similar  to  the  jetty  system  now  used 
by  Capt.  Eads  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi.  It  consisted  in  first  confining 
the  water  by  the  means  of  ballast  and  piling  on  each  side  of  the  desired  channel. 
This  means  he  held  would,  of  itself,  in  time  effect  its  purpose,  but  to  hasten  it 
on  he  next  proceeded  to  drive  in  the  channel,  every  eight  or  ten  feet,  iron  piling. 
These  iron  piling  consisted  of  two  flat  bars  perforated  with  inch  holes  and  joined 
at  the  points,  but  designed  to  be  separated  above  by  the  distance  of  an  inch  or 
less.  He  next  let  down  between  the  bars  thus  constructed,  sections  of  boiler- 
iron,  twenty  or  thirty  feet  long,  to  a  point  near  the  bottom,  where  it  was  secured 
by  pins  placed  in  the  bars.  Thus,  when  the  work  was  completed,  it  somewhat 
resembled  the  lower  board  of  a  plank  fence,  and  the  water  forced  underneath 
was  expected  to  tear  out  a  channel.  This,  in  brief,  is  an  outline  of  his  idea. 
He  claimed  that  he  had  successfully  applied  it  on  the  Clyde,  and  in  other  har- 
bors in  Scotland,  and  had  presented  his  project  and  claims  to  the  Board  of 
Admiralty.  Of  Sir  James  Graham,  the  then  head  of  the  Board,  he  spoke  with 
his  characteristic  bitterness,  and,  being  in  lack  of  means,  he  turned  his  back  in 
disgust  upon  the  Old  World,  to  find  a  home  and  a  grave  in  Illinois."  The 
Herald,  concluding  it  lengthy  notice  of  Mr.  Aftieck,  says :  "  But  the  habit  of 
strong  drink  was  the  evil  genius  of  his  latter  days,  and  when  under  its  influence 
his  temper  and  invective  were  peculiar  and  terrific.  He  thus  went  on  drinking 
himself  to  death  as  fast  as  he  could,  hoping,  in  his  unhappiness,  soon  to  be  at 
rest  by  the  side  of  his  deceased  wife.  His  son-in-law.  Rev.  A.  0.  Allen,  per- 
suaded him  at  last  to  go  with  him  to  his  residence  at  Terre  Haute,  but  not  until 
the  old  man  had  exacted  a  pledge  of  Mr.  Mosely  and  other  citizens  that  they 
would  see  to  the  return  of  his  body  when  the  end  should  come.  He  did  not 
stay  long ;  he  parted  with  the  world  and  its  troubles  on  the  2d  of  June,  1852, 
aged  67  years;  and  Mr.  Mosely  and  the  citizens  of  Oakland  fulfilled  their  pledge 
and  laid  him  by  the  side  of  the  wife  of  his  youth." 

Lyman,  Aim  on  and  Daniel  Keyes  were  from  the  Empire  State,  and  settled 
at  what  is  still  known  as  Donica's  Point.  They  are  all  long  since  dead. 
Lyman  went  to  the  Mexican  war,  and  left  his  bones  to  bleach  on  the  bloody 
field  of  Chapultepec.  Thomas  Blair  was  another  old  settler  at  Donica's 
Point,  but  his  native  place  is  not  now  remembered.  L.  E.  Archer  was  a  Ver- 
monter,  and  came  to  this  settlement  in  an  early  day.  He  was  an  odd  charac- 
ter, and  many  hard  stories  are  still  told  "of  him.  He  was  very  close  in  his 
dealings,  and  always  got  the  best  end  of  a  barg9,in  in  a  trade  with  his  fellow- 
men,  even  stretching  the  truth  to  accomplish  his  purpose.  It  is  said  that  his 
capacity  for  drinking  whisky  was  almost  unbounded,  and  that  he  always 
bought  it  by  the  gallon,  in  order  to  get  it  a  little  cheaper ;  less  than  that 
quantity  did  him  no  good  or  harm,  but  after  he  had  drunk  a  gallon  it  then 
began  to  "fly  into  his  head."  He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  and 
his  family  are  scattered  to  the  four  quarters  of  the  earth.     A  man  named 


448  _  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

Donica,  was  the  first  settler  at  this  place,  and  from  him  it  took  its  name,  but 
we  were  unable  to  obtain  much  information  in  regard  to  him. 

William  Nokes,  or  "Uncle  Billy"  Nokes,  as  he  was  called  mostly,  was  an 
extraordinary  character  that  should  have  special  notice  in  these  pages.  He 
was  from  Kentucky,  and  came  here  at  an  early  day  in  the  settlement  of  Oak- 
land Township.     Like  the  great  lawyer  we  have  heard  of,  he 

"Prided  himself  on  his  learned  diction, 
And  diluted  the  truth  with  a  good  deal  of  fiction." 

He  was  a  great  romancist,  and  like  the  majority  of  that  class,  he  was  usually 
the  hero  of  his  own  stories.  He  used  to  say  that  in  his  younger  days  in  the 
old  Blue- Grass  State,  he  had  been  a  great  favorite  among  the  ladies,  and  had 
been  compelled  at  a  single  term  of  the  court  at  Louisville,  to  answer  to  a 
dozen  different  suits  for  breach  of  promise.  From  the  personal  description  we 
received  of  him,*  we  do  not  doubt  his  power  of  attraction  with  the  daugh- 
ters of  Eve.  He  went  by  the  name  of  "Old  Bag  o'  Shot,"  a  name  given 
him  in  honor  of  one  of  his  stories,  in  which  he  claimed  to  have  carried  a 
bag,  containing  half  a  bushel  of  shot,  along  the  streets  of  Louisville,  and  as 
the  frost  had  just  come  out  of  the  ground,  he  sunk  to  his  knees  every  step, 
while  the  bricks  of  the  pavement  piled  around  his  feet.  This  story,  it  is  said, 
grew  by  repetition  until  the  shot  became  two  bushels  and  the  displaced  brick 
reached  to  his  waist.  Another  story  told  of  him,  is  that  he  once  went  to  old 
'Squire  Ashmore's  and  made  a  complaint  against  a  young  man  of  eighteen 
years,  for  assault  and  battery.  Though  he  was  considerably  "bunged  up,"  the 
'Squire  persuaded  him  that  it  would  not  look  well  in  a  man  who  had  carried 
two  bushels  of  shot  to  prosecute  a  stripling  of  eighteen  years,  and  so  in  his 
good-nature,  Mr.  Nokes  withdrew  his  complaint.  He  removed  to  Iowa  many 
years  ago,  where  he  died. 

The  winter  of  the  ''  deep  snow  "  (1830-31)  two  families  encamped  on  the 
Embarrass  River,  near  where  the  railroad  crosses.  After  the  melting  of  the 
snow,  the  river  rose  higher  than  ever  known  before  or  since.  One  of  these  fam- 
ilies was  that  of  Aaron  Collins,  mentioned  among  the  early  settlers  of  Morgan 
Township,  the  other  was  a  Mr.  Mason,  who  settled  on  this  side  of  the  river,  on 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Naphew  farm.  He  did  not  remain  here  long,  but 
sold  to  a  man  named  William  Chadd,  a  blacksmith,  millwright  and  jack-of-all 
trades.  Chadd  was  from  the  White  River  country  in  Indiana,  possessed  con- 
siderable means,  and  by  the  aid  of  three  sons  and  seven  daughters,  soon  opened 
a  large  farm.  He  is  described  as  a  "  little,  wizened,  dried-up  man  of  sixty, 
with  a  large  nose  and  a  very  full  eye."  "  Old  Shad,"  the  people  called  him 
for  short,  like  Nokes,  often  regaled  his  friends  with  some  very  extravagant 
stories.  Speaking  of  his  resources,  one  day,  he  said  he  had  a  bushel  of  "  cut 
money"  laid  by  for  a  "rainy  day."  Like  many  of  the  other  early  settlers,  he 
took  the  mill  fever,  and  in  addition  to  his  blacksmith-shop,  built   a  "  corn- 

*  A  snub-nosed,  big-mouthed,  coarse-featured,  stoop-shouldered  man." 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  449 

cracker  "  near  by.  Being  asked  one  day  if  he  could  grind  wheat  on  his  mill, 
replied,  "  Well,  yes,  if  I  had  a  bolting-cloth  ;  in  fact,  I  told  the  boys  the  other 
day  that  we'd  try  it,  so  I  took  a  bushel  of  very  clean,  nice  wheat  and  ground  it. 
I  then  took  the  grist  over  to  Mr.  Reddin's  and  bolted  it.  Well,  sir,  I  had  a 
hundred  pounds  of  flour  and  two  and  a  half  bushels  of  bran."  Again  we  extract 
from  the  HeraMs  reminiscences:  "  Mr.  Chadd  was  possessed  in  a  high  degree 
with  personal  dignity.  His  children  treated  him  with  profound  respect ;  he 
was  no  joker,  and  did  not  permit  anybody  to  joke  him.  Any  insinuation  as  to 
the  truth  of  his  stories  he  promptly  resented,  for  he  told  them  in  dead,  sober 
earnestness.  Seated  on  a  horse-block  one  day,  conversing  with  Mosely  and 
Pemberton  on  the  subject  of  music,  he  observed  that  the  jew's-harp,  if  properly 
made,  was  the  best  instrument  known.  That  he  had  once  made  one  for  a  boy, 
a  good  big  one  several  feet  long.  The  bows  or  frame  he  made  of  "  tire-iron  " 
and  the  tongue  was  an  inch  steel  bar.  'Why,  you  could,'  said  he,  'hear  it 
three  miles  ! '  At  this  point  Mr.  Pemberton  stupidly  inquired  as  to  how  the 
boy  got  it  into  his  mouth.  Chadd  treated  the  query  with  contemptuous  silence, 
but  afterward  remarked  to  Mr.  Mosely,  '  Jack  Pemberton  would  like  to  say 
something  smart  if  he  knew  how.'  The  limits  of  this  article  forbids  further 
details.  A  volume  would  scarcely  contain  all  the  incidents  of  Mr.  Chadd's 
eventful  life.  Who  has  not  heard  of  his  duel  before  breakfast,  when  in  a  room 
eighteen  feet  square,  securely  locked,  he  and  his  antagonist  armed  with  knives, 
fought  for  eight  hours,  ankle-deep  in  blood  ?  Who  has  not  heard  of  his  quarry- 
blast  on  White  River,  which  required  the  labor  and  teams  of  a  hundred  men  six 
months  to  remove  ?  Who  has  not  heard  of  his  snake  story,  of  his  fish  story,  and 
his  perpetual-motion  saw-mill?  Mr.  Chadd  was  gathered  to  his  fathers  long 
ago,  in  the  fullness  of  time  and  a  good  old  age."  We  will  give  one  more 
instance  of  his  India-rubber  stories,  and  then  pass  on  to  other  scenes.  This  wa& 
of  his  professional  experience,  which  he  related  to  Dr.  Rutherford,  and  exhibited 
to  him  his  "  spring  lancet  "  and  his  "  pullikin,"  the  latter  for  extracting  teeth, 
and  estimated  the  number  of  teeth  drawn  with  them,  or  it,  at  several  barrels, 
and  the  blood  shed  by  the  "lancet  "  at  the  hogshead  measure.  He  stated  to 
the  Doctor  that  he  had  once  been  applied  to  tap  a  woman  for  dropsy.  From 
this  duty  he  had  shrunk,  pleading  ignorance  and  other  disqualifications,  but  as 
no  physician  was  in  reach,  he  made  an  eifort,  and  although  the  woman  was  a 
small  one,  he  drew  from  her  one  hundred  and  twenty  gallons  of  water. 

Martin  Zimmerman  came  from  Augusta  County,  Va.,  in  1836,  and  settled 
first  in  Edgar  County,  where  he  remained  about  a  year,  and  then  removed  to 
this  township.  He  resided  here  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1852.  He 
has  many  descendants  still  in  the  county,  who  are  among  the  prominent  farmers 
and  business  men  of  the  country.  Enoch  Sears  and  Asa  Reddin  were  also 
early  settlers  in  this  township.  David  Winkler  and  the  Hoskinses  settled  on 
Brush  Creek.  There  are,  perhaps,  other  old  settlers  whose  names  should  be 
mentioned,  but  we  have  failed  to  obtain  them.    And  then,  after  the  Black  Hawk 


450  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

■war,  emigrants  came  in  so  rapidly  that  it  is  impossible  to  keep  track  of  the 
period  of  their  settlement  and  where  they  came  from.  So  we  will  not  attempt 
to  further  particularize,  but  take  up  other  matters  of  interest. 

-    FRAGMENTS    OF    HISTORY, 

By  reference  to  the  map  in  the  front  part  of  this  work,  it  will  be  noticed 
that  there  is  a  jog,  of  two  sections  in  width,  in  the  north  line  of  the  county,  the 
full  extent  of  Oakland  Township.  When  Douglas  County  was  set  off  from 
doles,  says  Capt.  Adams  in  his  Centennial  Address,  the  village  of  Oakland 
was  regarded  as  having  "great  room  for  outgrowth  and  development"  (and,  we 
may  add,  it  still  retains  this  expectation  of  its  people).  Therefore,  Coles 
County,  as  well  as  the  people  of  Oakland,  were  unwilling  that  the  village  should 
be  cut  off  in  a  new  county  ;  hence  the  jog  above  referred  to  was  made  to  keep 
the  village  of  Oakland  in  this  county. 

Here,  as  in  all  newly-settled  communities,  attention  was  directed  at  an  early 
day  to  mills ;  for,  with  all  the  great  inventions  of  the  age,  there  has  not  yet 
been  one  devised  by  which  the  human  race  can  live  without  bread.  And  in 
this  town,  as  elsewhere,  the  mill  business  was  in  high  popular  favor  forty  years 
or  more  ago.  To  own  a  horse-mill  gave  one  an  air  of  importance,  and  a  saw 
or  grist  mill,  as  an  old  settler  expressed  it,  rendered  the  fortunate  owner 
'•the  biggest  toad  in  the  puddle."  One  of  the  first  efforts  at  a  water-mill  was 
by  Mr.  Laughlin,  where  the  river  crosses  the  northwest  corner  of  Section  12 ; 
but  he  was  not  very  successful  in  his  attempt.  It  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Henry  McCumbers,  familiarly  called  "Old  Sport."  But  he  never  realized 
much  from  it,  and,  after  struggling  on  with  it  for  a  few  years  with  a  persever- 
ance worthy  of  a  better  cause,  he  finally  gave  it  up  entirely.  A  man  by  the 
name  of  Whitlock  also  tried  ;  and  after  a  year's  hard  work,  saw  a  friendly  (or 
unfriendly)  flood  carry  it  away  on  a  "  march  to  the  sea."  Mr.  Chadd  referred 
to  as  the  man  of  long-winded*  stories,  in  another  part  of  this  chapter,  had 
a  genius  for  mills  as  well  as  for  story-telling.  He  built  a  mill  near  the  present 
railroad-crossing.  He  tried  undershot,  turbine,  and  re-action  wheels  ;  but  they 
amounted  to  little,  and  finally  a  flood  took  the  whole  structure  away,  and  sent 
it  after  its  predecessor,  down  the  river.  David  McConkey  was  another  w^ho 
spent  more  on  a  mill  than  he  ever  succeeded  in  getting  back.  It  was  the  same 
old  story — the  floods  carried  it  away,  and  left  its  owner  in  poverty.  The  era 
of  steam-mills  will  be  noticed  in  the  history  of  the  village. 

A  man  of  the  name  of  Robert  Bell  was  the  first  regular  carpenter  in  Oak- 
land Township,  and,  it  is  said,  was  a  superior  workman.  Many  specimens  of 
his  work  still  remain  to  testify  to  its  quality.  The  finishing-lumber  then  was 
rough-sawed  poplar,  and  had  to  be  "dressed"  by  the  carpenter,  as  planing- 
mills  and  sash-factories  were  unknown.  Everything  needed  in  the  construc- 
tion of  a  house,  including  flooring,  molding,  etc.,  had  to  be  worked  out  by 
hand,  and   the  frames  were  generally  of  hewed   material.     The  erection  of  a 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  451 

frame  house,  at  that  early  period,  was  a  much  bigger  job  than  at  the  present 
day  ;  and,  in  the  place  of  the  large  lumber-yard  we  find  in  every  town  and 
village  now,  at  that  time  the  market  was  usually  supplied  by  "  whip-saw."  At 
a  very  early  day,  Andrew  Gwinn,  with  the  aid  of  "  Old  Billy  "  Nokes,  ran  one 
of  these  "  whip-saw"  mills.  Two  men  could  saw  200  feet  in  a  day,  and  this 
sold  at  $4  per  hundred. 

One  of  the  first  wagon-makers  was  a  man  named  Alpheus  Jacques.  He,  it 
is  said,  used  to  make  wagons  and  buggies  out  of  old  rails  and  "  'most  anything 
he  could  pick  up."  His  skill  with  the  draw-knife  was  remarkable,  and  the 
rapidity  with  which  he  turned  out  work  was  truly  marvelous.  Among  the  early 
blacksmiths  were  David  McConkey  and  William  Chadd.  McConkey  made 
considerable  money  as  such,  and  then  spent  it  in  his  attempts  at  a  mill  on  the 
Embarrass,  as  already  stated. 

The  first  store  in  Oakland  Township  was  kept  by  a  man  named  Sherifi",  an 
uncle  to  the  present  Postmaster  at  Paris,  Edgar  County.  It  was  located  on  the 
road  east  of  the  village  of  Oakland,  and  his  goods  were  hauled  from  Chicago 
by  'Squire  Pemberton.  "  Chicago,  then,"  says  the  'Squire,  "  was  no  larger 
that  the  village  of  Oakland  is  now."  The  first  post  ofiice  in  the  township  was 
kept  by  Wilson  Morrison,  east  of  the  village.  It  was  on  the  confines  of  a  large 
grove,  surrounded  by  oak-trees,  and  thus  received  the  appropriate  name  of  Oak- 
land— names  since  bestowed  on  the  village  and  the  township.  In  was  on  the 
mail-line  between  Paris  and  Decatur,  and  the  mail  was  carried  weekly  on  horse- 
back between  those  places. 

EDUCATIONAL    AND    RELIGIOUS. 

The  name  of  the  first  pedagogue  in  Oakland  is  not  now  remembered,  but 
schools  were  taught  in  the  neighborhood  quite  early.  The  people  have  ever 
taken  great  interest  in  educational  matters,  and,  at  the  present  day,  no  town  in 
Coles  County  is  better  favored  with  school  facilities  than  Oakland.  The  matter 
will  be  again  alluded  to  in  the  history  of  the  village. 

Church  organizations,  also,  will  be  further  noticed  in  the  village  history,  as 
the  Presbyterian,  the  oldest  organization  in  the  town,  is  located  in  the  village 
of  Oakland.  The  only  church- edifice  outside  of  the  village  is  Prairie  Union 
Christian  Church,  located  in  the  southern  part  of  the  township.  It  was  organ- 
ized in  the  neighborhood  schoolhouse,  March  1,  1871,  with  thirty-two  mem- 
bers ;  three  elders,  viz.,  A.  J.  Shulse,  S.  D.  Honn  and  D.  W.  Honn.  The 
church  was  built  and  dedicated  the  same  year  the  society  was  organized,  and 
cost  $1,830,  not  including  the  lot  on  which  it  stands.  The  present  Elders 
are  D.  W.  Honn,  A.  J.  Shulse  and  John  Childress.  Previous  to  the  erection 
of  the  church,  the  people  of  the  neighborhood  attended  divine  worship  at  the 
village  of  Kansas,  in  Edgar  County.  It  is  in  a  very  flourishing  state,  with  a 
present  membership  of  about  sixty-five,  and  a  Sunday  school  during  the  sum- 
mer season. 


452  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY, 

When  settlements  were  first  made  in  this  part  of  the  county,  there  were 
plenty  of  Indians  in  Southern  Illinois,  and  likewise  in  this  section.  They 
were  the  Pottawatomies,  Winnebagoes  and  the  Kickapoos.  They  were  friendly 
and  did  the  whites  no  harm.  The  fright  of  the  Black  Hawk  war  had  little  effect 
here,  from  the  fact  that  at  the  time  it  took  place,  there  were  very  few  settlers 
in  this  neighborhood.  The  Indians  had  a  trading-post  near  the  village  of 
Camargo,  in  Douglas  County,  established  by  two  men  named  Vesor  and  Bul- 
bery,  French  Canadians.  Near  this  post,  the  Indians  had  a  burying-ground, 
and  once  every  year  held  a  grand  powwow  for  the  benefit  of  the  departed  souls 
of  their  deceased  friends.  In  Morgan  Township  they  had  a  camp,  which  is 
noticed  in  the  history  of  that  town. 

Oakland  Township  is  Republican  in  politics  at  the  present  time.  In  the 
old  days  of  Whigs  and  Democrats,  it  was  Democratic  by  a  small  majority,  not- 
withstanding it  gave  Harrison  a  small  majority  in  1840,  and  Clay,  in  1844. 
With  these  exceptions,  it  was  Democratic.  In  the  late  war,  Oakland  did  its 
duty  nobly,  and  sent  many  of  its  young  men,  and  old  ones,  too,  to  do  battle  for 
the  Union. 

The  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  this  section,  was  Samuel  Ashmore,  the  old 
patriarch  of  the  Ashmore  family.  The  present  justices  of  the  township  are, 
J.  J.  Pemberton  and  William  Hunt.  When  Coles  County  adopted  township 
or^yanization  in  1860,  G.  W.  McConkey  was  the  first  Supervisor  of  Oakland 
Township.  The  present  Supervisor  is  H.  Rutherford,  and  N.  P.  Smith  is  the 
present  Town  Clerk. 

This  concludes  the  general  history  of  Oakland  Township,  and  we  will  now 
proceed  to  devote  a  few  pages  to  the  history,  laying-out  and  the  location  of 

THE    VILLAGE    OF    OAKLAND. 

This  enterprising  little  village  is  situated  on  the  Illinois  Midland  Railroad, 
about  twenty  miles  northwest  from  Paris.  It  was  surveyed  and  laid  out  by 
Reubin  Canterbury,  County  Surveyor,  for  Madison  Ashmore,  on  the  12th  of 
May,  1835.  James  Ashmore  built  the  first  residence  in  the  village.  McCord 
built  a  residence  soon  after  the  one  built  by  Ashmore.  Some  say  that  McCord's 
was  built  before  the  village  was  laid  out,  while  others  hold  to  the  fact  as  given 
above.  The  first  store  was  kept  by  a  man  named  McCleland  Another  was 
opened  very  soon  after  McCleland's,  by  a  Mr.  Trembly,  but  neither  lasted  long, 
and  both  "broke"  in  the  business.  Says  the  ^eraM  reminiscence :  "For 
the  next  four  years,  no  goods  of  any  kind,  save  what  a  peddler  might  bring  in, 
were  sold  in  Oakland.  Our  trading  had  to  be  done  in  Charleston  or  Paris. 
Not  a  spool  nor  a  thread,  nor  even  a  pin,  was  to  be  had  short  of  these  towns. 
There  was  nothing  here  to  buy  goods  with.  Four-year-old  steers  went  at  $10 
per  head,  and  the  only  good  horse  we  ever  owned  we  bought  for  $50.  Corn 
for  many  years  never  rated  above  10  cents  per  bushel,  and  then  was  not  consid- 
ered a  merchantable  article." 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  453 

The  next  effort  at  merchandising  was  made  by  Robert  Mosely.  In  1844, 
he  opened  a  small  stock  of  goods,  and  for  a  time  had  what  little  trade  there 
was,  all  to  himself.  John  Mills  and  R.  T.  Hackett  were  the  next  merchants, 
and  about  this  time  "  Matt"  Ashmore  opened  a  kind  of  curiosity  shop  in  Pem- 
berton's  old  tavern  stand.  In  the  year  1847,  Pemberton  went  into  partnership 
Avith  Mosely,  and  thus  began  their  long  partnership  business.  But  we  have 
neither  time  nor  space  to  follow  the  mercantile  business  through  its  long  and 
eventful  career  to  the  present  time.     Other  points  demand  our  attention. 

The  first  tavern  in  Oakland  was  kept  by  Daniel  Payne,  soon  after  the  lay- 
ing-out of  the  village,  and  the  next,  perhaps,  was  kept  by  'Squire  Pemberton. 
The  village  at  present  has  two  first-rate  hotels — the  Oakland  House,  kept  by 
H.  A.  Frederick,  and  the  Union  Hotel,  by  Mrs.  Jones.  The  first  post  office 
was  kept  by  McCleland,  elsewhere  mentioned  as  the  first  merchant.  The  pres- 
ent Postmaster  is  L.  C.  Thornton.  The  first  blacksmith  in  the  village  was  a 
man  named  Maxon,  and  his  shop  was  a  counterpart  of  that  described  by  Long- 
fellow, except  that  instead  of  the  "spreading  chestnut-tree"  it  stood  under  a 
spreading  oak-tree.  We  are  informed  that  it  consisted  mainly  of  a  bellows  and 
anvil,  rigged  up  under  an  oak  tree,  and  that  there  was  no  building  belonging  to 
it.  The  first  doctor  to  practice  in  this  section  was  of  the  name  of  Montague, 
but  of  him  we  learned  but  little.  The  next  was  perhaps  Dr.  H.  Rutherford, 
who  came  here  in  1840,  and  practiced  the  healing  profession  until  he  amassed 
quite  a  snug  fortune,  and  physicians  became  so  plenty  that  he  could  retire  from 
a  long  life  of  laborious  work. 

In  1854,  Clement  &  Clark  built  a  steam-mill  in  the  village  of  Oakland.  It 
was  a  great  institution  in  this  primitive  settlement,  and  people  came  for  miles 
to  see  the  engine  work,  and  were  frightened  out  of  their  wits  when  the  steam 
blew  off.  A  sash  saw  was  added  to  it,  but  was  soon  dispensed  with.  The  mill 
has  several  times  changed  proprietors  and  is  now  owned  by  John  Burwell.  The 
Smith  mill,  as  it  is  called,  is  of  rather  recent  building,  and  was  put  up  by  W. 
P.  West  some  eight  or  ten  years  ago.  The  Herald's  reminiscences  thus  speak 
of  the  originator  of  this  last  enterprise  :  "  This  man  was  what  might  be  termed 
a  fool  for  luck,  and  a  spendthrift  by  nature.  His  father  gave  him  a  large  farm 
at  Culver's  Grove.  Getting  embarrassed,  he  sold  out,  came  down  to  this  part  of 
the  country,  and  worried  awhile  with  the  McConkey  mill.  He  next  got  hold 
of  the  Frank  Williams'  steam  grist  and  saw  mill.  He  succeeded  in  trading  this 
worthless  property  to  Thomas  Kinney  for  a  good  farm  in  Edgar  County.  Sell- 
ing the  farm,  he  commenced  building  the  mill  before  referred  to,  and  at  the  same 
time  he  set  up  a  grocery.  About  this  time  he  succeeded  in  becoming  guardian 
for  the  William  Franklin  heirs,  for  whom  he  drew  pension  money  to  the  amount 
of  $1,100.  His  luck  continuing  good,  his  grocery  burnt  down,  and  he  received 
$1,500  of  insurance.  His  borrowed  money  began  pressing  him  and  he  sold  out 
to  his  partner,  W.  0.  Smith,  at  a  very  good  figure.  If  he  had  stopped  here  he 
would  have  had  a  good  living  remaining,  but  a  man  of  the  name  of  Foulke,  of 


454  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY, 

Kansas,  sold  him  an  old  rattle-trap  of  a  mill  for  $5,000,  worth  about  that  many 
cents.  This  stroke  finished  him,  cleaned  him  up,  and  it  is  said  that  he  is  still 
following  up  the  mill  business,  but  in  a  second-hand  way." 

The  largo  grain  elevator  standing  by  the  railroad  was  built  in  1875-76  by 
F.  R.  Coffman.  One  had  been  built  here  in  1872,  and  burned  a  short  time 
after,  when  this  one  was  built  in  its  place.  It  is  now  owned  by  Dr.  Rutherford, 
and  is  an  excellent  building,  well-appointed  in  every  particular,  with  steam- 
power  and  with  a  capacity  of  15,000  or  20,000  bushels  of  grain.  It  is 
standing  idle  at  present. 

The  Oakland  National  Bank  was  established  in  1874,  with  L.  S.  Cash,  Pres- 
ident, and  John  Rutherford,  Cashier.  The  same  officers  still  have  charge  of  it, 
and  are  gentlemen  of  excellent  business  attainments,  energy  and  enterprise. 

VILLAGE    ORGANIZATION. 

The  village  of  Oakland  was  incorporated  years  ago,  but  as  the  first  records 
were  not  to  be  had  we  could  not  get  the  exact  date,  nor  the  names  of  the  first 
Board  of  Trustees.  The  present  Board  is  as  follows,  viz.,  William  Henderson, 
M.  W.  Ammerman,  J.  W.  Stokes,  Frank  Pleasant,  J.  R.  Lawson  and  Merrill 
Hackett.  William  Henderson  is  President  of  the  Board  ;  W.  M.  Bowman, 
Villat^e  Clerk ;  A.  A.  Dunseth,  Police  Magistrate,  and  John  Tibbs,  Town 
Marshal. 

The  first  church  was  organized  by  the  Old-School  Presbytei'ians  in  the  year 
1831.  They  built  a  small  log  church  on  the  site  of  the  "  upper  grave-yard,"  which 
afterward  was  turned  into  a  schoolhouse.  They  next  erected  a  frame  building  on  the 
public  square,  25x40  feet,  but  for  lack  of  funds  never  finished  it.  It  was  finally 
abandoned,  and,  in  1844,  their  present  church  edifice  was  erected.  Rev.  Isaac 
Bennett  was  one  of  the  first  preachers.  He  was  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  was  edu- 
cated at  Princeton  and  was  a  man  of  much  intelligence  and  refinement.  He 
was  averse  to  noise,  the  cry  of  a  child,  when  preaching,  totally  upset  him. 
After  his  marriage,  a  "change  came  over  the  spirit  of  his  dreams,"  and  when 
two,  three  or  four  children  had  gathered  about  his  knees,  he  was  altogether 
another  person,  and  could  study  his  sermons  better  than  ever  and  "  preach 
right  along  in  the  stiifest  kind  of  a  squall."  Rev.  Mr.  Montgomery  was  another 
preacher  of  this  congregation ;  also  Rev.  Mr.  McDonald  and  Rev.  Mr.  Venable, 
of  Paris.  At  present,  there  is  no  regular  pastor.  A  good  Sunday  school  is 
maintained,  of  which  Mr.  Eckard  is  Superintendent. 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterians  organized  a  society  in  1843,  under  the  Rev. 
James  Ashmore,  a  son  of  Amos  Ashmore  and  a  brother  to  the  wife  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Bennett.  They  have  an  elegant  little  frame  church  in  the  village  and  a  flourish- 
ing society.  Rev.  J.  P.  Campbell  is  the  present  Pastor.  R.  G.  Forsythe  is 
Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  connected  with  this  Church. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  by  Rev.  Arthur  Bradshaw 
in  1858.     Their  church  was  built   soon  after  its  organization.      The   society  is 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  455 

large  and  flourishing,  and  is  under  the  pastoral  charge  at  present  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Lacy.  Of  the  Sunday  school  of  the  Church,  N,  P.  Smith  is  Superin- 
tendent. 

The  first  school  in  Oakland  was  taught  by  Madison  Ashmore,  but  the  year 
is  not  now  remembered.  The  first  schoolhouse  was  a  small  frame  building,  which 
was  used  as  a  temple  of  learning  until  the  building  of  the  present  large  brick, 
some  nine  years  ago.  It  is  a  spacious  edifice,  well  designed  for  school  purposes 
and  cost  about  $7,000.  Prof.  Failing  is  Principal  of  the  school  at  present ; 
Miss  Lida  Reel,  Miss  Kate  Crawford  and  Miss  Jessie  Burr,  teachers. 

Freemasonry  and  Odd  Fellowship  are  well  represented  in  Oakland.  Oak- 
land Lodge  No.  219,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  organized  October  7,  A.  L.   5856, 

A.  D.  1856.  The  first  officers  were  Thomas  J.  Don  Carlos,  Master ;  William 
D.  Martin,  Senior  Warden ;  Alfred  D.  Pemberton,  Junior  Warden ;  John  W. 
Kurtz,  Treasurer  ;  Robert  Mosely,  Secretary.  The  present  officers  are  :  H. 
D.  Williams,  Master  ;  E.  H.  Warden,  Senior  Warden  ;  L.  B.  Crawford,  Junior 
Warden  ;  L.  S.  Cash,  Treasurer  ;  N.  P.  Smith,  Secretary ;  John  Rutherford, 
Senior  Deacon ;  R.  G.  Forsythe,  Junior  Deacon,  and  John  Menaugh,  Tiler, 
with  seventy  members  on  the  roll. 

Oakland  Chapter,  No.  153,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  was  organized  October  24, 
1872,  with  the  following  officers:  A.  P.  Forsythe,  High  Priest ;  S.  M.  Cash, 
King,  and  R.  F.  Larimer,  Scribe.  The  present  officers  are :  John  Ruther- 
ford, High  Priest;  S.  A.  Reel,  King  ;  R.  F.  Larimer,  Scribe  ;  Jo.  W.  Clement, 
Captain  of  the  Host ;  D.  H.  Gordon,  Principal  Sojourner ;  H.  D.  Williams, 
Royal  Arch  Captain ;  L.  B.  Crawford,  R.  G.  Forsythe,  A.  J.  Taylor,  Masters 
of  the  Veils  ;  L.  S.  Cash,  Treasurer,  and  E.  H.  Warden,  Secretary,  with  thirty 
members. 

Oakland  Lodge,  No.  1,192,  Knights  of  Honor,  was  instituted  September  5, 
1878,  by  Stanley  Walker,  D.  D.  Charter  members:  L.  S.  Cash,  M.  B. 
Valodin,  W.  C.  Lacy,  N.  P.  Smith,  N.  R.  Moore,  D.  A.  Rice,  Rev.  J.  P. 
Campbell,  William  Henderson,  Shep  Florer,  W.  H.  Glass,  W.  J.  Peak,  J.  W. 
Turner,  Lewis  Kees,  B.  F.  Smith,  M.  R.  Williams,  R.  L.  Burns,  J.  G.  Hamil- 
ton and  R.  M.  Young.  The  first  officers  were  M.  B.  Valodin,  D.;  William 
Henderson,  V.  D.;  L.  S.  Cash,  Treasurer;  D.  A.  Rice,  R.;  M.  R.  Williams, 
F.  R.;  N.  P.  Smith,  D.  and  R.     Present  officers:     William   Henderson,   D.; 

B.  F.  Smith,  V.  D.;  L.  S.  Cash,  Treasurer;  N.  P.  Smith,  R.  ;  M'.  R. 
Williams,  F.  R. 

Oakland  Lodge  No.  545,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  instituted  April  8,  1874.  The 
charter  members  were  A.  A.  Dunseth,  A.  M.  Merrill,  R.  S.  Smedley,  J.  P. 
Coons,  James  Stiles,  of  which  A.  A.  Dunseth  was  first  Noble  Grand ;  A.  M. 
Merrill,  Vice  Grand  ;  and  R.  S.  Smedly,  Secretary,  and  A.  A.  Dunseth  the  first 
Representative.  The  present  officers  are  :  D.  A.  Rice,  Noble  Grand ;  R. 
Gomel,  Vice  Grand ;  William  M.  Bowman,  Secretary,  and  N.  P.  Smith, 
Deputy  Representative. 


456  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

Welcome  Encampment,  No.  24,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  organized  January  5,  1876. 
It  is  the  old  No.  24,  of  Charleston,  which  surrendered  its  charter  during  the 
war,  and  hence  lost  its  number.  The  first  officers  were :  J.  G.  Crawford, 
C.  P.;  S.  M.  Cash,  H.  P.;  J.  A.  Johnson,  S.  W.;  J.  C.  Bandy,  J.  W.;  N.  P. 
Smith,  Scribe.  The  present  officers  are  Robert  Rutherford,  C.  P.,  and  N.  P. 
Smith,  Scribe,  with  twelve  members. 

The  first  newspaper  in  Oakland  was  the  Herald,  and  was  established  by  J. 
W.  Crane  in  1875.  It  is  at  present  owned  by  S.  A.  Reel  &  Co.,  with  Rev.  J. 
P.  Campbell  as  editor.  It  is  an  eight-page  paper,  presents  a  fine  appearance, 
and  is  one  of  the  spiciest  sheets  in  the  county.  The  Oakland  Ledger  is  a  small 
paper,  recently  established  in  the  village,  and  is  an  interesting  little  journal. 

Oakland  comprises  some  fifteen  or  twenty  stores  of  all  classes,  including 
dry  goods,  grocery  stores,  hardware  stores,  furniture  stores,  etc.,  also  a  full 
line  of  shops  of  all  kinds,  blacksmith,  wagon-makers,  harness-makers,  etc.,  etc. 
It  has  two  good  hotels,  three  churches,  one  excellent  schoolhouse,  two  steam- 
mills,  one  grain  elevator,  a  railroad  and  depot,  and  its  full  share  of  professional 
men. 

The  village  has  two  cemeteries  ;  one  is  some  distance  from  the  village,  in  a 
northeast  direction,  and  was  laid  out  before  the  village.  Many  of  the  old 
settlers  and  pioneers  sleep  in  the  "  upper  grave-yard,"  as  this  burying-ground  is 
called.  The  other  is  nearer  the  village,  and  was  laid  out  in  1855.  It  is  a 
pretty  little  cemetery,  and  is  well  beautified  and  adorned  with  trees  and  shrubbery. 

In  conclusion  of  this  chapter,  we  would  say  that  Oakland  is  a  model  little 
village,  with  the  most  favorable  prospects  for  a  bright  future.  Though'in  early 
days  it  had  the  name  of  being  a  rough  place,  with  some  rough  characters  in  it, 
yet  education  and  civilization  have  done  their  work,  and  a  more  refined  little 
city  cannot  be  found  in  this  or  surrounding  counties. 

MORGAN    TOWNSHIP. 

"  In  the  mountain  scenery  yet, 

All  we  adore  of  Nature  in  her  wild 
And  frolic  hour  of  infancy  is  met; 

And  never  has  a  summer's  morning  smiled 
Upon  a  lovelier  scene  tlian  the  full  eye 
Of  the  enthusiast  revels  on — when  higli 
Amid  thy  forest  solitudes  he  climbs 

O'er  crags  that  proudly  tower  above  the  deep, 
And  knows  that  sense  of  danger  which  sublimes 

The  breathless  moment^when  his  daring  step 
Is  on  the  verge  of  the  cliff,  and  he  can  hear 
The  low  dash  of  the  waves  with  startled  ear." — Halleck. 

In  this  little  narrow  strip  of  earth,  small  and  irregular  in  shape,  known  as 
Morgan  Township,  are  represented  the  two  extremes  of  nature,  as  it  were — the 
beautiful  level  prairies  and  the  wild  broken  country  bordering  the  Embarrass 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  457 

River.  The  latter,  before  the  advent  of  the  "pale-face"  marred  its  virgin 
beauty,  was  covered  with  primeval  forests,  and  to  the  west  the  prairies  stretched 
away  in  nature's  waving  meadows.  Upon  the  brakes  and  hills  and  bluffs  rising 
from  the  river  grew  giant  trees,  which  for  centuries  had  defied  the  fury  of  the 

"       '  "  The  century  living  crow, 

Whose  birth  was  in  their  tops,  grew  old  and  died 
Among  their  branches," 

and  still  they  had  flourished  in  all  their  glory  for  years  and  ages.  Giant  oaks, 
spreading  elms,  towering  walnuts,  waving  cottonwoods,  with  their  trembling 
leaves,  and  many  other  magnificent  forest-trees  grew  here  in  almost  endless  pro- 
fusion. And  beyond,  as  the  ocean  extends  out  from  the  beach,  which  limits  it, 
extended  the  prairies,  clothed  in  all  the  beauty  of  nature.  Such  was  the  aspect 
of  the  section  of  country  to  which  this  chapter  is  devoted  when  the  pale-face 
came  with  all  his  bustling  enterprise  and  proceeded,  literally,  to  turn  things 
topsy-turvy. 

Morgan  Township  lies  in  the  north,  or  rather  in  the  northeast,  part  of  the 
county,  and  is  bounded  north,  by  Douglas  County ;  west,  by  Seven  Hickory 
Township ;  south,  by  Charleston,  and  east,  by  the  Embarrass  River.  Through  the 
north  part  of  the  town  flows  the  classic  stream  known  as  "  Greasy  Creek,"  which, 
together  with  the  origin  of  the  name,  is  referred  to  in  the  county  history.  A 
little  south  of  Greasy  Creek  is  Dry  Branch,  another  little  stream  flowino-  into 
the  Embarrass.  As  before  stated,  this  township  contains  both  timber  and  prairie, 
and  is  pretty  equally  divided  between  the  two  ;  the  timber-land  lying  adjacent 
to  the  Embarrass  River,  and  the  prairies  next  to  Seven  Hickory  Township. 
Morgan  is  a  fractional  town,  containing  about  twenty-four  or  twenty-five  sections 
of  land — two-thirds  of  a  regular  Congressional  township.  It  has  neither  vil- 
lages nor  railroads,  but  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  and  the  Illinois  Midland 
Railroads  pass  near  enough  to  be  of  considerable  benefit  to  it  in  transporting  its 
surplus  grain  and  stock. 

^         '='  SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  white  settlers  in  Morgan  Township  are  supposed  to  have  been  John 
Caldwell  and  his  son,  who  bore  the  same  name,  and  John  Kennedy,  They 
came  from  Fayette  County,  Ky.,  near  the  city  of  Lexington,  and  settled  in  the 
timbered  portion  of  the  township  in  1830—31.  The  CaWwells  lived  here  about 
twenty  years,  when  they  removed  to  Edgar  County,  where  the  elder  died  several 
years  ago,  but  his  son  is  still  living  in  that  county.  This  is  about  all  that  is 
known  of  the  Caldwells  at  the  present  day.  Kennedy  remained  but  a  short 
time,  and  moved  back  to  Kentucky,  where  he  resided  several  years,  when  he 
returned  to  Illinois,  and  died  a  few  years  ago  in  the  city  of  Charleston. 

Aaron  Collins  is  another  of  the  early  settlers  of  Morgan  Township,  and  is 
supposed  by  some  to  have  settled  here  previous  to  the  Caldwells  and  Kennedy, 
but  after  this  long  lapse  of  years  it  is  hard  to  say  which  of  these  families  was 
the  first  to  pitch  their  tents  in  this  section.     Collins  came  from  North  Carolina 


458  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

in  1830-31,  and  built  the  house  where  his  son-in-law,  Reese  McAllister  now 
lives.  He  has  been  dead  a  number  of  years,  but  a  son,  Aaron  Collins,  Jr.,  still 
lives  in  the  township. 

Daniel  R.  and  David  R.  McAllister,  the  latter  usually  called  Reese  McAl- 
lister, came  to  Morgan  Township  in  1833.  They  were  from  Indiana  here,  but 
were  originally  from  Alabama.  When  moving  to  this  place,  they  stopped  in 
Ashmore  Township,  where  they  remained  from  spring  until  fall,  when  they 
removed  to  this  township.  Reese  has  resided  here  ever  since,  upon  the  place 
where  his  father-in-law,  Aaron  Collins,  first  settled,  and  Daniel,  to  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  took  place  in  1871.  John  Skidmore  came  from  Indiana  to 
this  settlement  in  1831-32.  He  lived  here  in  quiet  until  the  breaking-out  of 
the  gold  fever,  when  he  started  for  California,  but  died  on  the  way,  and  never 
reached  the  land  of  gold.  Gibson  Gastin  came  also  from  Indiana  about  the 
same  time  Skidmore  came,  and  after  remaining  in  the  neighborhood  a  number 
of  years,  removed  to  Texas,  since  which  time  all  trace  of  him  is  lost. 

David  Morgan,  for  whom  the  township  was  named,  settled  near  what  was 
called  Greasy  Point,  April  20,  1834.  He  was  originally  from  Washington 
County,  Ky.,  near  Springfield,  the  county  seat,  but  removed  to  Vermilion 
County,  Ind.,  where  he  remained  several  years  before  coming  to  this  neighbor- 
hood. He  was  a  prominent  man  in  the  community,  and  the  first  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  He  died  in  1860,  but  has  two  sons,  William  and  James  Morgan,  still 
living  in  the  township,  splendid  representatives  of  the  honest  old  pioneer,  who 
has  passed  away.  The  latter  still  lives  on  the  old  homestead,  where  his  father 
settled  nearly  half  a  century  ago.  Benjamin  Clarke  came  from  Kentucky  about 
1830—31,  and  died  here  several  years  ago.  His  wife  is  still  living,  and  is  the 
only  one  of  the  early  pioneers  who  came  here  a  grown-up  person  that  survives. 
A  son,  Jackson  Clarke,  and  several  married  daughters,  live  in  the  township 
still,  and  another  son  lives  in  Kansas. 

Gowin  Adkins,  and  Abraham  Adkins,  a  cousin,  settled  in  the  town  in 
1833-34.  The  father  of  the  latter  came  with  him,  and  was  of  the  same  name. 
They  are  all  dead ;  Gowin  died  many  years  ago,  but  had  a  son  and  daughter. 
The  former  went  into  the  army  during  the  late  war,  and  died  while  in  the  service 
of  his  country.  Moses  Golliday  came  from  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  in  the 
township  a  year  or  two  before  the  Adkinses.  He  bought  out  Caldwell ;  David, 
a  brother,  came  about  the  same  time,  and  both  he  and  Moses  are  dead.  John 
Golliday,  another  brother,  is  still  living. 

Isaac  Craig,  an  esteemed  citizen  of  Charleston  Township,  was  an  early  set- 
tler of  Morgan.  He  came  here  in  1835.  He  was  originally  from  Kentucky, 
and  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father  in  1828,  first  settling  in  Clark  County. 
Isaac  Craig  remained  a  resident  of  Morgan  Township  about  twenty  years,  and 
then  removed  to  Edgar  County,  where  he  resided  for  fourteen  years,  and  then 
removed  to  Charleston,  where  he  still  lives,  just  north  of  the  city.  He  was  in 
the  Black  Hawk  war — volunteered  in  one  of  the  Clark    County  companies,  but 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  459"  ' 

having  friends  in  Edgar  County,  got  a  transfer  to  Captain  Brimberrj's  company 
of  Edgar  County.  An  early  settler  of  the  name  of  Johnson,  located  on  the 
creek,  but  he  was  a  "bird  of  passage,"  and  did  not  remain  long,  hence  not 
much  is  known  of  him. 

The  Chastenes  were  rather  noted  characters  in  this  settlement,  in  an  early 
day.  Mr.  Morgan  bought  a  claim  from  one  of  them  (there  were  two  of  them, 
Jesse  and  William  Chastene),  upon  which  there  was  a  cabin,  and  twenty-five 
apple-trees  which  the  old  fellow  had  planted  out.  Mr.  Morgan  closed  up  the 
trade,  and  went  to  Palestine  and  formally  entered  the  land.  He  then  went  to 
his  home  in  Indiana,  to  move  his  family  here,  and  when  he  arrived,  old  Chas- 
tene had  dug  up  every  apple-tree  and  carried  them  off  to  some  new  claim.  These 
Chastenes  are  the  amateur  pork-packers  alluded  to  in  the  general  county  his- 
tory, and  from  whose  questionable  operations  the  little  stream  of  Greasy  Creek 
obtained  its  classic  name. 

Alexander  Montgomery  came  from  Indiana  to  this  township.  He  was 
originally  from  Alabama,  and  was  a  brother-in-law  to  the  McAllisters,  and 
settled  here  the  fall  after  they  came  to  the  town.  He  died  here  years  ago. 
These  are  all  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Morgan  Township.  Next  is  rather  a  later 
era,  and  includes  such  as  John  Winkelblack,  Daniel  Beck,  Thomas  West,  Irwin 
Digby,  Cooper  Wallace,  Y.  E.  Winkler.  Winkelblack  and  Beck  came  from  Vir- 
ginia ;  the  latter  is  dead,  but  Winkelblack  is  still  living.  Thomas  West  was 
from  Vermilion  County,  Ind.,  and  came  some  years  after  the  Morgans.  He 
now  lives  in  Douglas  County.  Digby  came  from  the  same  section,  and  still 
lives  in  Morgan  Township.  So,  also,  was  Wallace  from  Vermilion  County,  Ind., 
and  his  father,  now  living  in  Douglas  County,  was  originally  from  Kentucky. 
Cooper  Wallace  has  been  dead  a  number  of  years.  Winkler  came  from  Indi- 
ana, but  was  originally  from  Kentucky  also.  He  is  still  living.  This  con- 
cludes the  list  of  the  early  settlers,  so  far  as  could  be  obtained. 

GENERAL    FEATURES. 

When  the  first  white  people  came  to  Morgan  Township,  there  were  plenty  of 
Indians  in  this  section.  They  once  had  a  camp  not  far  from  where  Reese 
McAllister  now  lives,  and  there  are  traces  of  it  still  to  be  seen  there.  The  like- 
ness of  a  man  cut  in  the  bark  of  a  tree  is  still  visible,  though  it  shows  every 
appearance  of  having  been  executed  years  and  years  ago.  Many  places  have 
been  noticed  in  this  immediate  neighborhood,  supposed  to  be  Indian  graves, 
though,  so  far  as  we  could  learn,  none  of  them  have  ever  been  examined  to  see 
whether  they  contain  anything  like  human  skeletons.  A  year  or  two  ago,  Henry 
Curtis,  a  son  of  Samuel  Curtis,  was  one  day  "  digging  fish-bait,"  and  dug  up 
a  human  skull,  and,  upon  examination,  a  few  other  bones  were  found,  and  rocks 
were  laid  in  order,  as  though  intended  to  form  a  rude  sort  of  covering,  ere  the 
dirt  was  put  on  the  corpse.  But  whether  this  was  an  Indian,  or  some  lone 
white  man,  who  had  been  murdered*  in  this  wild  spot,  will  probably  never  be 

*  The  skull  had  a  hole  in  the  hack  part  of  it,  resembling  a  buUet-hole. 


460  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

known.  But  the  evidence  was  pretty  strong  that  it  was  a  human  being,  either 
white,  red  or  black,  and  had  been  carefully  buried  there,  near  the  banks  of  the 
Embarrass  River. 

But,  although  Indians  were  plenty  here  when  the  whites  first  came,  they  were 
not  at  all  troublesome,  but  were  quite  friendly  toward  the  white  people.  They  would 
furnish  them  with  game,  and  hence  proved  of  some  benefit,  at  least.  But  long 
years  have  passed  since  the  wild  yell  of  the  savage  disturbed  the  echoes  of  this 
little  community.  But  few  are  still  left  that  can  remember  them  as  residents 
of  Morgan,  and  soon,  "  Lo  !  the  poor  Indian!"  will  live  only  in  fireside 
tales. 

Wolves  and  panthers,  with  occasionally  a  bear,  inhabited  this  country  forty  or 
fifty  years  ago,  and  snakes  were  a  spontaneous  growth.  Rattlesnakes  were  also 
very  plenty.  Mr.  Morgan  and  his  sons  killed  ninety  rattlesnakes  in  one  sum- 
mer, on  a  ten-acre  lot,  and  it  was  not  a  good  season  for  rattlesnakes,  either. 
Wolf-hunts  were  common,  and  their  scalps  commanded  a  bounty.  A  number 
of  neighbors  would  band  together,  with  dogs  and  guns,  and  the  havoc  made 
among  the  hateful  little  pests  would  sometimes  be  terrific.  A  man  could  pay  his 
taxes  in  scalps,  and,  if  he  had  an  overplus,  could  pass  them  over  to  the  Treas- 
urer and  get  a  county  order  for  the  balance  due  him. 

We  don't  know  whether  the  same  custom  prevailed  here,  or  in  Coles  County, 
during  the  circulation  of  wolf-scalps  as  currency,  that  we  have  heard  of  in 
another  section  of  the  State,  viz.,  that  a  man  could  go  into  a  "grocery  "  and 
get  a  glass  of  whisky,  throw  down  a  wolf-scalp,  and  the  grocery-keeper  would 
give  him  back  a  coon-skin,  or  two  opossum-skins,  in  change.  But  prairie 
wolves,  like  the  poor  savage,  have  gone  West  to  grow  up  with  the  country  and 
the  grasshoppers. 

The  winter  of  the  deep  snow  is  remembered  by  the  few  old  settlers  still  liv- 
ing in  this  part  of  the  country.  Though  this  fall  of  snow  was  but  little  over 
half  as  deep  in  this  latitude  as  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  yet  it  is 
acknowledged  as  the  deepest  ever  witnessed  here.  It  fell  in  December,  1830, 
and  remained  on  the  ground  until  the  next  March.  Here  it  was  only  about 
two  feet  deep,  but  in  the  northern  part  of  Illinois  it  was  four  feet  on  the  level 
prairies.  It  was  a  hard  time  on  stock,  and  on  people,  too,  in  a  newly-settled 
country.  Many  wild  beasts  died  from  starvation  while  it  lasted,  and  domestic 
animals  had  nearly  as  hard  a  time  here,  for,  at  that  early  day,  the  few  people 
then  in  Coles  County  had  not  been  in  it  long  enough  to  have  a  surplus  of  hay 
and  corn. 

As  a  sample  of  the  hard  times  the  pioneers  had  to  undergo,  Mr.  Morgan 
informed  us  that  he  had  known  thousands  of  bushels  of  corn  to  sell  at  8  cents 
a  buf  hel,  an  excellent  cow  and  c.ilf  for  $8,  good  horses  for  ^40,  and  wheat  from 
25  ^ents  to  37|  cents  a  bushel  And,  for  y  jars,  the  prices  ranged  at  these 
figures,  and,  evin  then,  it  was  almost  imposrible  to  get  money  for  anything  one 
hf'.d  to  sell,  for  there  was  but  little  of  that  commodity  in  the  country. 


HISTORY    OF  COLES  COUNTY.  461 

But  these  hard  times  are  all  past  now,  and  Morgan  Township  is,  to-day,  as 
prosperous  a  community  as  one  will  find  in  Coles  County.  True,  we  still  find 
a  few  of  the  primitive  log  cabins  of  the  earlier  days,  but  they  are  not  used  as  a 
matter  of  necessity,  but  from  choice.  They  have  become  endeared  to  their 
owners,  and  are  cherished  as  sweet  mementos  of  the  past.  As  a  rule,  Morgan 
Township  has  excellent  residences,  well-improved  farms,  good  roads,  and, 
indeed,  everything  to  indicate  a  prosperous  community. 

BIRTHS,    DEATHS    AND    xMARRIAGES. 

Who  was  the  first  person  born  in  Morgan  Township  is  not  now  remem- 
bered. The  first  death  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  wife  of  Aaron  Collins, 
who  died  in  the  early  days  of  the  settlement  of  Morgan,  or  Greasy  Creek,  as 
the  settlement  was  called.  A  child  of  Jefferson  Florer  was  the  first  party 
buried  in  the  Greasy  Point  Cemetery,  near  where  James  Morgan  lives.  This 
is  one  of  the  prettiest  little  burying-grounds  we  have  noticed  in  the  county. 
Located  on  high  ground,  and  kept  in  excellent  order,  with  many  pretty  marble 
slabs  and  some  quite  elegant  monuments,  it  is,  altogether,  a  lovely  place. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  neighborhood  was  Clara  Collins  and  Thomas 
Creighton,  and  they  were  married  by  David  Morgan,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
The  population  of  the  township  shows  that  the  good  old  custom,  begun  thus 
early,  has  been  kept  up,  and  that  there  has  been  "  marrying  and  giving  in 
marriage,"  since  this  first  couple  stepped  off"  the  shores  of  single  blessedness. 

Morgan  Township  has  never  had  any  mills,  except  one  or  two  portable  saw- 
mills in  the  timbered  sections  along  the  Embarrass  River ;  one  of  these,  how- 
ever, we  believe,  once  added  a  set  of  buhrs  for  grinding  corn.  Mr.  James  Morgan 
says  that,  when  his  father  first  settled  in  the  township,  they  used  to  go  to  the 
Wabash,  and  to  Decatur,  to  mill ;  that  two  or  three  neighbors  would  join 
together,  and,  hitching  three  or  four  yoke  of  oxen  to  a  wagon,  would  start  off" 
to  mill,  and  sometimes  be  absent  a  week  or  ten  days.  Milling  is  now  done  at 
Oakland  and  Charleston,  and  sometimes  at  mills  in  Douglas  County. 

There  was  no  blacksmith-shop  in  Morgan  Township  at  a  sufficiently  early 
■day  to  be  made  a  matter  of  history.  That  useful  trade  is  pretty  well  repre- 
sented at  the  present  day,  however,  and  shops  are  to  be  found  in  every  neigh- 
borhood. In  the  early  day,  the  blacksmi thing  was  done  by  the  workmen  in  the 
Oakland  settlement. 

David  Morgan  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Morgan  Township,  and 
when  the  county  adopted  township  organization,  Nathan  Thomas  was  elected 
the  first  Supervisor,  and  was  succeeded  the  next  year  by  John  Winkleblack. 
The  present  Supervisor  is  J.  B.  Williams ;  J.  L.  Rardin  and  Jesse  Hudson, 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 

SCHOOLS  AND  CHURCHFS. 

The  first  schoolhcuse  was  built  in  Morgan  Township  about  1839-40,  bit 
who  tauf.ht  the  first  school  in  it  cannot  be  told  at  this  late  day.     There  were 


462  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

schools  in  the  settlement,  however,  before  this  house  was  built,  but  until  it  was 
erected,  the  settlers  cabins  were  utilized  as  temples  of  learning.  And  as  this 
is  but  a  fractional  town,  it  has  but  three  schoolhouses  within  its  limits,  viz., 
Winkelblack's,  Hazel  Dell  and  California  Schoolhouses.  This  results  from  the 
fact  that  many  of  the  school  districts  are  partnership  districts  with  Seven 
Hickory  Township,  and  with  Sargent  Township,  in  Douglas  County.  A 
strong  effort  is  being  made  to  get  a  new  district  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
township,  a  move  that  it  seems  should  terminate  successfully,  for  there  is  cer- 
tainly abundant  territory  and  population  for  a  district  and  a  house  in  this 
section. 

There  are  two  church  edifices  in  the  township.  The  first  sermon  preached, 
Avas  by  the  Methodists.  The  Revs.  Fox  and  McCane  were  early  in  the  field, 
but,  we  believe,  never  established  a  permanent  society.  The  first  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  ministers  were  Revs.  James  Ashmore  and  Hill.  The  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Union  Church  is  located  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  and 
was  built  in  1856-57.  The  society  was  organized  in  May,  1842,  by  Rev. 
James  Ashmore,  at  the  house  of  David  Morgan.  Preaching  was  held  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Morgan  and  at  Aaron  Collins',  until  the  church  was  built.  The 
present  membership  is  110,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  P.  Campbell.  A 
Sunday  school  is  maintained  during  the  summer  season,  with  an  average 
attendance  (last  summer)  of  sixty-three  children,  under  the  superintendence  of 
James  Morgan,  who  is,  also.  Clerk  of  the  Church  Session. 

There  is  also  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian  organization  at  the  California 
Schoolhouse,  but  they  have  no  regular  preaching  at  the  present  time,  although 
the  organization  is  still  kept  up,  also  a  Sunday  school  during  the  summer 
season. 

Salem  Missionary  Baptist  Church  is  in  the  extreme  southern  part  of  the 
town.  It  is  a  substantial  frame  building,  and  was  put  up  about  fifteen  years 
ago,  at  a  cost  of  |1,000.  Rev.  Mr.  Thornton  is  the  Pastor,  and  has  a  flourish- 
ing congregation  for  a  country  church.  A  Sunday  school  is  carried  on  during 
the  summer  season. 

Our  readers  will  notice  on  some  of  the  old  maps  a  little  place  in  Morgan 
Township  called  Curtisville.  Notwithstanding  its  dignified  name,  it  was  never 
much  of  a  village.  A  small  store,  a  blacksmith-shop,  with  a  "neighborhood  " 
post  office,  comprised  all  of  Curtisville.  The  store  was  kept  by  a  man  named 
Cutler  Mitchell,  and  the  post  office  was  simply  an  office  for  the  convenience  of 
the  neighbors,  and  whoever  went  to  town  brought  out  the  mail-bag.  It  was 
not  a  regular  office,  nor  was  the  mail  brought  regularly,  but  as  it  suited  the 
convenience  of  some  one  who  had  other  business  at  town. 

Rardin  Post  Office  is  much  the  same  kind  of  a  place  that  Curtisville  once 
was.  We  say  once  was,  for  what  little  there  was  of  the  place,  has  passed 
away,  and  there  is  nothing  left  to  tell  where  it  once  stood  but  a  dwelling  and  a 
blacksmith-shop.     Rardin  is  on  Section  4,  and  consists  of  a  small  store  and  a 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  463 

blacksmith-shop,  together  with  a  post  office.  Samuel  Rardin  keeps  both  the 
post  office  and  the  store.  This  little  place  and  Curtisville,  are  the  nearest  that 
this  neighborhood  has  ever  approached  to  having  a  village  in  its  midst. 

Morgan  Township  is  Democratic  in  politics ;  in  fact,  it  may  be  termed  a 
Democratic  stronghold.  It  has  always  been  Democratic,  from  the  earliest 
period  of  its  existence  to  the  present  day.  During  the  late  war,  Morgan  did 
its  part  nobly,  filling  every  call  without  a  draft.  But  after  all  these  years,  it  is 
impossible  to  obtain  the  names  of  those  who  participated  in  the  long  and  san- 
guinary struggle.  We  shall  not  attempt  to  do  so,  but  pass  from  the  subject 
with  a  well-merited  tribute  to  their  bravery. 

This  township  contains  but  little  of  special  interest  to  the  historian.  With- 
out villages,  towns  or  cities,  railroads,  mills  or  manufactories,  there  is  but  little 
to  write  about,  after  the  settlement  of  the  town  is  described,  unless  we  go  off 
into  a  panegyric  on  its  honest,  honorable  and  upright  citizens.  This,  however, 
is  not  our  purpose,  as  the  duty  of  an  historian  is  to  deal  in  facts,  and  not  in 
fulsome  flattery  of  persons  or  things.  And  thus  we  close  our  chapter  on  Mor- 
gan Township,  with  the  statement  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  prosperous  in  this 
county,  and  is  inhabited  by  people  who  "  move  on  in  the  even  tenor  of  their 
way,"  quietly  attending  to  their  own  business,  and  not  meddling  with  that  of 
others. 

SEVEN   HICKORY   TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  one  of  the  largest  townships  in  the  county.  It  is  six  sections  wide 
from  east  to  west,  and  is  nine  sections  long.  It  contains,  therefore,  54  sec- 
tions, or  34.560  acres,  none  of  which  is  waste  land.  With  the  exception  of 
one  or  two  groves,  of  which  mention  will  be  made  hereafter,  the  entire  town- 
ship is  prairie.  It  is,  therefore,  slightly  undulating  in  its  surface,  and  possesses 
an  unusually  rich,  productive  soil.  Taking  the  township  as  a  whole,  there  is 
not  a  finer  body  of  land  in  the  county.  The  surface  is  sufficiently  undulating 
to  admit  of  drainage,  and  the  soil  of  sufficient  depth  to  preclude  its  wear- 
inor  out. 

The  only  streams  of  water  to  be  found  are  Greasy  Creek,  in  the  northeast 
part ;  the  head  of  Flat  Branch,  in  the  northwest,  and  Cossel  and  a  branch  of 
Riley  Creek,  in  the  southwest.  None  of  these  flow  through  the  township,  but  all 
head  in  it,  and  leave  the  town  from  three  different  directions.  This  fact  estab- 
lishes another,  viz. :  that  the  central  part  is  high  land,  and  sloping  in  all  direc- 
tions. The  town,  compared  to  others,  is  new,  having  been  almost  entirely 
unsettled  until  after  completion  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  in  whose  grant 
of  land  it  lay.  The  township  took  its  name  from  a  remarkable  grove  of 
hickory-trees  situated  toward  the  southwest  part.  This  grove  is  said  to  have 
originally  consisted  of  seven  immense  trees,  standing  alone  in  their  grandeur, 
monarchs  of  all  they  surveyed.  Tradition  has  it,  too,  that  they  were  a  prom- 
inent landmark  in   early  days ;    and,  further  back  than  the  time  of  the  white 


464  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTT. 

man's  rule  here,  they  were  the  shrine  and  camping-place  of  the  aboriginal  sons 
of  the  forest.  Early  emigrants  going  across  this  part  of  the  State  found  them 
rising  before  them  as  monitors  pointing  out  the  country  before  them.  Earlier 
than  the  emigrants  were  the  surveyors,  who  came  over  this  section  of  Illinois 
when  yet  a  Territory,  and  who  marked  the  grove  on  the  plats  they  made  of  the 
country.  Before  them  were  the  scouts  and  hunters,  forerunners  of  a  civiliza- 
tion destined,  one  day,  to  supplant  the  red  men.  These  adventurers  found  the 
grove  composed  of  the  curious  number  of  hickories,  and  note  it  in  their  annals 
of  the  country.  From  their  size  when  seen  by  settlers  about  1824  or  1825, 
they  must  have  been  more  than  a  century  old,  and  if  so,  were  here  when  the 
country  was  captured  from  the  British  by  Col.  George  R.  Clark,  100  years  ago. 

Another  small  grove,  known  as  Anderson's  Grove,  exists  in  another  part  of 
the  township.  It  is,  however,  quite  small,  and  has  never  yielded  trees  above  a 
mediocre  height  and  size,  or  of  a  quality  suitable  for  building  purposes.  A 
curious  growth  of  sassafras-trees  has  sprung  up  on  the  farm  of  Jesse  O'Hair 
since  he  settled  there.  He  says  he  cannot  account  for  the  trees,  as  he  knows 
of  no  one  planting  any  roots  of  that  tree,  or  dropping  any  seed.  He  supposes 
the  growth  came  from  seeds  dropped  by  birds,  or  roots  left  by  Indians  or  trav- 
elers. At  any  rate,  the  trees  have  come  up  in  the  last  quarter-century,  and  are 
of  a  good  size.  Mr.  O'Hair  has  them  fenced  about,  and  uses  the  grove  for  a 
shade  for  stock.  He  is  quite  proud  of  its  existence,  and  counts  it  a  valuable 
adjunct  on  his  farm. 

Aside  from  what  has  been  mentioned  as  timber-land,  the  entire  town  is 
prairie.  When  the  first  settlers  came  to  the  county,  they  found  it  a  trackless, 
almost  treeless,  plain,  variegated  with  here  and  there  a  small  grove  or  a  single 
shrub.  It  was  covered  with  a  luxuriant  growth  of  grass,  waving  in  the  prairie 
breezes,  the  home  of  the  wolf,  deer  and  buffalo.  A'^oid  of  life,  save  in  its  sav- 
age state,  it  indeed  fulfilled  the  description  of  Irving,  whose  matchless  essay  on 
the  prairies  stands  unequaled.  These  wastes  are  now  the  homes  of  plenty, 
and,  under  the  hand  and  influence  of  civilization,  are  the  finest  parts  of  the 
county. 

During  the  interval  between  the  settlement  of  the  timbered  parts  of  the 
county  and  the  open  portions,  the  prairies  were  the  scenes  of  many  exciting 
wolf  and  deer  hunts.  The  former  animals  were  a  foe  to  young  pigs  and  poul- 
try, even  after  settlers  came  out  here  to  live.  They  ravaged  hen-roosts  with 
brazen  impunity,  often  in  broad  day,  but  more  commonly  at  night.  They  also 
evidenced  a  desire  for  fi-esh,  tender  pork,  and  depopulated  pig-sties  with  as  much 
effrontery  as  they  did  hen-roosts.  To  exterminate  them,  grand  hunts  were  organ- 
ized. A  company  of  men,  sometimes  over  a  hundred  in  number,  mounted  on  horses, 
followed  by  all  the  dogs  and  boys  who  could  come,  surrounded  a  certain  portion 
of  country,  often  quite  extensive,  and  gradually  closing  in  the  circle,  drove  all 
before  them.  In  early  times,  they  would  have  sometimes  a  dozen  wolves  and 
as  many  deer  in  the  doomed  circle.     When  the  line  had  been  properly  closed. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY,  465 

a  fire  from  guns  and  pistols  was  opened  on  the  animals,  care  being  taken  not 
to  shoot  over  a  certain  level.  The  real  fun  began  when  two  or  three  ventur- 
some  wolves  broke  the  lines  and  made  tracks  for  liberty  and  life.  Then  no 
shooting  was  allowed.  They  must  run  down  the  wolf,  and  that  meant  a  trial 
of  speed  and  mettle.  An  ordinary  wolf  would  outrun  nine  horses  out  of  ten 
in  an  even  race,  and  but  few  dogs  could  hope  to  catch  him.  The  exhilarating 
sport — the  spectacle  of  numbers  of  horses  galloping  across  the  plain  in  full 
tilt,  after  a  wolf — gave  spirit  and  vim  to  the  participants,  and  made  the  day  not 
easily  forgotten.  Deer-hunts  were  conducted  by  parties  only,  who  depended 
on  their  skill  as  hunters  to  capture  them,  and  not  on  the  speed  of  horses  or  the 
excitement  of  a  day's  sport.  As  the  country  filled  with  settlers,  these  pas- 
times gradually  died  out,  as  the  game  disappeared,  until  now  they  are  a  thing 
of  the  past. 

The  prairie  is  now  covered  with  cattle  and  fields  of  grain,  and  in  place  of 
the  wild  beasts  and  wild  men  who  once  made  it  their  home,  the  white  man  finds 
opulence  and  ease  as  a  reward  for  his  labor. 

SETTLEMENT. 

No  permanent  settlement  seems  to  have  been  made  here  until  about  1850. 
Before  that  date,  as  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn,  what  few  persons  came 
into  the  bounds  of  this  town  came  here  to  herd  cattle,*  and  do  not  seem  to  have 
made  any  permanent  residence.  The  prairie  portions  of  the  country  were  used 
for  this  purpose  long  after  the  settlers  came,  they  preferring  rather  to  pasture 
than  to  cultivate  it.  About  the  time  of  which  we  speak,  however,  the  atten- 
tion of  emigrants  was  more  particularly  directed  to  this  part  of  the  West,  as  it 
was  found  the  prairies  could  be  more  easily  cultivated,  when  once  broken,  than 
the  timber-lands.  The  soil  was  free  from  roots  and  stubs,  and  more  product- 
ive. Hence,  plows  adapted  to  the  turning  of  the  prairie  sod  began  to  appear, 
and  farms  were  entered  where  not  a  tree  stood. 

Samuel  and  John  Rosebraugh  settled  in  the  southwest  part  of  this  town- 
ship in  1850  or  1851,  and  with  William  and  Jack  Coons,  Abner  Brown,  Benja- 
min McNeal  and  Milo  Mitchell,  may  be  considered  the  pioneers  of  this  part  of 
the  county,  if  we  may  rightly  call  settlers  of  that  date  pioneers.  These  fami- 
lies, with  a  few  others,  came  here,  opened  farms,  erected  houses  and  began  life 
— not  in  log  cabins,  but  in  houses  that  mark  the  second  era  in  this  country. 
They  built  frame  dwellings  because  these  were  cheaper  than  any  other  then,  and 
because  there  was  no  timber  near  them  from  which  to  get  logs  to  build  cabins. 
They,  therefore,  did  not  experience  the  vicissitudes  of  a  pure  pioneer  life  here. 
The  country  was  then  emerging  from  an  era  of  hard  times  and  coming  to  a  basis 
of  real  prosperity.  Railroads  were  in  operation  in  the  Eastern  and  Middle 
States,  and  had  even  superseded  the  river  travel  as  far  west  as  Illinois.  At  Chi- 
cago, now  the  metropolis  of  the  West,  one  railroad  was  in  operation,  and  was 
earnestly  extending  its  lines  westward.     Charters  were  being  granted  to  other 


466  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

roads,  which  were  now  actively  engaged  in  opening  the  country.  The  agitation 
regarding  the  construction  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  was  claiming  the 
attention  of  the  people  and  their  Representatives  in  Congress.  The  agitation 
culminated  in  1852  in  the  immense  grant  of  land  given  to  that  road.  Its  his- 
tory is  presented  elsewhere  in  these  pages,  and  to  it  the  reader  is  referred. 
Suffice  it  to  say,  as  soon  as  the  route  was  determined,  the  country  through  which 
it  passed  settled  as  if  by  magic.  The  lands  embraced  in  the  grant  extended 
into  Seven'Hickory^Township,  and  as  soon  as  they  were  thrown  upon  the  market, 
were  rapidly  taken  up.  Mr.  Jesse  O'Hair  says  that  when  he  came  here,  in 
1854,  he  does  not  think  there  were  over  a  dozen  voters  in  the  entire  precinct, 
and  these  were  nearly  all  in  the  southern  part.  He  remembers  the  families  we 
have  mentioned,  but  thinks  there  were  verv  few  others.  Those  who  were  here 
as  herders  of  cattle,  lived  elsewhere,  and  could  not  be  counted  as  residents. 
They  all  went  to  Charleston  to  vote  and  for  all  their  trading.  When  the  land 
came  under  the  control  of  the  Illinois  Central  road,  being  partly  in  their  grant, 
and  buyers  finding  out  its  exceeding  richness,  it  did  not  wait  long  for  purchasers. 
Mr.  O'Hair  says  to  attempt  to  tell  individually  who  came  in  from  1854  to  1859, 
the  year  the  township  was  created,  would  be  to  enumerate  about  one  hundred 
families.  From  this,  it  will  be  seen  how  rapidly  the  country  was  taken  up — 
twelve  or  fifteen  voters  in  1853  and  1854,  nearly  one  hundred  in  1859.  That 
tells  the  story  of  its  settlement.  W.  E.  Adams  says  that  in  1855,  he  went  to 
the  north  part  of  the  township  to  see  after  some  cattle,  and  found  the  farm  of 
J.  E.  Wyche,  fenced,  in  a  measure,  and  occupied  by  a  tenant.  Judge  Adams 
says  it  was  the  farthest  farm  north  in  the  township,  and  was  somewhat  isolated, 
being  out  alone  on  the  prairie.  It  was  used  for  a  stock  farm.  He  was  back 
there  four  or  five  years  after,  and  the  prairie  was  "full  of  homes."  Each  one 
who  came  erected  frame  houses,  and  began  on  a  farm  all  prairie.  Hence  their 
beginning  was  entirely  different  from  any  who  began  life  in  the  forests.  Here 
no  cabins  were  built ;  no  hunts  for  bee-trees  and  game  in  the  woods  occurred  : 
none  of  the  elements  of  a  life  on  the  pioneer  plan,  as  commonly  experienced  in 
this  part  of  Illinois,  are  found.  We  will,  therefore,  not  go  into  a  needless  repe- 
tition of  the  life  of  the  first  settlers  here.  It  is  given  in  the  biographical  part 
of  this  book  more  fully  than  we  can  hope  to  gather  it,  and  to  that  part  of  the 
narrative  we  would  refer  the  reader.  The  people  came  after  the  railroads  were 
opened,  thus  avoiding  the  long  journey  of  those  that  preceded  them.  Before 
they  were  completed  through  this  county,  emigrants  came  to  Terre  Haute  by 
way  of  the  railroads,  and  from  thence  to  their  destination  in  their  wagons. 

After  the  creation  of  townships,  in  1859,  the  voting-place  was  made  at  what 
was  termed  the  Nicholas  Schoolhouse,  where  it  was  continued  until  the  Center 
Schoolhouse  was  erected,  when  that  place  was  made  the  polling-place,  and  is 
now  used. 

Before  leaving  the  history  of  the  township,  we  will  note  an  event,  occurring 
in  1864,  viz.,  an  unusually  severe  wind  and  storm.     It  is  referred  to  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  467 

history  of  Mattoon,  where  it  did  much  damage.  There  it  scattered  fences,  tore 
down  trees,  unroofed  and  blew  down  buiklings,  in  one  case  carrying  the  house 
clear  off  the  floor,  leaving  the  family — Benjamin  Tiff's — on  the  floor  without 
any  protection.  Where  it  went  through  the  woods,  it  made  a  "  clean  sweep," 
taking  down  everything  in  its  way.  Several  persons  were  injured,  and  some 
stock  killed.  Within  the  memory  of  the  "  oldest  inhabitant,"  it  is  the  severest 
windstorm  that  ever  visited  this  region. 

SCHOOLS. 

Just  as  soon  as  a  sufiicient  number  of  persons  were  found  in  the  township 
to  warrant  the  erection  of  a  schoolhouse,  one  was  built  in  the  southwestern  part. 
This  was  about  the  year  1855,  some  assert  a  year  later.  It  was  a  neat,  frame 
building,  and  accommodated,  at  first,  a  large  extent  of  territory.  About  a 
year  after  it  was  completed,  the  rapid  influx  of  settlers  commenced,  and,  within 
a  year's  time,  several  houses  were  erected.  School  was  opened  under  the  free- 
school  system,  that  having  been  established  over  ten  years.  No  subscription- 
schools,  supported  entirely  in  that  manner,  were  ever  taught  here.  As  the 
lands  in  this  township  always  brought  an  excellent  price,  the  sale  of  the  16th 
Section  brought  the  township  a  good  school-fund,  as  will  be  observed  in  the  sta- 
tistics we  present.  The  township  supports  excellent  schools  now,  and,  as  the 
excellent  character  of  the  people  attests,  they  are  repaid  for  the  outlay.  The  sta- 
tistics to  which  reference  is  made  are  from  the  office  of  the  County  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools,  and  are  as  follows : 

Number  of  school  children,  males 247 

Number  of  school  children,  females 202 

Total 449 

Number  of  schools 18 

Average  wages,  males ?44  79 

Average  wages,  females 28  19 

Length  of  school-term,  six  months 

Value  of  school  property $5,800  00 

Principal  of  Township  Fund 8,847  00 

From  the  foregoing  table,  it  is  evident  the  population  of  the  township  is 
nearly  two  thousand,  an  excellent  growth  in  less  than  thirty  years'  time. 

CHURCHES. 

There  are  only  two  churches  in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  though  a  few  are 
just  over  its  border  in  other  townships,  in  whose  histories  they  are  noticed. 
The  two  to  which  reference  is  made  are  the  Methodist  and  Christian  Churches. 
The  first  of  these,  the  Olive  Branch  Church,  was  organized  about  1865  or  1866, 
possibly  earlier,  and,  for  a  time,  like  all  early  churches,  held  services  in  the 
members'  houses.  Afterward,  the  schoolhouses  were  used.  In  1869,  a  very 
comfortable  frame  church  was  erected,  which  is  yet  occupied.  Rev.  Wallace 
was  among  the  ministers  here  about  this  time,  and  was  one  of  the  active  par- 
ticipants  in  its  erection  and  dedication.     The  congregation  is  now  in  a  good 

p 


468  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

condition  every  way,  and  supports  regular  services.  Its  rapid  growth  is  attrib- 
uted, mainly,  to  the  sudden  settling  of  the  township,  and  to  one  or  two  pros- 
perous meetings. 

The  Christian  Church,  known  as  the  Rural  Retreat  Church,  began  by  hold- 
ing services  in  persons'  houses,  who  were  professors  of  this  creed.  Soon,  a 
start  was  made,  a  congregation  established,  and  the  meetings  transferred  to 
the  schoolhouses.  As  the  growth,  at  first,  was  somewhat  slow,  no  house  of 
worship  was  erected  till  1865  and  1866.  The  membership  is  now  about  fifty. 
The  first  preacher  here  was  Rev.  Jesse  Campbell,  whose  successors  were  Joseph 
Hosteetler  and  Nathan  Wright,  the  present  Pastor,  who  now  lives  in  Paris. 

A    BIT    OF    RAILROAD    HISTORY. 

A  few  years  after  the  close  of  the  late  war,  the  people  of  this  township,  like 
many  others,  concluded  a  railroad,  running  north  and  south  through  their  ter- 
ritory, would  be  a  good  thing  in  many  ways,  and,  finding  a  desire  existing  in 
Charleston  for  a  northern  and  southern  outlet,  concluded  to  levy  bonds  to  aid 
in  its  construction.  Charleston  had  a  watchful  eye  on  the  county  seat,  which 
Mattoon  was  zealously  trying  to  get,  and  saw  in  the  proposed  road  a  fine  oppor- 
tunity to  secure  that  necessary  part  of  her  existence.  The  bonds  were  voted 
for,  to  run  a  series  of  years,  to  bear  a  good  rate  of  interest,  and  for  them  the 
township  was  to  have  a  railroad  running  southward  from  Tuscola,  through 
Charleston,  to  some  good  point.  After  the  project  had  gotten  well  under  way^ 
and,  we  believe,  a  little  work  had  been  done  on  the  proposed  route,  it  was 
noticed  by  a  large  part  of  the  citizens  in  the  south  part  of  the  township  that 
the  road  would  be  better  for  all  were  it  changed  and  run  to  Danville.  The 
people  of  Charleston  concurred  fully  in  this  idea,  as  it  was  undoubtedly  better 
for  them.  It  gave  them  an  eastern  outlet  then,  as  well  as  a  northern  one,  and 
brought  them  more  directly  in  communication  with  the  coal-fields.  The  route 
was  changed,  then,  to  go  north  a  little  over  half-way  through  the  township, 
then  bear  northeasterly  and  proceed  as  directly  to  Danville  as  the  nature  of  the 
country  would  allow.  No  sooner  was  this  broached,  however,  than  the  people 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  township  raised  a  remonstrance  to  such  a  proceeding. 
They  did  not  care  to  be  taxed  to  support  a  road  that  did  not  come  directly  to 
them,  and  prepared  to  contest  the  payment  of  the  bonds.  The  upshot  of  the 
whole  matter  was,  the  case  was  taken  into  court,  where  it  now  rests.  Mean- 
while, work  and  all  preparations  on  the  road  have  stopped.  The  people  of 
Charleston  are  confident  it  will  be  yet  resumed,  and  that  one  day  the  railroad  will 
be  built.  Should  the  change  of  route  invalidate  the  bonds,  others  can  be 
raised,  say  they,  and  as  the  road  would  be  of  great  advantage  to  the  county 
seat,  strenuous  efforts  will  be  made  to  complete  it. 

COMMERCIAL    INTERESTS. 

Although  no  town  has  ever  been  started  in  this  township,  it  can  boast  of  a 
store  and  a  blacksmith-shop.     The  former  was  started  by  John  Mason,  about 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  469 

eight  years  ago,  who  saw  an  opportunity  to  enrich  his  exchequer  and  do  some 
good  for  his  neighbors.  He  has  a  very  good  country  store,  filled  with  all  sorts 
of  goods  wanted  by  the  farmers.  His  stock  is  decidedly  miscellaneous  in  char- 
acter, as  all  such  stores  are  apt  to  be,  as  a  miscellaneous  taste  and  want  are  to  be 
satisfied.  He  carries  on  a  system  of  exchange,  also,  getting  the  products  of 
the  farmers,  and  selling  them  in  Charleston  to  produce-dealers. 

The  blacksmith-shop  is  run  by  J.  H.  Davidson,  and  is  said  to  be  a  good  one. 
It,  like  the  store,  saves  farmers  coming  several  miles  to  the  county  seat  for  "odd 
jobs  ; "  and,  as  there  are  a  good  many  "odd  jobs,"  and  as  Mr.  Davidson  makes 
wagons,  he  has  plenty  to  do. 

These  two  employments  are  the  only  ones  pursued  in  the  township,  outside 
of  farming.  The  country  is  pre-eminently  an  agricultural  one,  and,  as  cattle 
and  hogs  are  the  main  staple,  corn  is  the  principal  cereal  grown.  Could  a 
turnpike-road  be  built  through  the  township  to  Charleston,  it  would  be  an 
excellent  investment,  as  many  products  could  be  brought  there  that  the  farmers 
are  obliged  to  forego  or  wait  till  good  roads  come.  Some  talk  of  utilizing 
criminals,  confined  in  the  Jail  waiting  trial,  on  the  construction  of  such  a  road 
is  heard.     It  would  not  only  keep  them,  but  would  benefit  the  country. 


HUMBOLT    TOWNSHIP. 

This  township,  located  in  the  northern  tier,  and  second  in  order  from  the 
western  boundary  of  the  county,  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Douglas  County, 
and  on  the  east,  south  and  west  respectively  by  Seven  Hickory,  La  Fayette 
and  North  Okaw  Townships.  In  its  extent,  it  embraces  one  and  one-half  town- 
ships, being  nine  miles  north  and  south  by  six  miles  east  and  west.  When 
Douglas  County  was,  by  act  of  legislation,  called  into  existence,  its  southern 
boundary  was  located  in  such  a  position  as  to  give  to  the  northern  tier  of  town- 
ships in  Coles  County  an  extra  half-township,  and  this  accounts  for  the  some- 
what irregular  shape  of  Humbolt  and  the  other  northern  townships.  Like 
many  of  the  adjacent  townships,  its  surface  is  almost  wholly  composed  of  open 
prairie.  Along  the  western  boundary  are  found  the  outskirts  of  the  Okaw  tim- 
ber ;  a  very  little  timber  is  found  marking  the  course  of  the  Flat  Branch,  a 
small  stream  traversing  the  township  from  east  to  west.  Add  to  this  a  small 
grove  on  Section  10,  a  little  southeast  of  the  village  of  Humbolt,  and  we  have 
the  entire  timbered  area  of  the  township,  leaving  fully  nine-tenths  of  its  surface 
prairie.  Taken  throughout  its  whole  extent,  the  surface  of  the  township  is  not 
sufficiently  high  and  broken  to  be  termed  rolling  ;  nor  yet  is  it  so  low  as  to 
be  properly  designated  flat ;  perhaps,  gently  Undulating  would  best  describe  it. 
Humbolt  is  exclusively  an  agricultural  district.  It  contains  no  cities,  and  but 
a  single  village,  that  of  Humbolt.  The  soil  is  a  deep  black  loam,  such  as  is 
common  to  much  of  the  prairie  regions  of  our  great  and  growing  State.  It 
extends  to  a  great  depth,  and  yields  an  abundant  harvest  of  the  various  grains 


470  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

adapted  to  the  climate.  Corn  is  the  staple  product,  though  wheat,  oats  and 
barley  yield  well.  Flat  Branch,  a  small  stream  rising  in  the  northwestern 
corner  of  Seven  Hickory  Township,  and  flowing  in  a  general  western  direction, 
crosses  the  northern  half  of  Humbolt,  and,  with  its  tributaries  from  the  north 
and  south,  aifords  an  outlet  for  the  northern  and  central  portions  of  the  town- 
ship, through  which  their  surplus  waters  are  discharged.  The  southwestern 
portion  of  the  township  is  rather  flat,  but  has  suSicient  fall  to  admit  of  drainage, 
and,  by  means  of  open  ditching  and  underground  tiling,  extensively  employed  in 
the  past  few  years,  many  broad  and  fertile  acres  heretofore  left  uncultivated 
have  been  reduced  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  These  low  lands,  when 
eff"ectually  drained,  are  richer  and  more  productive  than  the  higher  lands  in  the 
immediate  vicinity.  The  Chicago  Branch  of  the  Illinois  Centi-al  Railroad 
enters  the  township  near  the  middle  of  its  northern  boundary.  It  passes  almost 
directly  south  to  the  village  of  Humbolt,  on  Section  4,  at  which  point  it  bears 
to  the  west,  and,  taking  a  general  southwestern  direction,  leaves  the  township 
near  the  western  boundary  of  Section  31,  making  about  twelve  miles  of  railroad 
in  the  limits  of  the  township.  After  the  organization  of  the  township,  various 
names  were  proposed,  among  others,  that  of  "  Blue-Grass  Grove."  This  was 
objected  to  on  account  of  its  length.  The  name  "Flat  Branch"  was  suggested, 
but  was  deemed  objectionable  in  that  it  might  give  to  strangers  and  those  desir- 
ing to  settle  in  the  township  incorrect  views  of  the  elevation  of  the  land. 
Finally,  A.  A.  Sutherland,  who  figures  somewhat  prominently  in  the  village 
history,  and  who  was  a  great  admirer  of  the  eminent  German  scientist  and 
traveler.  Baron  Friederich  Heinrich  Alexander  von  Humboldt,  offered  the 
name  by  which  the  township  is  now  known  and  designated.  This  proved 
acceptable  to  all,  and  was  so  recorded.  How  or  why  the  "  d"  was  dropped  in 
the  spelling  of  the  word  '•  Humbolt,"  as  applied  to  the  township,  we  are  at  a 
loss  to  say.  Perhaps  it  was  simply  in  order  to  Americanize  the  word,  or, 
possibly,  to  correspond  with  the  energy  and  push  of  this  Western  country,  as  in 
its  shortened  form  it  would  be  more  easily  written  and  less  difficult  in 
orthography.  The  wealth  of  the  township  consists  in  its  many  well-improved 
farms,  its  broad  acres  of  arable  and  pasture  lands.  Its  annual  productions, 
under  favorable  circumstances,  rank  second  to  but  few  in  the  county.  Passing 
from  the  topography  of  the  township,  we  next  enter,  upon  that  period  of  its 
history  pertaining  to  its 

"^    ^  ^  EARLY    SETTLEMENTS. 

These,  when  compared  with  the  first  settlements  made  in  other  portions  of 
the  county,  are  of  recent  date.  Few  settlers,  if  any,  had  located  in  the  pres- 
ent limits  of  Humbolt  Township,  prior  to  the  year  1836.  True,  a  settlement 
had  been  made  along  the  Okaw  as  early  as  1833,  but  this  was  farther  west  and 
is  now  included  in  North  Okaw  Township,  When  the  first  settlers  of  Hum- 
bolt  Township  came,  they  found  the  few  farms  then  in  cultivation,  either  in 
the  timber  or  nestling  close  by  it,  for  none  dared  venture  far  from  the  timber 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  471 

with  cabin  or  farm.  So  the  wide-stretching  prairie  lay  unmolested  by  the 
hand  of  man.  It  was  one  wide-spread  field,  where  nature  sported  in  her  wild- 
est freaks,  clad  in  the  habiliments  of  all  that  could  be  called  beautiful  and 
lovely.  Turn  which  way  they  might,  they  were  met  with  wildness,  loneliness 
and  beauty  combined,  all  on  a  grand  scale  and  well  calculated  to  make  impres- 
sions as  lasting  as  the  eternal  hills.  The  wildness  was  beauty  made  doubly  so 
because  innocence  was  written  in  letters  of  gold  upon  the  untold  thousands 
of  unfolding  flowers  just  bursting  from  their  wintry  homes  and  peeping 
out  to  catch  the  early  sunbeams  and  drink  in  the  morning  dewdrops.  Unmo- 
lested by  the  foot  of  man,  they  spread  their  beautiful  colors  and  golden 
hues  to  the  praise  of  Nature's  God,  eclipsing  the  lilies  of  Eden  and  the 
roses  of  Sharon,  and  forever  throwing  in  the  shade  the  floral  gardens  of 
the  world.  When  John  Poorman  arrived,  in  the  fall  of  1836,  and  settled 
in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township,  on  Section  31,  he  found  just  north 
of  him,  on  Section  30,  Julius  Dugger,  who,  from  the  improvements  made, 
Mr.  Poorman  thinks  must  have  settled  as  early  as  1833  or  18.34.  All 
seem  willing  to  accord  to  Dugger  the  honor  of  building  the  first  cabin  and 
making  the  first  improvement  in  what  is  now  Humbolt  Township.  Bailey 
Riddle,  from  North  Carolina,  had  settled  in  1833,  but  his  cabin  was  just  across 
the  line  in  Okaw  Township.  John  Pemberton,  from  Kentucky,  came  in  the 
fall  of  1834  or  1835,  and  settled  near  Eiddle,  but  after  remaining  a  short  time 
sold  out  and  went  farther  west.  The  fall  of  1835,  brought  in  William  Brann; 
that  of  1836,  Poorman,  Noble,  Junken,  Jacob  and  David  Hoots.  In  1837, 
James  Walker  and  John  Matthews  were  added  to  the  settlement.  Poorman 
was  from  Pennsylvania;  Brann,  Junken  and  Walker  from  Rush  County,  Ind.; 
Matthews,  from  Tennessee  or  Kentucky,  and  the  Hootses  from  North  Carolina. 
With  the  exception  of  Poorman  and  Jacob  Hoots,  these  all  settled  in  what  is 
now  included  in  Okaw  Township,  east  of  the  Okaw  or  Kaskaskia,  and  on  Sec- 
tions adjacent  to  the  western  limit  of  Humbolt  Township.  Poorman's  location 
has  already  been  designated.  Jacob  Hoots  located  directly  south  of  him  on 
Section  6.  For  some  years  there  seemed  to  be  no  disposition  on  the  part  of 
those  coming  m  to  settle  east  of  the  improvements  already  made.  They 
either  passed,  on  and  settled  nearer  the  river,  or,  crossing  the  stream,  sought  a 
more  desirable  location  in  the  western  outskirts  of  the  timber.  In  1840,  W. 
B.  Hawkins,  then  a  young  man  of  nineteen  summers,  came  from  Rush  County, 
Ind.,  and  purchased  a  fractional  eighty  on  Section  6,  east  of  Hoots.  About 
the  same  time,  Thomas  K.  Fleming,  originally  from  Kentucky,  erected  a  cabin 
and  opened  up  a  farm  still  farther  east  on  the  prairie.  About  the  same  date, 
Henry  Horn,  from  Virginia,  settled  a  little  northeast  of  the  Hawkins  purchase. 
Benjamin  Beavers  was  next  in  the  township,  east  of  Poorman's.  Jacob  Hoots 
died  in  1842,  and  Joseph  Finley,  from  Ohio,  was  the  next  to  settle  on  his 
farm.  The  settlers  already  mentioned,  comprise  all  those  who  were  living  in 
the  township  to  the  close  of  1842  or  1843.     Hawkins  returned  to  Indiana  in 


472  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

1842,  and  took  unto  himself  a  helpmeet  with  a  view  to  returning  soon  after  to 
his  Western  home.  His  return,  however,  was  delayed  till  1850,  when  he 
came,  built  a  cabin  and  set  about  improving  his  farm.  In  the  mean  time, 
Joshua  Nixon  had  settled  at  Blue-Grass  Grove.  In  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
township,  James  Shoemaker,  and  possibly  Robert  Hill,  had  settled  as  early  as 
1850.  Few,  if  any,  other  settlements  were  made  in  the  township  prior  to  the 
building  of  the  railroad  in  1856.  From  that  time  forward,  settlements  multi- 
plied rapidly,  and  in  a  few  short  years  the  far  stretches  of  prairie  to  the  east, 
which  the  earliest  settlers  had  thought  would  remain  uninhabited  for  many 
decades,  were  thickly  studded  with  human  habitations.  Of  those  mentioned  as 
having  settled  in  the  township  as  early  as  1840,  but  two  are  now  remaining — 
John  Poorman  and  W.  B.  Hawkins.  The  others  have  nearly  all  passed  over  the 
silent  river ;  a  few  have  passed  to  the  West,  and  new  settlers  have  taken  their  places. 
The  earliest  settlers  of  this  part  of  the  county  were  exempted  from  many  of 
the  hardships  and  privations  endured  by  those  who  preceded  them  a  decade  or 
more  of  years  in  the  settlement  of  other  portions  of  the  county.  Progress 
and  improvement  was  visible  on  every  hand.  The  days  of  the  hominy-mortar 
and  hand-mill  had  passed  away,  and  the  glorious  eraof  horse-mills  had  been  fully 
inaugurated.  As  early  as  1837  or  1838,  Jesse  Fuller  had  a  horse-mill  near  the 
Okaw,  about  three  miles  southwest  of  where  Poorman  settled.  This  served  the 
adjacent  settlement  and  kept  it  supplied  with  meal.  When  a  grist  of  wheat  was 
to  be  ground,  it  became  necessary  to  make  a  trip  to  True's  mill,  some  ten  or 
twelve  miles  distant.  The  flour  manufactured  is  said  by  the  old  settlers  to  have 
been  of  a  very  superior  quality.  Going  to  mill,  by  those  who  were  obliged 
to  cross  the  prairie  for  any  considerable  distance,  was  usually  performed  after 
night,  in  order  to  avoid  the  annoyance  of  the  flies.  Sometimes  a  pilgrimage 
was  made  to  Spangler's  mills,  on  the  Sangamon  River,  distant  forty  miles. 
Terre  Haute  and  St.  Louis  aftbrded  a  market  for  their  surplus  supply  of  hogs, 
while  their  cattle  were  driven  north  to  Chicago.  These  they  often  sold  at  what 
would  now  be  considered  starvation  prices  for  the  producer ;  but  as  their  wants 
were  few  and  simple,  and  easily  supplied,  they  managed  to  live  comfortably,  and 
most  of  them  even  to  lay  by  in  store.  In  1841,  when  the  money  issued  by  the 
Springfield  Bank  was  worth  only  about  50  cents  to  the  dollar  and  all  kinds  of 
Illinois  money  was  taken  at  a  great  discount,  Mr.  Poorman  relates  that  loading 
his  wagon  with  bacon,  one  barrel  of  soap,  lard  and  butter,  he  made  a  trip  to 
La  Fayette,  Ind.  He  realized  for  his  bacon  $2.50  per  hundred,  lard  6  cents 
and  butter  5  cents  per  pound.  The  proceeds  he  invested  in  groceries,  clothing, 
leather  and  other  necessaries  for  family  consumption.  The  soap  he  exchanged 
for  a  barrel  of  salt.  He  thus  saved  himself  from  contracting  debts,  and  to-day 
he  claims  that  he  got  his  start  in  life  while  his  neighbors  were  paying  off"  their 
debts,  contracted  while  he  was  hauling  that  load  to  market.  The  early  meet- 
ings, as  in  other  sections,  were  held  in  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  "  Preaching- 
place,"  as  it  was  then  called,  was  at  Poorman's  house,  five  or  six  years.     The 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  473 

early  ministers  were  Arthur  Bradshaw  and  Joseph  Lane,  in  local  relation  with 
the  M.  E.  Church.  The  Baptist  brethren  held  services  at  Bugger's  cabin,  and 
among  their  early  ministers  were  Revs.  Martin,  Threlkeld  and  Riley,  Regular 
Baptists  and  circuit-riders.  The  first  church  built  in  Humbolt  Township 
was  erected  by  the  Methodist  society,  near  the  western  limits  of  the  township, 
in  the  latter  part  of  1856.  Among  the  early  church  members  we  find  the  names 
of  John  Poorman  and  family,  Thomas  K.  Fleming  and  wife,  John  Southen 
and  family,  some  of  the  Hootses  and  others.  The  congregation  was  rather  a 
mixture  of  Methodists  and  Presbyterians,  the  different  organizations  having  the 
use  of  the  house  on  alternate  Sundays.  This  house  was  afterward  moved  over 
to  the  village  of  Milton  (now  Humbolt)  and  used  for  a  number  of  years  by  the 
Methodist  society.  About  the  year  1873,  it  was  taken  down  and  the  material 
shipped  to  Larned,  Kan.,  there  rebuilt  and  occupied  as  a  banking-house.  Besides 
the  four  churches  in  the  village,  we  find  two  others  in  the  township.  Wesley 
Chapel,  in  the  southeastern  portion,  was  built  about  1866.  Central  Chapel,  in 
the  northeast  corner,  was  erected  in  1868  or  1869.  These  are  the  property  of 
the  M.  E.  Church.  The  nucleus  of  the  congregation  at  Wesley  was  taken 
from  Humbolt  and  Salem,  that  of  Central  from  Humbolt.  The  first  school  of 
which  we  have  any  record  was  presided  over  by  Noble  Brann,  and  was  conducted 
in  a  vacant  cabin,  built  by  John  Matthews  in  the  fall  of  1837.  This  cabin 
stood  about  one  mile  northwest  of  Poorman's.  Brann  was  a  Hoosier,  and  a 
teacher  of  the  olden  style,  that  made  the  recreant  "jump  Jim  Crow."  In  point 
of  education,  the  township  has  kept  pace  with  the  times.  In  the  township 
proper  are  nine  districts,  each  supplied  with  a  good  frame  building.  Schools 
were  sustained  during  the  past  year  for  a  term  of  68  months,  making  an  average 
of  7  5-9  months  to  each  district.  Number  of  males  attending,  171 ;  females, 
140.  Male  teachers  employed,  9  ;  females,  3.  Highest  monthly  wages,  males, 
$50  ;  females,  $30.  Estimated  value  of  school  property,  |5,200.  Apparatus, 
1250.  Principal  township  fund,  |4,700.  Special  district  tax,  $2,658.  Total 
amount  paid  teachers,  $2,412.     Total  expense  for  the  year,  $3,053. 

The  first  man  who  came  among  the  early  settlers  of  Humbolt  Township,  to 
relieve  them  of  their  bodily  "  aches  and  pains,"  was  a  Dr.  Bacon,  whose  res- 
idence was  in  what  is  now  Douglas  County.  He  was  here,  perhaps,  as  early  as 
1838.  Dr.  Apperson,  nephew  of  Dr.  John  Apperson,  of  Paradise  Township, 
was  also  among  the  early  physicians.  The  first  death  that  occurred  was  that  of 
a  little  daughter  of  John  Poorman's.  She  died  in  1841,  from  the  effects  of  a 
rattlesnake  bite,  and  was  buried  in  what  is  called  Brann's  graveyard,  in  Okaw 
Township.  She  lingered  only  eight  hours  after  receiving  the  injury,  yet  her 
sufferings  were  intense.  Jacob  Hoots  died  in  1842,  and  was,  doubtless,  the  first 
adult  whose  death  occurred  in  the  township.  These  were  days  in  which  the 
early  settlers  were  exhorted  by  every-day  experience,  that  it  was  a  good  thing 
to  observe  faithfully  the  Scriptural  injunction,  '  Watch  as  well  as  pray.'  Not 
only  were  wolves  enemies  to  their  flocks  of  lambs  and  young  pigs,  plentiful  on 


474  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

every  hand,  but  snakes  of  various  kinds  infested  the  prairies.  Of  these,  the 
most  dreaded  was  the  rattlesnake;  much  stock  was  injured  and  several  persons 
were  bitten  by  them  ;  the  breaking-up  and  cultivation  of  the  prairie  soon  caused 
their  extinction.  As  late  as  1850,  W.  B.  Hawkins  says  that,  in  breaking  one 
round,  he  killed  three  full-grown  rattlesnakes.  On  one  occasion,  when 
gathering  strawberries,  in  company  with  two  or  three  others,  the  party 
killed  no  less  than  twenty-six  during  the  day.  The  prairie-wolves  were 
a  source  of  no  little  annoyance  to  the  first  settlers.  To  encourage  them  to 
use  all  the  means  within  their  reach  to  rid  the  country  of  these  ravenous  beasts, 
the  Legislature  of  Illinois  passed  special  acts,  the  first  giving  75  cents,  and  the 
last  $1.50  for  each  wolf-scalp.  Thus  wolf-scalps  became  a  legal-tender,  in  tax- 
paying  at  least.  This  was  a  wise  act  on  the  part  of  the  Legislature,  and  gave 
quite  an  impetus  to  the  great  work  of  destroying  the  destroyer.  The  greatest  and 
most  successful  wolf-chases  were  just  after  the  fall  of  a  deep  snow,  for  the  snow 
impeded  the  swiftness  of  the  wolf  much  more  than  it  did  the  fleetness  of  the 
horse.  Immediately  after  the  fall  of  a  deep  snow,  each  settler,  armed  and 
equipped  for  the  race,  would  mount  his  "Pegasus,"  and,  accompanied  by  his 
dog,  would  proceed  to  the  place  of  rendezvous.  The  following  graphic  delin- 
eation of  the  chase  has  been  given  by  one  of  the  early  settlers :  "  The  Blue- 
Grass  Grove,  a  little  southeast  of  where  the  town  of  Milton  (now  Humbolt) 
stands,  was  the  grand  rally ing-point  for  all  the  settlements  for  miles  around. 
It  was  a  grand  scene  to  be  out  on  the  wide-spread  prairie,  all  covered  with  its 
white  carpet  of  beautiful  snowflakes,  and  to  see  far  away  in  the  distance  squads 
of  horsemen,  some  standing  still,  others  in  full  chase  of  the  almost  flyiftg  wolf, 
that  appeared  in  the  distance  like  some  dark  bird,  skimming  the  snow ; 
some  two  or  three  miles  away  are  two  or  three  horsemen  on  the  look-out. 
Far  off"  in  the  distance  are  two  or  three  men  urging  their  horses  to  their 
utmost  speed  toward  the  guard  that  is  on  the  look-out.  The  look-out  party 
know  that  the  others  are  in  full  pursuit  of  the  desired  game;  every  eye 
is  strained  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  fleeing  vagabond,  but  it  is  yet  too  far 
away  to  be  seen;  nearer  and  nearer  come  the  flying  horsemen;  at  length  the 
wolf  is  seen  from  one  hundred  to  two  hundred  yards  ahead,  and  appears  to 
fly  almost,  while  the  swift-footed  horses  seem  to  drink  in  the  excitement  of  the 
chase,  and,  with  outstretched  necks  and  wide-spread  nostrils,  leaving  behind 
them  one  continued  stream  of  flying  snow,  thrown  up  by  their  nimble  feet, 
stretch  every  nerve  to  overtake  the  flying  game.  The  whole  scene  becomes 
intensely  exciting ;  the  poor  wolf  is  running  for  life,  but,  unfortunately,  there 
is  danger  just  ahead  ;  he  is  running  toward  other  horsemen,  on  fresh  horses, 
who  join  the  chase,  and  a  few  hundred  yards  bring  the  fresh  horses  up  with  the 
game ;  not  unfrequently  the  foremost  horse  runs  over  the  wolf,  killing  or  crip- 
pling it  so  that  the  next  man  finishes  the  job.  Sometimes,  three  or  four  such 
races  are  in  sight  at  one  and  the  same  time,  for  the  hunters  from  every  section 
are  concentrating  their  forces,  and  drawing  near  the  great  rallying-point  with 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  475 

from  eight  to  ten  wolves.  Every  man  is  at  his  post,  while  the  wolves  are  mak- 
ing every  effort  to  escape.  But  every  avenue  of  escape  is  closed,  the  dogs  are 
let  loose,  and  now  men,  horses,  wolves  and  dogs  are  pell-mell  together,  and  the 
work  of  destruction  goes  on  ;  the  barking  and  yelping  of  the  dogs,  with  the 
shouting  of  the  hunters  and  running  of  the  horses,  all  these  combined,  made 
an  exciting  scene.  It  was  great  fun  for  the  hunters,  but  death  to  the  poor 
wolves ;  in  some  instances  it  proved  pretty  dear  sport  to  the  hunter,  costing 
him  his  best  horse  for  sometimes,  under  the  influence  of  the  excitement,  he 
pushed  his  horse  too  far,  so  that  he  fell  dead  under  his  rider."  In  the  spring 
season,  great  pains  were  taken  to  find  their  dens,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying 
their  young.  These  were  generally  found  on  some  high  point  in  the  wide 
prairie,  far  from  the  habitation  of  man ;  all  that  were  caught  were  scalped,  both 
old  and  young,  and  the  scalps  laid  up  as  so  much  cash  against  tax-paying  day. 
But  the  days  of  wolf  hunts  have  long  since  passed  away,  and  the  "varmints  " 
are  seen  no  more  in  all  the  land.  We  come  now  to  trace  the  history  of  the 
only  village  in  the  township,  and  with  it  close  this  section  of  our  work. 

THE    VILLAGE    OF    HUMBOLT. 

In  1853,  A.  A.  Sutherland,  who  had  settled  one  mile  east  of  Charleston  as 
early  as  1828,  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Section  4,  in  Humbolt  Township, 
east  of  and  adjoining  the  present  roadbed  of  the  I.  C.  R.  R.  He  erected  a 
shanty,  the  same  fall,  and  engaged  in  boarding  hands  employed  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  road.  The  Railroad  Co.  reserved  one-half  section,  about  one  mile 
south  of  the  present  site  of  the  village,  with  a  view  to  making  a  station  at  that 
point.  After  the  completion  of  the  road,  in  order  to  secure  the  station  and  the 
town  site  on  his  premises,  he  donated  to  the  R.  R.  Co.  ten  acres  of  land.  This 
transaction  occurred  in  1859.  Immediately  after  the  acceptance  of  the  dona- 
tion, in  company  with  Thomas  K.  Fleming,  he  laid  out  and  platted  twenty 
acres  east  of  and  adjoining  the  land  donated.  This  appears  as  the  original  town 
plat.  Soon  after,  the  R.  R.  Co.  sold  their  land  to  Wesley  Wampler,  who  laid 
it  out  in  town  lots.  This  is  known  as  Wampler's  Addition,  and  on  this  the 
principal  part  of  the  town  was  built.  About  the  year  1860  or  1861,  a  Mr.  Hill 
made  an  addition  north  of  the  original  plat,  and  Wampler  made  a  second  addi- 
tion west  of  the  railroad.  T.  K.  Fleming  built  the  first  residence  on  the  town- 
site,  and  Wesley  Wampler  the  second.  These  were  both  built  in  1859.  Others 
came  in  rapid  succession,  purchased  lots  and  erected  dwellings,  so  that,  by  the 
beginning  of  1861,  the  village  had  well-nigh  attained  its  present  size.  Like 
many  of  our  Western  prairie  towns,  it  sprang  into  existence  almost  as  if  by 
magic.  The  war  coming  on  in  1861,  checked  for  a  season  its  progress.  Wampler 
was  the  first  agent,  built  the  first  store  and  sold  the  first  goods  after  the  laying- 
out  of  the  village.  Lewis  Hutchinson  had  kept  a  country  store  at  this  point 
prior  to  the  laying-out  of  the  village,  but  was  not  here  at  this  time.  John 
Payne,  from  Paris,  Edgar  Co.,  opened  a  general  store  early  in  1860.     Dr.  0. 


476  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

M.  Odell  opened  a  drug  store  in  1868  ;  a  second  was  soon  after  opened  by 
Hawkins  &  Stuart.  The  grain  trade,  at  one  time,  was  carried  on  quite  exten- 
sively at  this  point.  Wampler  built  a  warehouse  in  1859,  and  handled  the  first 
grain.  John  Glassco  built  a  small  house,  in  the  fall  of  1860,  and  engaged  in  the 
trade.  In  the  fall  of  1861,  James  Wadkins  and  John  Stanley  began  the  busi- 
ness, followed,  in  the  fall  of  1862,  by  A.  A.  Sutherland.  The  most  important 
enterprise  undertaken,  as  well  as  the  one  promising  the  most  good  to  the  village 
and  the  surrounding  community,  was  the  erection  of  a  steam-mill.  In  I860, 
James  Wadkins,  Brownlee  &  Co.  built  a  mill  west  of  the  railroad,  a  short  dis- 
tance north  of  the  depot.  This  was  wholly  destroyed  by  fire  in  1870.  Its 
loss  was  keenly  felt  by  the  citizens  of  the  village,  as  its  presence  brought  a 
large  trade  to  the  town  which  afterward  floated  off  into  other  channels.  The 
flour  manufactured  was  of  a  superior  grade,  and  was  in  great  demand. 

CHURCHES,    LODGES,    ETC. 

The  first  church   in  the  village,  as  has  been  elsewhere  recorded,  was  moved 
in  from  the  western  limits  of  the  township  and  located  south   and  a  little  west 
of  where  the  Catholic  Churtfh  now  stands.     This  was   used  in  common   by  the 
Methodist    and   Presbyterian    societies   for   some   years.       The   Presbyterian 
Church  was   organized,  in    1861,  by  Rev.  H.  I.  Yenable.      Its  early   meetings 
were  held  as  above  stated.     James  W.  Junken  and  family,  Thomas  Danner 
and  family,  Richard  Hawkins   and   family,   James  Boyd  and   family,    G.    W. 
Woods  and    wife  were    among    the    early    members.       A   neat  frame   church 
was   erected   by  the   society  in  1870.     The  dedicatory  sermon  was  preached 
in  February,   1871,  Rev.  D.   M.  Stewart  officiating.       Revs.    James  Allison 
and  E.  Howell  have  since  served  the  Church.     The  present  M.  E.  Church 
was   built  in  1873.     Rev.    D.    E.    May  was   pastor   at    the   time.      It   was 
dedicated,  soon   after  completion,  by  S.  S.  Meginnis,  Presiding  Elder  of  the 
district  at  the  time.      The  Christian  Church  was  begun  in  1865,  but  did  not 
reach  completion  till  the  summer  of  1871.     This  society  has  labored  under 
great  difficulty,  being  few  in  numbers  and  most  of  its  members  persons  of  lim- 
ited means.     Its  house  of  worship,  costing  over  $2,000,  is  a  monument  to  the 
liberality  of  W.  B.  Hawkins,  who  contributed  more  than  one-half  of  the  whole 
amount  for  its  completion.      The  early  meetings  of  the    Church  were  held  in 
cabin  of  Hawkins,  and  Elder  Thomas  Goodman  was  the  first  preacher.     Elder 
James  Conner  and  his  sons,  James  and  Samuel  W.,  have  since  served  the  con- 
gregation.    The  Holy  Angels  (Catholic)  Church  was  built  about   1870,  under 
the  supervision   of  Father  Mangin.     Thomas   Kilfoyl,   Thomas   Pendergrast, 
John  Wall  and  families,  Edmund  Reagan,  Mary  Lynch  and  others  were  among 
the  early  members.     Father  Mangin  was  the  first  priest,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Father  Gonin.     All   the   churches  are  neat  frame   buildings,  and,  with  their 
tall  spires  pointing  heavenward,  give  to  the  village  quite  a  city-like  appearance 
in  the  distance. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  477 

Elwood  Lodge,  No.  589,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  chartered  by  the  Grand  Lodge 
October  6,  1868.  The  charter  was  granted  to  Jesse  B.  Gray,  George  W.  Gray^ 
Alfred  Bugh,  J.  P.  Westby,  J.  M.  Wharton,  A.  Sparks,  Joel  Stevenson  and 
others.  Jesse  B.  Gray  was  appointed  Master,  George  W.  Gray,  S.  W.,  and  A. 
G.  Bugh,  J.  W.  Stated  meetings  Saturday  on  or  before  full  moon  and  two 
weeks  thereafter. 

Prospect  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  No.  636,  was  instituted  March  21,  1877,  by 
Deputy  Grand  Master  James  Hamilton,  of  Bluff  Lodge,  No.  605.  A  charter 
was  granted  by  the  Grand  Lodge  October  10,  1877.  The  first  officers  were  W. 
B.  Kennedy,  N.  G.  ;  J.  D.  Denning,  V.  G. ;  Hugh  Maxey,  Sec. ;  0.  M. 
McNutt,  Treas.  Regular  meetings  of  the  Lodge  Wednesday  night  of  each 
week. 

Humbolt  Lodge  K.  of  H.,  No.  1046,  was  organized  April  23,  1878,  by  J- 
F.  Drish  and  T.  E,  Woods.  The  society  has  a  membership  of  fifteen  souls  and 
meets  regularly  Thursday  evening  of  each  week. 

Benoni  Lodge  of  Good  Templars,  No.  377,  was  organized  March  23,  1874. 
A  charter  was  granted  from  the  Right  Worthy  Grand  Lodge  to  W.  B.  Ken- 
nedy, John  Moore,  0.  D.  Noe,  Horace  Wells,  Dollie  Wells,  Sallie  Woods, 
Belle  Gray,  Annie  Burgess,  W.  C.  Lacy  and  others.  These  societies  all  meet 
for  the  transaction  of  business  in  the  same  hall,  over  Gray  &   Danner's  store. 

Dr.  0.  M.  Odell,  who  came  in  August,  1859,  was  the  first  physician  to  locate 
in  the  village.  About  four  months  later.  Dr.  Wharton  located.  The  medical 
fraternity  at  present  is  represented  by  Drs.  Odell,  Brewer  and  Stuart.  The 
present  school  building,  a  neat  frame  containing  two  rooms,  was  built  in  1870- 
A  Mr.  Stevenson  taught  the  first  session  in  the  new  house. 

VILLAGE     INCORPORATED. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  1866,  an  election  was  held  at  which  twenty-five 
votes  were  cast  for,  and  five  against,  incorporation.  February  27,  the  following 
board  of  officers  was  chosen :  R.  D.  Senteney,  Police  Justice  ;  Trustees — J. 
P.  Westby,  J.  C.  B.  Wharton,  H.  L.  Stewart,  William  A.  Wood  and  Abner 
Sparks.  Sparks  being  a  non-freeholder,  was  declared  ineligible,  and,  April  11? 
William  B.  Hawkins  was  chosen  to  fill  the  va'^ancy.  When  the  village  was 
first  laid  out,  by  common  consent  of  those  interested,  it  was  christened  Milton. 
A  petition  was  circulated  and  then  forwarded  to  the  Capitol,  praying  for  the 
establishment  of  a  post  office  with  the  same  name.  This  could  not  be  granted, 
as  an  office  of  that  name  already  existed  in  Pike  County.  The  petitioners  then 
added  the  word  "Station,"  and  thus  amended,  the  petition  was  granted  and  the 
post  office  was  established  with  the  name  Milton  Station.  A.  A.  Sutherland 
was  the  first  postmaster,  and  the  office  was  kept  at  his  residence  for  some  time. 
It  is  at  present  kept  in  the  store  of  Gray  &  Danner  ;  G.  W.  Gray  is  the  present 
postmaster.  The  citizens,  and  more  especially  those  engaged  in  conducting  the 
business  of  the  village,  soon  became  convinced  that  they  had  acted  unwisely  in 


478  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

choosing  "Milton  "  as  the  name  of  their  village  and  post  office.  Not  only  mail 
matter,  but  express  and  freight  intended  for  this  point  often  found  its  way  into 
Pike  County,  and  vice  versa.  April  23,  1875,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the 
Trustees  praying  for  a  change  in  name  from  Milton  to  Humbolt.  May  17,  the 
petition  was  renewed,  and  at  that  date  an  ordinance  was  passed  granting  the 
petition,  said  ordinance  to  take  effect  from  and  after  May  28,  1875.  The  name 
of  the  post  office  was  changed  at  or  near  the  same  time.  Humbolt  has  a  popu- 
ation  of  about  three  hundred.  She  has  three  general  merchandise  stores,  two 
drug  stores,  one  grocery,  one  blacksmith  and  wood-work  shop,  one  broom-fac- 
tory and  one  grain-warehouse. 


LA   FAYETTE   TOWNSHIP. 

This  township,  situated  in  the  western  part  of  the  county,  contains  thirty- 
six  sections,  and  therefore  agrees  with  the  Congressional  township  in  common 
with  a  few  others  of  like  size  in  the  county.     The  surface  of  the  country  is 
somewhat  diversified.     It  is,  however,  rather   inclined  to  the  appearance  of  an 
ordinary  prairie,  save  where  a  stream  courses  through  it.     From  the  fact  that  a 
large  part  of  the  township  is  prairie  land  it  was  not  fully  settled  till  after    the 
advent  of  the  railroads.      These  coming  through  the  level  part,  opened  a  high- 
way  for  the  more  speedy  transportation  of  products,  and   caused  the  before 
uncultivated  prairie  to  soon  abound  in  farms,  and  to  change  from  a  condition  of 
nature  to  homes  of  plenty.     Kickapoo  Creek  and  Riley's  Creek  are  the  only 
streams  of  water  found  here.    The  former,  the  largest  of  the  two,  flows  through 
the  township  from  east  to  west,  a  little  south  of  the  center,  and,  after  passing 
on  through  Charleston  Township,  finds  an  outlet  in  the  Embarrass.     The  creek 
derived  its  name  from  an  ancient  tribe  of  Indians  who  once  resided  on  its  banks. 
Riley's  Creek  runs  through   the   northern  tier  of  sections   from  the  west  to  the 
east,  and  finds  in  Charleston  Township  an  outlet  in  the  Kickapoo.     Neither  of 
these  streams  is  of  sufficient  size  to  afford   any  practical   use,  save   drainage. 
Each  is  skirted  by  belts  of  timber,  wherein  the  pioneers  found  homes  partially 
protected  from  the  rude  blasts  of  the  early  winters.     In  the  northwest  part  of 
the  township  are  one  or  two  small  groves,  the  largest  and  most  notable  of  which 
is  the  Dead  Man's  Grove,  so  named  from  a  mournful  incident,  related  in  the 
county  history.     The  groves  and  timber  along  the  streams  furnished,  in  early 
days,  a  good  supply  of  building-timber.     This  has  largely  been  removed  since 
the   settlement  began,  leaving  only  a  growth  inferior   in   size  and  quality,  and 
chiefly  used  for  fire-wood.     The  products  of  La  Fayette   Township   are  the 
cereals  (the  chief  of  which  is  corn),  cattle  and  hogs.      Of  late,  fine   stock  has 
attracted  considerable  attention  among  the  farmers,  and  is  now  taking  the  place 
of  the  inferior  quality  seen  heretofore.      Corn  is  raised  in  immense  quantities, 
and  is  largely  used  in  feeding  stock.     The  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroad 
affords  good  facilities  for  shipment  East  or  West,  while  at  Mattoon  the  Illinois 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUIITY.  479 

Central  offers  equally  good  outlets  to  Southern  and  Northern  markets.  Of 
late  years,  many  farmers  have  borrowed  money  at  10  per  cent  interest, 
which  several  could  not  pay,  and  hence  much  land  has  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
non-resident  owners.  The  effect  of  this  policy,  in  the  end,  will  be  to  cut  large 
farms  into  smaller  ones,  and  give  the  township  more  freeholders.  The  policy 
of  borrowing  money  and  mortgaging  a  farm  has  proved  evil  here  as  elsewhere, 
and  is  teaching  the  farmers  that  no  legitimate  business  will  pay  such  a  per  cent 
and  at  the  same  time  maintain  itself.  It  will  ruin  any  man  ;  and  while  it 
will  effect  the  deprivation  of  many  of  their  homes,  it  will,  in  the  end,  as  sug- 
gested, cut  these  farms  into  smaller  portions,  held  at  first  by  renters  who  event- 
ually will  own  them. 

THE    PIONEERS. 

"  Before  them,  then,  were  bending  skies  ; 
Behind  them,  now,  proud  cities  rise ; 
And  where  the  father's  cabin  fell, 
The  sons  in  stately  mansions  dwell. 

"  Before  them  leaped  the  prairie-fires, 
Behind  them  gleam  a  hundred  spires  ; 
And  where  the  panther  made  his  lair. 
The  godly  meet  for  praise  and  prayer. 

"  Before  them  all  was  waste  and  wild. 
Behind  them  blooming  gardens  smile  ; 
And  where  the  thorn  and  thistle  grew, 
The  dahlias  drink  the  morning  dew. 

"  Before  them  stretched  a  trackless  plain. 
Behind  them  waving  fields  of  grain  ; 
And  where  the  wild  beast  roamed  and  fed. 
The  toiler  eats  his  daily  bread. 

"  Before  them  lay  an  unknown  land, 
A  myriad  homes  behind  them  stand  ; 
And  where  the  hissing  serpent  crept. 
The  little  child  in  peace  hath  slept."  —  George  B.  Batch. 

The  picture  drawn  by  Mr.  Balch  is  not  in  the  least  overdrawn.  Before  the 
pioneer  lay  a  trackless  wilderness  ;  behind  him  is  a  garden.  The  first  settlers 
in  this  township  found  it  a  waste ;  those  that  survive  them  see  it  filled  with  the 
homes  of  plenty,  largely  the  work  of  those  pioneers  whose  memory  we  now 
preserve. 

During  the  summer  of  1825,  several  persons  were  in  this  part  of  Illinois, 
prospecting,  hunting  and  seeking  homes.  Among  them  were  Samuel  Henry 
and  John  Robinson,  of  Crawford  County.  They  spent  some  time  on  the  Kick- 
apoo,  hunting  and  examining  the  different  sections  of  country  adjacent.  Finding 
an  excellent  soil,  plenty  of  timber  and  water  enough  for  all  practical  pur- 
poses, they  determined  to  make  this  their  home.  Robinson  soon  brought  his 
wife  to  this  place,  and  set  about  building  a  camp.  Henry,  on  his  return  to 
Crawford  County,  hired  John  Veach  to  bring  him,  his  family  and  their  effects  to 


480  •  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

the  new  home.  Then  there  were  but  very  few  settlers  in  the  present  limits  of 
Coles  County,  and,  what  few  there  were,  were  pioneers  in  the  truest  sense  of 
the  word.  Mr,  Veach,  not  caring  for  the  journey,  sent  his  son  Jesse,  then 
eighteen  years  of  age,  and  an  expert  hunter  and  frontiersman.  On  the  18th 
of  December,  he  loaded  the  Henry  family  into  the  old  Virginia  wagon,  hitched 
his  ox  and  horse  teams  to  it,  and  prepared  for  the  journey.  That  night  they 
went  to  the  cabin  of  S.  H.  Bates,  father  of  John  Bates,  now  well  known  in 
Coles  County,  and  remained  with  them  till  morning.  Mr.  Bates  was  also  ready 
to  come  with  them,  having  heard  of  the  richness  of  the  soil  here,  and  the 
promise  of  a  competence  in  after-life.  That  night,  the  two  families  got  to  where 
Isaac  Lewis  lived,  not  far  from  where  the  present  town  of  Robinson  is  situated, 
where  they  remained  overnight.  They  found,  on  their  arrival  here,  that  Ben 
Parker,  an  early  settler  in  Coles,  which,  it  must  be  recollected,  did  not  then 
exist  in  name,  was  here  to  take  Mr.  Lewis  back  with  him.  It  will  be 
observed  that  neither  Mr.  Henry  nor  Mr.  Lewis  had  teams  of  their  own. 
They  were  too  poor  to  own  any,  and  were,  therefore,  dependent  on  their  neigh- 
bors for  such  accommodations  as  they  could  get.  The  three  families  made  the 
journey  in  four  days.  The  first  day  out,  they  got  as  far  as  Eaton's  mill,  on  the 
north  fork  of  the  Embarrass.  The  second  day,  to  Long  Point,  where  they 
camped,  there  being  no  habitation  near.  The  third  day,  they  got  to  a  camp, 
where  George  Parker  now  lives,  where  they  got  some  corn  for  their  teams. 
The  evening  of  the  fourth  day,  they  arrived  at  the  unfinished  cabin  of  Mr. 
Bates,  which  they  completed,  so  they  could  find  shelter  therein,  and  remained 
there  for  the  night.  The  cabin  was  inclosed  and  covered,  but  no  doors  made 
nor  any  chimney  built.  The  next  day,  Mr.  Veach  started  for  the  Kickapoo 
timber  with  Mr.  Henry's  family.  He  got  to  the  camp  made  by  Robinson 
about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  unloaded  his  wagon,  and  returned  to  the 
Bates  cabin  to  remain  overnight.  The  next  day  he  started  home,  reaching  it 
in  a  few  days  time. 

Mr.  Henry  and  his  family  reached  their  new  home  on  the  afternoon  of 
December  25,  1825.  They  were  alone  in  this  part  of  the  country — no  one 
west  of  them  for  many  miles.  A  few  settlers  were  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
county,  but  none  nearer  than  the  cabin  of  Mr.  Bates,  whom  they  left  that 
morning.  On  their  way  up  from  Crawford  County,  they  met  Robinson  and 
his  wife  with  their  ox-team  going  back  to  the  settlement,  where  they  expected 
to  remain  during  the  winter.  They  informed  them  an  unfinished  camp  was  awaiting 
them,  and  told  them  how  they  had  left,  expecting  to  return  in  the  spring.  Mr. 
Henry  and  his  wife  set  about,  immediately  on  their  arrival,  making  themselves 
as  comfortable  as  they  could,  and,  as  the  winter  was  rather  mild,  experienced 
but  little  hardship.  They  found  wild  honey  and  game  abundant,  and  suf- 
fered none  for  provisions.  They  had  brought  corn  enough  to  supply  themselves 
with  corn- bread,  and  with  that  and  the  abundant  wild  food  fared  well  while 
alone  in  the  woods.     Early  in  the  spring,  Robinson  and  his  wife  returned  with 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  481 

their  ox-team,  bringing  with  them  the  news  of  the  day  and  the  cheering  infor- 
mation that  others  were  preparing  to  follow.  During  their  return  visit,  Mrs. 
Robinson  had  become  a  mother,  and  brought  back  the  first  baby  to  the  settle- 
ment. Both  families  used  the  cabin,  built  the  autumn  before,  until  Henry 
could  complete  his  own,  into  which  he  at  once  moved,  and  the  second  home 
in  the  township  was  established.  When  the  season  opened,  these  two  men 
prepared  ground,  sowed  wheat,  planted  corn,  started  a  small  garden  for  each, 
and  prepared  to  erect  permanent  cabins  as  soon  as  the  crops  could  be  "  laid 
away."  Before  this  was  done,  however,  they  were  joined  by  John  Wilkinson, 
from  Edgar  County,  who,  hearing  of  the  rich  soil  and  natural  advantages 
to  be  found  here,  left  that  county  and  located  in  the  northeast  part  of  what  is 
now  La  Fayette  Township,  forming  the  beginning  of  a  settlement  there.  He 
remained  only  one  year,  however,  when  he  sold  to  Isaac  Parker  and  went  to 
Texas,  where  he  afterward  became  a  noted  man.  This  same  spring  of  which  we 
are  speaking  (1826),  Samuel  Woods  came  up  from  Crawford  County,  selected 
his  claim,  planted  a  crop,  with  the  assistance  of  a  few  neighbors  raised  a  cabin, 
and,  in  the  fall,  went  back  and  brought  up  his  family.  He  settled  near  the  east 
side  of  the  township,  not  far  from  the  present  Methodist  Church,  He  remained 
here  until  his  death.  Thomas  Robnet  came  the  same  spring,  and  located  near 
where  H.  Nabb  now  lives.  Not  liking  the  location,  he  moved,  soon  after,  to 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Levi  Doty,  where  he  lived  till  1833,  when  he  sold  that 
claim  and  went  to  the  Lone-Star  State.  Whether  any  other  families  than  these 
mentioned  came  this  summer,  is  now  very  difficult  to  determine.  Mr. 
Jesse  Veach  says  he  knows  there  were  none  when  he  brought  Henry's  family, 
in  the  fall  of  1825,  and  he  has  not  been  informed  of  any  more  than  those 
named.  He  went  back  to  Crawford  County,  the  next  year  went  to  New 
Orleans  on  a  flatboat,  and,  on  his  return,  married  and  settled  in  the  neighbor- 
hood where  he  had  lived.  He  did  not  become  a  citizen  of  Coles  County  till 
1831.  He  was  up  here,  however,  he  says,  several  times  in  the  interim,  and 
knew  pretty  well  what  was  being  done.  As  it  impossible,  at  this  date,  to  accu- 
rately note  the  date  of  each  one's  settlement  before  the  Black  Hawk  war,  we 
will  give  each  one  as  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  gather  them.  Some  wilU 
undoubtedly,  be  omitted,  as  no  record  was  kept  and  no  one  lives  now  who  can 
tell  to  a  certainty  who  came.  Among  those  coming  next  after  those  mentioned 
,was  James  James,  who  came  from  Edgar  County  in  1826  or  1827 — probably 
the  latter  year.  He  married,  for  his  second  wife,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Bates, 
whose  coming  has  already  been  mentioned.  Levi  and  James  Doty,  both  young 
men,  came  about  the  same  time.  They  are  yet  living.  James  Burns  settled 
near  where  William  R.  Jones  now  lives,  but  remained  only  a  few  years.  James 
Ashmore,  from  Tennessee,  came  in  this  period.  It  will  be  remembered  that  at 
his  house  the  first  election  in  the  county  was  held.  It  was  rather  a  central 
point,  and  also  one  well  known.  He  and  the  entire  family  of  Ashmores 
became  prominently  known  all  over  Coles  County.     On  the  day  of  the  election, 


482  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

plenty  of  whisky  was  furnished  by  the  opposing  candidates,  as  was  the  custom 
then,  and,  as  this  beverage  excited  men  to  unlawful  and  wicked  deeds  then,  as 
now,  about  a  dozen  fights  occurred.  It  was  a  "  big  thing  "  then  to  be  the  "  boss 
fighter,"  or  able  to  whip  any  man  in  the  country.  It  seemed  to  be  a  measure 
of  prowess  then,  as  on  the  frontier  now.  Mr.  John  Phipps  states  that  he  was 
at  that  election,  and  remembers  (he  was  twelve  years  old  at  the  time)  there  were 
about  a  dozen  fights  before  the  day  was  over.  One  champion  and  his  friends 
would  challenge  another  of  equally  renowned  prowess,  and  the  point  must  be 
settled. 

Another  settler  of  this  period  was  William  Parker,  who  settled  where 
William  Jones  now  lives.  Another  was  John  Veach,  who  hearing  the  stories 
of  the  fertile  land  in  this  part  of  the  country,  came  here  in  1828,  and 
remained.  John  Phipps  came  that  same  year,  from  Wabash  County.  He  had 
four  or  five  children,  one  of  whom,  John,  Jr.,  narrates  the  coming  of  the  fam- 
ily, their  settlement  here,  and  their  own  and  neighbors'  struggles  for  a  start. 
He  says  they  moved  into  an  old,  unfinished  cabin  they  found  in  the  woods  not 
far  from  where  he  is  now  living,  and  which  they  occupied  some  time.  It  had 
no  floor,  was  very  imperfectly  daubed,  and  was,  withal,  a  poor  lodging-place. 
It  was,  though,  the  best  they  could  do,  and  like  many  another  pioneer  family,  they 
did  what  they  could,  not  what  they  wanted  to.  They  were  consoled  in  a  meas- 
ure by  the  fact  that  some  of  their  neighbors  had  no  better  lodging-place,  some, 
even,  had  none.  They,  and  all  others  similarly  situated,  did  the  best  they 
could  in  these  primitive  dwellings  till  they  could  get  their  crops  gathered, 
when  they  erected  closer  and  better  cabins,  which  they  used  until  circumstan- 
ces allowed  them  to  build  frame  dwellings.  Mr.  Phipps  shows  now  with  no 
little  pride,  an  old  wind-mill,  sixty-seven  years  old,  his  father  brought  with 
him  when  he  came  to  this  part  of  the  State.  He  remembers,  in  addition  to 
the  families  named,  those  of  Elijah  Gibbs,  who  came  here  from  Crawford 
County,  and  who  remained  until  his  death  occurred ;  William  Ewing,  from 
Kentucky;  William  Williams,  who  came  in  1829,  from  Kentucky,  and  who 
lived  here  all  his  life.  "Capt."  R.  E.  Y.  Williams,  a  boy  then,  is  now  living 
on  the  old  place.  Samuel  Williams  came  with  the  others,  but  did  not  remain 
long,  returning  to  Kentucky.  Others,  he  remembers,  were  old  Mr.  Scott, 
William  R.  Jones,  Rev.  Daniel  Barham,  a  noted  Baptist  minister,  and  one  of 
the  early  settlers  in  Pleasant  Grove,  John  Gordon,  another  pioneer,  who 
moved  there  in  1829,  Rev.  Threlkeld,  and  a  few  others. 

To  <?o  over  the  ground  covered  in  the  general  county  history,  and  repeated 
more  particularly  in  some  of  the  township  histories,  in  describing  the  mode  of 
life,  erection  of  cabins,  hunting,  etc.,  would  be  a  needless  repetition  here. 
That  part  of  the  life  of  a  pioneer  was  the  same  everywhere.  The  cabins  were 
all  of  the  same  pattern  ;  the  hunts  for  honey,  bears,  wolves,  deer,  etc.,  were 
the  same  in  all  places,  and  need  no  further  description  here.  During  the 
period  we  mention,  until  the  Black  Hawk  war,  about  twenty-five  families  set- 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  483 

tied  in  La  Fayette  Township.  As  all  but  one  or  two  settled  about  the  Kicka- 
poo  timber,  quite  a  community  was  formed  by  that  time.  The  county  being 
created  in  1830,  a  voting-place  was  made  at  Mr.  Ashmore's,  until  near  1859, 
when  the  Vass  Schoolhouse,  a  pioneer  among  educational  institutions  here,  was 
used  when  the  electors  met  to  exercise  the  rights  of  American  citizens,  until  its 
removal  a  little  farther  east,  and  change  of  name  to  Monroe  Schoolhouse,  where 
they  now  meet  for  the  same  privilege. 

Until  the  formation  of  the  townships  in  1859,  the  entire  county  was  made 
one  voting  precinct,  with  several  voting-places,  Charleston  being  the  chief. 
A  person  could  vote  wherever  he  happened  to  be.  It  is  to  be  recorded  to  the 
credit  of  the  people,  too,  that  they  repeated  votes  very  seldom.  We  are  told 
there  was  but  very  little  of  that  done,  although  we  have  often  been  informed 
by  men  that  they  voted  where  they  were  not  well  known  before  they  were  of 
legal  age.      Party  politics  did  not  run  so  high  then  as  now,  probably. 

The  "deep  snow"  in  1830-31,  the ''shooting  stars "  in  1833,  and  the 
*' sudden  freeze"  in  1836,  are  all  well  remembered  by  those  who  witnessed 
them.  Their  expsriences  of  these  phenomena  are  the  same  as  others  already 
given,  and  we  will  not  burden  our  pages  with  their  recital.^ 

During  these  years  the  settlers  must  have  meal  and  flour,  and  also  wanted 
letters  and  papers.  John  Robinson  early  saw  the  necessity  for  a  mill  of 
some  kind,  and  one  of  the  first  things  he  did  on  his  return  in  the  spring 
of  1826,  was  to  erect  a  mill  on  a  branch  of  the  Kickapoo.  It  was  a 
weak  affair,  but  as  it  saved  the  settlers  going  back  to  Crawford  County,  or  going 
to  Parker's  mill  when  built,  or  to  Slover's,  when  it  appeared,  they  came  to  use 
it  whenever  necessary.  As  Slover's  and  Parker's  mills  were  improvements  on 
it,  however,  they  came  to  get  the  "balance  of  trade,"  and  it  gradually  went 
down.  John  True,  another  early  settler,  built  a  horse-mill  soon  after  his  arrival, 
and  such  of  his  neighbors  as  did  not  desire  to  go  several  miles  over  a  roadless 
country  patronized  his  primitive  affair,  Mr.  Threlkeld,  in  addition  to  the  duties 
of  a  frontier  minister,  found  time  to  build  or  help  a  Mr.  Michael  build  one  on 
his  place,  and  to  help  him  run  it.  Mr.  Threlkeld  supported  himself  in  all  his 
ministry,  believing  like  many  of  his  co-workers  that  it  was  his  duty  to  do  so. 
Indeed,  his  only  hope  of  a  livelihood  lay  in  this  direction  ;  the  people  were  too 
poor  to  support  a  minister,  even  had  they  desired  to  do  so.  These  mills  men- 
tioned are  about  the  only  ones  ever  built  in  this  township.  Water-power  suffi- 
cient to  run  one  all  the  year  was  not  to  be  had,  and  the  erection  of  better  ones 
in  other  parts  of  the  county  where  better  natui'al  advantages  existed  precluded 
the  necessity  of  their  erection  here.  No  saw-mills  were  built  till  about  1840. 
Then  Thomas  Marshall  erected  one  in  the  north  part  of  the  township  on  a  branch 
in  the  grove  ;  but  a  freshet  carrying  it  off  a  few  years  after,  the  effort  was 
abandoned.     The  loss  to  Mr.  Marshall  was  about  $600. 

A  son  of  Vulcan  set  up  his  forge  and  bellows  here  soon  after  the  settlement 
^  began.     Jacob  Zinn,  about  this  time   concluded  there  existed  a  good  opening 


484  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

for  such  an  occupation  in  this  community  and  opened  a  blacksmith-shop.  He 
sharpened  hoes,  axes,  barshare  plows  or  any  implement  brought  to  him.  When 
the  county  seat  was  established  in  1831,  and  shops  began  to  appear  there,  his 
customers  gradually  went  there  for  wprk,  and  he,  not  long  after,  removed  his 
shop  elsewhere.  He  was  succeeded  by  Edw.  Cartmell,  who  remained  here  a 
short  time  and  went  to  Paradise.  From  there  he  removed  to  Mattoon,  when 
that  place  was  started  in  1855,  and  was  among  its  earliest  residents. 

Among  the  settlers,  about  1836,  was  Joseph  Vanderen,  who  came  from 
Kentucky.  He  was  quite  an  extensive  land-owner  and  trader,  and  brought 
with  him  a  stock  of  miscellaneous  goods  from  a  store  he  owned  in  the  Blue- 
Grass  State.  This  stock  he  opened  in  a  small  log  house  and  gave  it  out  in 
payment  for  labor  until  it  was  exhausted.  Capt.  Jones,  now  living  in  Stockton^ 
was  a  clerk  here,  and  made  his  first  adventure  in  mercantile  life  in  this  little 
log  store.  About  the  time  it  was  closed  out,  Joseph  Eckles  opened  a  store  in  a 
frame  house  standing  near  where  Benjamin  Turney  now  lives.  This  store 
came  quite  prominent  as  a  local  trading-point,  and,  until  the  railroads  were  begin- 
ging  to  appear,  did  an  excellent  business.  A  large  part  of  the  trade  was  ex- 
change. The  farmers  brought  eggs,  butter,  poultry,  etc.,  and  received  sugar, 
coffee  and  other  necessary  groceries  in  exchange.  The  products  of  the  farm 
Mr.  Eckles  took  to  Charleston  and  Terre  Haute  and  exchanged  them  again  for 
groceries  or  whatever  articles  he  desired,  and  returned  with  them  to  his  inland 
store  to  repeat  the  experiment.  He  continued  the  store  eight  or  ten  years,  when 
the  continued  growth  of  Charleston,  and  the  expectation  of  a  new  town  wher- 
ever the  crossing  of  the  railroads  would  occur,  induced  him  to  close  the  business. 
When  Mattoon  was  located,  the  frame  store  was  removed  there  and  used  for 
various  purposes.  It  was  the  first  house  on  the  plat  of  that  town,  but  not  the 
first  house  built  there. 

The  influx  of  immigration  continued  steadily  for  several  years  after  the  first 
settlers  came.  All  confined  themselves  closely  to  the  timb'^r,  and  only  one 
here  and  there  was  venturesome  enough  to  branch  out  into  the  prairie  and  erect 
a  home  there.  The  financial  crisis  of  1840  affected  people  here  as  well  as  else- 
where, and  for  a  time  retarded  the  growth  of  the  country.  The  first  seasons 
were  invariably  good  and  produced  large  crops.  This  stimulated  further  emi- 
gration from  the  South  and  East,  and  until  the  exceeding  wet  season  in  1831, 
consequent  upon  the  great  fall  of  snow  the  winter  before,  the  crops  Avere  abun- 
dant. As  the  country  filled  with  people,  schools  and  churches  were  started — 
which  we  will  notice  further  on  in  a  particular  manner — the  shops  spoken  of 
were  started,  mills  and  the  two  stores  mentioned  were  erected,  and  life  here 
assumed  the  phases  of  an  old  country.  Log  cabins,  one  by  one,  gave  way  before 
the  march  of  improvement,  and  were  replaced  by  frame  houses  or  more  com- 
fortable hewn-log  houses.  Farms  gradually  began  to  be  fenced.  Cattle  and 
hogs  were  stopped  from  running  at  large,  for  corn  and  wheat  fields  became  com- 
mon now,  and,  moreover,  fed-stock  came  gradually  into  market.     The  pig,  that 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  485 

in  pioneer  days  fattened  on  mast,  was  penned  and  deprived  of  his  migratory 
mode  of  life,  and  fed  and  fattened  on  corn.  Wolves  and  deer,  once  so  plenty, 
gradually  died  out  till  now  they  are  a  rarity.  Wolf-hunts  are  a  thing  of  the 
past  our  grandsires  love  1.0  tell  us  of;  while  our  grand-dames'  old  spinning- 
wheels,  whereon  they  made  the  cloth  for  the  family  from  the  tall  nettles  or  from 
cotton,  once  grown  here,  are  relics  of  the  past,  standing  idle  now  to  remind  us 
what  it  takes  to  make  a  country.  Deer  do  not  roam  the  prairies  now  in  herds 
of  dozens,  and  come  before  the  cabin  so  the  lord  and  master  can  have  fresh  deer 
meat  for  breakfast,  and  not  leave  his  cabin  door  to  secure  it.  Chickens  and 
young  pigs  are  not  housed  to  protect  them  from  the  prowling  wolf.  Wild  tur- 
keys are  a  thing  of  the  past.  Cultivated  farms  are  everywhere  now,  and  what 
was  once  nature's  domain  is  now  the  home  of  the  husbandman.  The  agitation 
of  the  railroads  and  their  construction  from  1850  to  1856  gave  a  fresh  impetus 
to  settlers.  Until  the  opening  of  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  there 
were  but  very  few  settlers  in  the  part  of  the  township  traversed  by  the  road,  or 
more  properly  its  prairie  portion.  Mr.  William  Miller  says  that  when  he  came 
to  his  present  homestead  in  1854,  there  were  only  seven  families  in  that  part  of 
the  township.  These  families  were  James,  William  and  Samuel  Shoemaker, 
John  and  T.  C.  Mills,  Jacob  Vanmeter,and  Fred  G.  True  who  was  living  on  a  farm 
belonging  to  Col.  Marshall,  of  Charleston.  The  southern  part  of  the  township, 
both  above  pnd  below  the  Kickapoo,  was  well  settled  then ;  but  the  farms 
extended  outward  from  the  timber,  the  houses  almost  always  being  within  its 
protection.  When  the  prairie  land  came  before  the  people  at  the  time  the  rail- 
roads made  migration  easy,  they  were  settled  as  if  in  a  day.  In  less  than  a 
decade  of  years  there  was  not  an  acre  of  unoccupied  land.  The  election  of  1860 
showed  over  two  hundred  voters  in  this  township,  as  large  a  vote  as  has  been 
polled  since.  When  the  reader  remembers  that  six  years  before,  no  one  lived 
on  the  prairie  in  the  township,  he  can  readily  see  how  rapidly  it  settled.  The 
opening  of  the  railroad  brought  the  city  of  Mattoon  just  over  the  western  border 
of  this  township,  and  the  village  of  Stockton  in  its  midst.  It  also  brought  easy 
transportation  to  tlie  products  of  the  farmers,  and  allowed  a  closer  and  more 
general  cultivation  of  the  soil.  The  majority  of  the  timber  of  sufficient  size  to 
be  of  practical  use  in  building  was  by  this  time  about  all  gone,  leaving  a  growth 
now  used  chieiiy  for  fire- wood.  When  the  re-action  from  the  last  war — to  which 
the  township  sent  several  soldiers — came,  it  brought  an  era  of  "  flush  "  times, 
which  many  farmers  erroneously  supposed  would  always  continue.  Hence  now 
we  see  much  of  the  land  owned  by  non-residents,  persons  who  loaned  the  farm- 
ers money  at  a  heavy  rate  of  interest  and  at  a  value  which  no  one  could  pay. 
As  the  return  to  specie  payments  came,  the  decline  in  money  occurred,  and 
when  the  time  to  pay  the  principal  came,  the  land  had  shrunken  in  value  till  it 
about  equaled  the  face  of  the  loan.  The  farm  was  sold  to  satisfy  the  claim,  and 
now  many  who  once  were  wealthy  find  themselves  starting  anew  in  life.  The 
effect  in  the  end  will  be,  the  non-resident  does  not  want  the  land,  and  will  sell 


486  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

it  in  smaller  tracts,  and  thus  more  freeholders  will  exist.     The  township  is  now 

passing  through  this  period  and  in  time  will  recover. 

The  reader  will  have,  no  doubt,  noticed  an  absence  of  allusion  to  churches 

and  schools  in  the  foregoing  pages.     They  have  been  purposely  omitted,  in 

order   to   present   them   under  separate   heads.     We   will,  therefore,  turn   our 

attention  to  them,  forming,  as  they  always  do,  no  inconsiderable  part  in  the 

narrative.  „„„ ^„ 

SCHOOLS. 

Mr.  John  Phipps  states  that  he  does  not  recollect  any  schools  in  this  town- 
ship the  first  winter  they  came.  He  thinks,  however,  there  may  have  been  one 
in  some  cabin,  as  there  were  several  children  here  at  that  date — 1828.  They 
were  probably  taught  by  their  parents,  unless  some  adventurous  schoolmaster 
was  here  and  supplied  the  educational  wants  of  the  community.  Mr.  Phipps 
says  there  was  a  school  taught  soon  after  they  came,  for  he  remembers  attend- 
ing the  school.  Whether  this  was  the  next  winter — 1829—30 — or  the  one  a 
vear  later,  he  does  not  now  recollect.  A  log  schoolhouse  was  built  near  a  place 
known  as  the  Sulphur  Springs,  where  an  old  gentleman  named  Watson,  taught 
the  country  youths  and  maidens  the  rudiments  of  education,  then  rather  meager. 
These  ancient  pedagogues  ruled  their  scholars  by  the  force  of  the  rod,  more  than 
any  other  way.  Moral  "  suasion  "  was  not  much  talked  of  then.  The  "  suasion  " 
generally  was  a  good,  limber  hickory  switch  well  applied.  Rev.  Daniel  Barham  and 
Theron  E.  Balch  were  also  among  these  earlv  teachers.  The  old  schoolhouse 
built  by  the  spring,  was  followed  by  others  in  different  parts  of  the  community  as 
the  wants  of  each  locality  became  apparent.  One  of  the  early  schoolhouses  was 
known  as  tlie"Ewing"  School,  in  the  southern  part  of  the  township.  In  this  house, 
the  Methodists  organized  a  class  in  early  days,  one  of  the  oldest  societies  in  that 
denomination,  in  the  county.  It  was  the  founder  of  the  present  Kickapoo  M. 
E.  Church,  a  history  of  which  appears  elsewhere  in  these  pages.  This  school 
supplied  the  wants  of  this  part  of  the  township  many  years.  It  is  yet  con- 
tinued, though  in  a  modern  house  and  under  modern  methods.  Schools  began 
to  appear  numerously  by  1860,  mainly  the  outgrowth  of  the  free-school  system 
established  about  1845.  It  took  several  years  to  educate  the  people  up  to  the 
idea  of  paying  for  education  by  taxation.  Especially  was  this  spirit  manifested 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  where  the  people  were  chiefly  of  Southern 
origin.  They  knew  only  of  the  old  system  of  subscription-schools,  where  only 
those  paid  who  sent  children,  losing  sight  of  the  great  fact  that  to  properly 
educate  the  masses,  insures  safety  to  the  populace.  The  results  of  the  last 
twenty  years  have  fully  verified  the  pi'edictions  of  the  founders  of  the  free 
schools,  and  now  are  fully  exemplified  all  over  the  State. 

From  statistics  furnished  by  Mr.  Lee,  County  Superintendent  of  Schools, 
we  glean  the  following  items  regarding  the  schools  in  La  Fayette  Township: 

Number  of  schools,  9 ;  number  of  academies,  1 ;  number  of  school  chil- 
dren— males,  208;  females,  183;  total,  391;  average  wages  paid  to  teachers 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  487 

per  month — males,  $43.24;  females,  |25.44;  length  of  school  term,  6  months; 
value  of  school  property,  $3,551;  principal  of  township  fund,  $923. 

CHURCHES. 

Outside  of  the  village  of  Stockton,  there  are  four  churches  in  this  township 
— three  Baptist  and  one  Methodist.  One  of  these,  the  Bethel  Baptist  Church,  is 
one  of  the  oldest  churches  in  the  county.  It  was  founded  by  Father  Barham, 
or  William  Martin,  both  of  whom  were  early  ministers  here.  The  organization 
was  made  in  some  cabin,  probably  that  of  the  ministers,  with  only  a  few  mem- 
bers, and,  for  awhile,  the  place  of  worship  was  continued  there.  When  the 
schoolhouse  was  built,  near  Sulphur  Springs,  in  1829  or  1830,  the  preaching- 
place  was  made  there,  and  continued  there  until  about  1835,  when  a  log  church 
was  erected  near  the  site  of  the  present  Bethel  church.  The  congregation 
grew  with  ordinary  success  until  1840,  when,  owing  to  a  difference  of  views 
concerning  points  of  order,  a  division  occurred,  and  from  that  date  two  congre- 
gations appear.  Both  used  the  same  house  now  replaced  by  a  better  and  more 
commodious  structure,  until  Mattoon  was  started,  when,  owing  to  the  fact  of 
several  of  the  members  in  the  withdrawing  party  being  there  or  near  there,  a 
house  of  worship  was  built  there  in  1856,  and  this  part  went  there  to  worship. 
Theirs  was  the  first  church  in  the  town.  The  old  body  retained  possession  of 
the  property,  and  still  use  the  Bethel  Church  and  are  known  by  that  name. 
Thomas  Threlkeld  had  been  one  of  the  early  pastors  here,  and  remained  with 
them  until  the  division,  when  he  went  with  the  Mattoon  church.  He  remained 
in  the  ministry  until  his  death.  The  Bethel  Church  still  continues  prosperous, 
and  supports  regular  services.  The  Mattoon  church,  sometimes  known  as  Mis- 
sionary Baptists  and  by  other  names,  remained  in  Mattoon  until  about  1869  or 
1870,  when  they  sold  their  property,  preparatory  to  removing  to  a  more  central 
location  for  their  people.  They  used  a  schoolhouse  a  few  miles  west  of  Stock- 
ton until  they  could  erect  a  house  of  worship,  which  they  completed  soon  after 
the  change,  and  which  they  now  use.  Mr.  Threlkeld  was  succeeded  in  the 
ministry  by  J.  G.  Sawin,  the  present  Pastor.  The  number,  of  members  is 
now  about  twenty.  The  Church  retains  the  same  name  as  its  original — Bethel 
Church. 

The  Nineveh  Missionary  Baptist  Church  is  of  recent  origin,  having  been 
organized  only  about  four  years.  Rev.  Barker  was  the  originator  and  chief 
one  in  the  formation  of  the  Church,  and  has  done  much  for  its  advancement. 
They  built  a  very  neat  frame  church,  a  few  years  ago,  which  they  now  regularly 
occupy. 

The  Kickapoo  Methodist  Church  was  organized  as  a  class,  probably,  before 
the  Black  Hawk  war.  Just  when,  is  not  now  known.  Like  all  other  frontier 
churches,  its  members  met  in  each  other's  cabins  and  offered  up  their  prayer 
and  praise  to  the  Being  who  preserved  them  and  gave  them  the  blessings  they 
enjoyed.     As  soon  as  the  Ewing  Schoolhouse  was  erected,  they  met  there,  and 


•188  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

continued  therein  until  they  could  erect  a  log  church,  which  they  used  until 
the  erection  of  their  present  house  of  worship,  in  1860.  They  were  watched 
over  in  pioneer  times  by  ministers  who  braved  the  dangers  of  a  frontier  life,  and 
who  counted  it  richer  by  far  to  save  a  soul  than  to  gain  a  kingdom.  That  they 
have  their  reward  no  one  can  doubt.  The  little  church,  founded  by  so  few, 
years  ago,  is  now  strong,  and  able  not  only  to  bear  its  own  burden,  but  to  help 
others  in  their  start,  knowing  by  experience  the  benefit  of  a  little  aid  at  the 
right  time. 

One  other  church  in  the  township  remains  to  be  mentioned.  As  it  is  in  the 
village  of  Stockton,  however,  we  forbear  any  sketch  of  it  here,  and  pass  to  the 
sketch  of  the  village  first,  whose  history  will  close  this  chapter. 

STOCKTON. 

When  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroad  was  completed  through  this 
township,  a  stopping-place  was  made  where  Stockton  now  is,  that  point  being 
nearly  half-way  between  Mattoon  and  Charleston.  For  about  seven  years,  the 
condition  of  things  remained  the  same,  only  a  platform  being  built  and  a 
switch  made.  Capt.  B.  F.  Jones  was  mainly  instrumental  in  getting  even  this 
much  of  an  arrangement,  and  during  all  this  time,  was  a  constant  shipper.  He 
brought  the  frame  building  immediately  south  of  the  track  here,  and  used  it  as 
a  storehouse  and  warehouse  for  several  years.  In  the  fall  of  1863,  Capt. 
Jones,  who  owned  the  land  on  which  the  village  is  now  situated,  concluded  to 
lay  out  a  town,  and  for  that  purpose  had  J.  J.  Peterson,  a  surveyor,  plat  the 
original  village.  In  casting  about  for  a  name,  Mr.  Thomas  E.  Woods,  then 
connected  with  the  Mattoon  Journal,  suggested  Stockton,  and,  without  waiting 
to  see  if  there  was  any  other  town  or  post  office  in  the  State  of  that  name,  it 
was  adopted.  When  the  post  office  was  established  here,  soon  after,  another 
village  in  Illinois  was  indeed  found  of  that  name,  with  an  office,  and  the  postal 
authorities  refused  to  christen  this  one  by  the  name  given  it.  After  one  or  two 
effiarts,  the  name  Loxa  for  the  post  office  was  suggested  and  accepted.  'Ihe  cit- 
izens have  several  times  endeavored  to  get  the  railroad  company  to  change  the 
name  of  the  station  to  correspond  with  that  of  the  post  office,  but,  so  far,  have 
been  unable  to  do  so. 

Soon  after  the  town  was  surVeved,  John  Monroe,  who  had  been  connected 
with  Capt.  Jones  in  the  shipping  business,  erected  a  store.  About  the  same 
time  that  he  began  in  the  dry  goods,  groceries,  etc.,  trade,  S.  Y.  Vance  came 
also,  and  united  with  him  in  supplying  the  wants  of  the  people  hereabouts- 
These  two  men  and  J.  W.  Egbert  erected  houses,  removed  families  to  them  and 
started  village  life  in  earnest.  Mr.  Sawin,  Capt.  Jones  and  a  few  others  fol- 
lowed them,  and  in  a  few  years  the  village  assumed  its  present  proportions. 
Capt.  Jones  also  erected  a  store,  now  used,  and  when  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terians decided  to  remove  their  church  to  the  village,  he  purchased  the  old 
church  and  converted  it  into  a  hay-barn.     But  one  or  two  stores  only  have  been 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  489 

l)uilt  here.  The  village  being  midway  between  the  county  seat  and  Mattoon, 
the  greater  part  of  the  trade  of  the  people  about  the  village  goes  to  one  or  the 
other  of  these  places,  leaving  only  a  local  trade  here.  A  shop  or  two,  the  ship- 
ping business  in  town  and  one  or  two  other  commodities  complete  its  trade. 

Until  about  1870,  school  was  maintained  in  the  district  schoolhouse,  near  the 
village.  About  that  time,  however,  the  building  was  erected  here,  and  since  then 
school  has  been  taught  in  the  village.     It  is  still  under  the  township  control. 

Eight  years  ago,  Prof.  Thomas  J.  Lee,  County  Superintendent  of  Schools, 
opened  an  academy,  which  he  has  made  a  success.  A  few  years  ago,  Capt. 
Jones,  who  has  done  much  for  this  town  and  community,  built  a  very  com- 
modious house  for  the  use  of  the  Academy,  capable  of  accommodating  over  one 
hundred  scholars.  Pupils  are  fitted  for  teaching  here,  the  curriculum  of  studies 
being  prepared  especially  to  that  end.  Prof.  Lee  received  his  education  at  the 
West  Point  Military  Academy,  and  brings  thoroughness  and  exactness  to  bear 
in  his  instruction.  The  school  is  away  from  any  evil  surroundings  prevalent 
in  larger  places,  and  fills  the  void  excellently  well  for  which  it  is  intended,  viz., 
a  step  between  the  common  school  and  the  college.  Music  is  also  taught  here, 
and,  as  the  school  is  centrally  located,  it  is  well  attended  by  pupils  from  the 
surrounding  country.  A  glance  at  the  catalogue  shows  a  large  percentage  of 
its  pupils  engaged  in  teaching.  As  an  evidence  of  the  favorable  condition  of 
the  school,  it  is  noticed  that  the  attendance  has  grown  from  63  pupils  the  first 
year,  to  111  the  last  year.  During  the  ordinary  vacation.  Prof.  Lee  conducts 
a  five-weeks  normal,  which  is  well  attended. 

The  only  church  in  Stockton  is  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  which,  as  has 
been  mentioned,  was  brought  from  the  country.  The  congregation  was  organ- 
ized several  years  before  the  town  was  contemplated,  in  the  northeast  part  of 
the  township,  and  a  church  erected  a  short  distance  north  of  the  site  of  Stock- 
ton. After  the  village  was  started,  it  was  concluded  best  to  remove  the  place 
of  worship  there.  Capt.  Jones  purchased  the  old  frame  church,  and,  in  1868, 
the  present  edifice  was  erected.  It  is  a  commodious  frame  building,  and  is  at 
present  suflSciently  large  for  the  congregation.  Only  occasional  services  are 
held  here,  the  congregation  not  being  able  to  sustain  a  regular  minister. 

NORTH  OKAW. 

This  township,  located  in  the  extreme  northwest  corner  of  the  county,  like 
the  other  townships  in  the  northern  tier,  includes  one  and  one-half  townships 
in  its  area.  In  the  days  when  the  territory  of  Coles  County  was  divided  into 
voting  precincts,  Okaw  Precinct  extended  as  far  north  as  the  northern  bound- 
ary of  the  present  county  of  Douglas,  and  south  to  its  present  limits.  The 
votes  of  her  citizens  at  that  time  were  cast  at  the  small  village  of  Bagdad,  on 
the  old  Springfield  trace.  Some  years  later,  as  the  population  increased,  a 
division  was  made  by  a  line  running  east  and  west  about  one  mile  north  of  the 


490  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

old  Springfield  trace,  and  all  the  territory  north  of  that  line  was  designated 
North  Okaw,  and  that  of  which  we  are  now  writing  was  known  as  South  Okaw. 
The  name  as  originally  applied  to  the  precinct,  was  taken  from  the  river  which 
traverses  the  township  in  a  general  southwestern  direction.  To  this  stream  the 
French  gave  the  name  Kaskaskia,  while  the  Indians  designated  it  uniformly  by 
the  name  Okaw.  The  early  settlers  adopted  the  Indian  name,  and  their 
descendants  speak  of  it  to-day  as  the  Okaw,  to  the  utter  exclusion  of  the 
French  name.  Perhaps  a  more  accurate  description  in  regard  to  name  would 
be  given  by  saying,  that  from  Shelbyville  to  its  source,  the  name  Okaw  is 
invariably  applied,  while  from  the  same  point  to  its  mouth  it  is  known  as  the 
Kaskaskia.  When  the  county  was  divided  into  townships,  the  citizens  met  for 
the  purpose  of  selecting  a  name.  The  name  Martin  was  proposed  by  some,  in 
honor  of  one  of  the  early  settlers.  Others,  to  whom  the  name  Okaw  had 
become  endeared  from  its  association  with  their  early  struggles  and  hardships, 
clung  with  something  akin  to  filial  affection  to  the  dear  old  name.  On  the  call 
for  a  vote,  Okaw's  standard  was  lifted  up  by  a  large  majority.  When  the 
name  Avas  submitted  for  approval,  it  became  necessary  to  prefix  the  word  North 
in  order  to  distinguish  more  clearly  the  territory  bearing  the  name,  from  that 
of  Okaw  Township,  in  Shelby  County.  Thus,  what  was  once  known  as  South 
Okaw  Precinct,  became  a  few  years  later  North  Okaw  Township.  The  Okaw 
River  enters  the  township  at  the  extreme  northwestern  boundary,  and  flowing 
in  a  general  southwestern  direction,  passes  out  at  its  western  boundary  about  two 
and  one-half  miles  north  of  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  township.  This 
stream  with  its  tributaries,  affords  excellent  drainage  for  a  large  portion  of  the 
township.  Crab-Apple  Tree  Creek,  a  small  stream  flowing  from  east  to  west 
through  the  southern  portion  of  the  township,  drains  the  southern  tier  of  sections. 
In  its  primitive  state,  fully  one- third  of  its  area  was  timber-land,  the  remaining 
two-thirds  being  open  prairie.  To-day,  however,  its  timber  is  confined  to  a 
narrow  belt  skirting  the  banks  of  the  Okaw.  There  is,  perhaps,  as  great 
variety  of  soil  in  this  township,  as  can  be  found  in  any  other  in  the  limits  of 
the  county.  While  the  prairie  is  in  general  rich  and  productive,  and  charac- 
terized by  a  deep,  black,  loamy  soil,  even  portions  of  it  are  far  more  productive 
than  others.  The  soil  of  the  woodland  is  far  less  fertile.  Of  a  light,  bluish 
color,  and  of  shallow  depth,  it  is  poorly  adapted  to  the  growth  of  most  of  the 
cereals ;  a  better  yield  of  wheat,  however,  is  obtained  from  the  woodland  than 
from  the  prairie,  and  the  crop  is  much  surer,  as  the  soil  is  better  adapted  to 
stand  the  alternate  freezing  and  thawing  so  common  to  this  climate.  Corn, 
however,  is  the  staple  product,  and  upon  the  successful  growing  of  this  crop 
the  farmer  depends  almost  entirely  for  his  support  year  after  year.  The  D., 
M.  &  S.  Railroad  crosses  the  extreme  southwest  corner  of  the  township,  giving 
not  to  exceed  three-quarters  of  a  mile  of  railroad  within  her  borders.  Her 
points  for  shipping  and  receiving,  are  Mattoon  and  Humbolt.  Though  settle- 
ments were  made  within  the   present  limits  at  quite  an  early  day,  the  great 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  491 

influx  of  population  did  not  occur  till  about  the  years  1855  and  1856,  at  which, 
time  the  railroads  crossing  at  Mattoon  were  rapidly  approaching  completion. 
In  a  few  brief  years,  her  population  was  doubled  and  even  trebled,  and 
the  hitherto  unoccupied  prairie  was  soon  dotted  over  with  human  habitations  in 
every  direction.  And  where,  but  a  few  short  years  before,  the  early  settler 
was  accustomed  to  chase  the  fleet-footed  deer  or  flying  wolf  through  the  tall 
and  matted  grass  of  the  unbroken  prairie,  he  saw  the  rank,  luxuriant  fields  of 
corn,  waving  gracefully  in  the  summer  breezes.  Taken  throughout  its  entire 
extent,  the  township  compares  very  favorably  with  those  surrounding  it,  in 
point  of  wealth  and  productiveness. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENTS. 

The  first  settlements  made  in  the  township  were  confined  to  the  timber 
along  the  east  and  west  banks  of  the  Okaw.  To  locate  and  build  a  cabin  one- 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  woods  would  have  been  considered  a  hazardous  and 
foolhardy  undertaking.  Prairies,  in  the  language  of  the  old  settlers,  were 
made  for  the  deer,  wolves  and  rattlesnakes,  woods  and  water-courses  for  man. 
Hence,  we  invariably  find  the  earliest  improved  farms  in  the  woodland  or  hard 
by,  while  the  better  or  more  fertile  portions  are  left  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  those 
coming  in  after-years.  Many  an  old  settler  toiled  and  labored  almost  incessantly, 
day  and  night,  for  months,  to  prepare  a  few  acres  of  woodland  for  cultivation, 
when,  within  a  stone's  throw  of  his  cabin,  lay  the  rich,  fertile  prairie,  inviting  him 
to  reap  a  rich  harvest  for  the  mere  sowing.  The  fact  that  a  settlement  was 
in  the  township  as  early  as  1833,  seems  to  be  pretty  fully  established,  and  John 
Whitley  and  his  sons  John,  Elisha,  William  and  Randall,  are  recorded  as  among 
the  first,  if  not  the  first,  to  settle  and  make  improvements  in  its  limits.  Their 
improvements  were  made  along  the  Okaw,  near  the  southwestern  limits  of  the 
township..  Elisha  and  John  were  on  the  west  side,  while  William  and  Randall 
located  east  of  the  stream.  The  Whitleys  came  from  Tennessee,  and  must  have 
came  to  the  State  at  an  early  day  ;  from  statements  made  by  the  elder  Whitley, 
they  seem  to  have  passed  up  the  Kaskaskia,  making  settlements  at  various 
points ;  so  soon  as  neighbors  began  to  settle  in  around  them,  they  would  desert 
their  places,  and,  moving  up  the  stream,  would  again  locate,  only  a  few  years 
later  to  move  still  higher  up  the  stream.  About  the  same  time,  but  higher  up 
the  stream,  we  find  Baily  Riddle,  from  North  Carolina.  Jesse  Fuller  came 
from  Virginia  in  the  summer  of  1833,  and  settled  east  of  the  river,  in  the  out- 
skirts of  t  he  timber  bordering  on  what  is  now  Humbolt  Township.  John 
Bracken,  from  Kentucky,  came  in  the  fall  of  1833,  and  made  a  small  improve- 
ment about  one-quarter  of  a  mile  across  the  line,  in  what  is  now  Moultrie 
County.  But  few,  if  any,  others  were  in  the  township  as  early  as  1833, 
Henry  and  Hawkins  Fuller,  Woolery  Coonrod,  Thomas  Blythe,  William 
Bridgeman,  William  and  Jonathan  Graham,  Thomas  Pay  ton,  Noah  Elrod, 
Fred  Price,  Wesley  and  Isaac  Teal  were  added  to  the  settlement  during  the 


492  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

jear  1834.  The  Fullers,  however,  first  settled  at  what  is  called  Whitley's 
Point,  in  Mattoon  Township,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1835,  came  up  into  Okaw. 
The  Fullers  and  Price  were  from  Virginia,  Coonrod  Blythe  and  the  Teals  from 
Tennessee,  Grahams  from  Kentucky,  Payton  and  Elrod  from  Indiana.  In  the 
spring  of  1835,  P.  M.  Ellis  came  from  Tennessee,  and  the  following  fall 
brought  in  Daniel  Boothsby,  Lowry  Hoskins,  Nathan  Dixon,  James  Elder  and 
William  Brann.  In  the  spring  of  1836,  Jesse  Ellis  and  wife,  with  their  sons 
Wiley  and  Jesse  K.,  came  and  settled  on  the  improvement  made  by  John 
Bracken,  which  Mr.  Ellis  had  purchased  a  year  previous.  Noble  Junken, 
David  and  Jacob  Hoots  came  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  Jacob  Hoots  set- 
tled, however,  in  what  is  now  Humbolt  Township.  From  this  time  forward, 
through  a  period  of  about  two  years,  there  seemed  to  be  a  complete  cessation 
of  immigration  to  this  point.  This  may  be  accounted  for  in  various  ways,  but 
perhaps  the  best  explanation  that  could  be  oifered,  is  the  following :  The  year 
1835  was  an  exceedingly  wet  and  sickly  season.  The  sick-list  included  every 
person  in  the  settlement,  though  the  list  of  mortality  was  small.  Pleasant  M. 
Ellis,  who  came,  as  has  been  already  stated,  in  the  spring  of  1835,  says :  "  It 
began  raining  the  16th  day  of  May,  and  was  a  daily  occurrence,  almost,  till 
the  middle  of  August  following.  The  Okaw  River  was  at  no  time  between 
these  dates  fordable.  Many  of  the  new-comers  having  '  shook '  to  their 
heart's  content,  as  soon  as  they  were  able,  packed  up  '  hook  and  line '  and 
returned  whence  they  came."  Doubtless  the  unfavorable  accounts  they  gave 
stopped,  for  a  season,  the  tide  of  emigration  to  this  immediate  locality.  In 
the  fall  of  1838,  Alfred  Jones  and  Thomas  Ellis,  of  Kentucky,  Samuel  Elder, 
of  Tennessee,  with,  perhaps,  a  few  names  not  now  recalled,  came  and  set- 
tled. These  all  found  a  location  along  the  east  and  west  banks  of  the  river. 
The  timber-lands  in  general,  at  that  day,  appeared  far  more  beautiful  than 
they  now  do,  for  the  great  fall  fires  from  the  prairies  swept  through  the 
forest  and  kept  it  clear  of  underbrush,  consuming  much  of  the  fallen  timber, 
so  that  the  timbered  land  had  a  clean,  pleasant  look.  The  giant  old  oak  stood 
unmolested,  spreading  its  long,  leafy  boughs  north  and  south,  east  and  west, 
forming  cool  and  pleasant  shades,  beckoning  the  weary  traveler  to  lie  down  and 
rest,  while  the  breezes  laden  with  sweet  perfumes  from  nature's  floral  garden 
gently  fanned  him  to  sleep.  But  the  whole  scene  is  changed,  both  timber  and 
prairie.  The  prairie  by  the  plowshare  and  the  timber  by  the  relentless  chop- 
ping-ax;  and  where  once  grew  the  lovely  flowers,  is  now  the  far-stretching  corn- 
field or  the  wide-spread  meadow;  and  where  once  stood  in  its  pristine  glory  the 
lordly  monarch  of  the  forest,  it  is  now  thickly  overgrown  with  underbrush. 
What  wonder  is  it,  then,  that  the  woodlands  so  inviting,  should  have  been  the 
chosen  homes  of  the  early  settlers,  to  the  utter  disregard  of  the  prairies  with 
their  dreaded  winds  and  storms.  The  early  settlers  of  Okaw  experienced  many 
of  the  privations  and  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life.  Mills  in  those  early 
days  were  few  in  number  and  distant  many  miles  from  each  other.     John  Per- 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  493 

vis  had  a  mill  on  the  Okaw  some  five  or  six  miles  south  of  the  settlement,  as 
early  as  1833  or  1834.  This  was  about  as  much  a  source  of  annoyance  as 
profit,  for  it  could  only  be  operated  when  the  water  was  at  a  proper  stage,  and 
as  the  stream  was  nearly  always  either  too  high  or  too  low,  the  mill  stood  idle 
the  greater  part  of  the  time.  Jesse  Fuller  had  a  horse-mill  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Okaw,  in  1836.  The  settlers  on  the  west  side  were  often  compelled  to  swim 
the  river  in  order  to  obtain  grinding.  They  would  take  their  grist  by  ox-team 
to  the  bank,  swim  their  oxen  across,  then  return  and  bring  their  grist  over  in  a 
canoe;  then  placing  the  sacks  of  corn  on  the  backs  of  the  oxen,  would  jump  on 
top  and  ride  to  mill.  A  like  process  must  be  repeated  on  their  return.  In  a 
very  dry  time,  they  often  went  to  Spangler's  mill  on  the  Sangamon,  and  some- 
times to  Baker  &  Norfolk's  mill  on  the  Embarrass.  Diflficulties,  such  as  would 
appall  the  stoutest  hearts  of  the  young  and  rising  generation,  were  met  and  van- 
quished by  these  early  settlers  at  a  single  blow.  Sometimes  they  were  reduced 
to  the  extremity  of  living  for  months  on  meal  made  from  frost-bitten  corn.  Mrs. 
P.  M.  Ellis,  whose  father,  William  Parker,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  on 
Kickapoo,  says,  that  the  only  bread  she  ate  for  months  soon  after  coming,  was 
made  from  meal  so  offensive  that  even  the  hogs  would  not  eat  it.  This  meal  after 
standing  for  a  short  time  became  so  compact  that  it  required  the  aid  of  a  rail 
maul  to  separate  it  in  order  that  it  might  be  sifted  and  made  into  bread.  And 
while  to-day  we  would  regard  it  as  a  very  unwholesome  diet  and  the  fruitful  parent 
of  all  manner  of  diseases,  yet  they  were  blest  with  exceptionally  good  health. 
As  in  other  localities,  the  early  settlers  of  Okaw  enjoyed  the  ministrations 
of  the  Gospel  at  an  early  day.  The  settlers  gathered  alternately  once  a  month 
at  the  cabins  of  Jesse  Ellis  and  old  Mr.  Simms,  and  listened  to  the  preaching  of 
Rev.  William  Martin,  one  of  the  earliest  ministers  in  the  community.  He 
belonged  to  the  school  of  Regular  Baptists.  Occasionally  Rev.  Thomas  Threl- 
keld  paid  them  a  visit.  The  Separate  or  Free- Will  Baptists  built  the  first 
house  of  Avorship  in  the  township,  about  the  year  1850.  This  house  stands  on 
Section  18,  near  the  western  limits  of  the  township.  Among  its  early  mem- 
bers were  Thomas  Ellis,  Mrs.  P.  M.  Ellis  and  Micajah  Phillips.  Revs. 
James  W.  Vaughn  and  John  Webb  were  its  early  ministers.  Rev.  Vaughn 
has  labored  most  of  the  time  for  the  Church  since  its  organization.  As  late  as 
1866,  the  Regular  Baptists  built  a  church  near  the  center  of  Section  17.  Among 
its  early  communicants  we  find  the  names  of  Jesse  Ellis  and  wife,  Mr.  Simms 
and  family,  Gideon  Edwards,  James  Elder  and  family.  William  Martin  and 
Thomas  Threlkeld  were  the  early  Pastors  of  the  Church.  The  Missionary 
Baptists  also  built  a  church  on  the  west  line  of  Section  10,  near  Cook's  Mills, 
about  the  same  date.  The  Methodist  society  held  its  early  meetings  in  the 
cabins  of  Henry  and  Hawkins  Fuller.  Among  the  early  ministers  were  Revs. 
Roberts,  Joseph  Lane  and  Arthur  Bradshaw.  Quinu  Chapel,  in  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  township,  was  built  about  the  year  1865,  and  east  of  the  center 
of  the  township,  Zion  M.  E.  Church  was  built  in  1872  or  1873.     These  five 


494  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

churches  are  all  neat  frame  buildings  and  their  existence  indicates  that  the  citi- 
zens of  this  section  are  by  no  means  indifferent  as  regards  their  moral  and 
spiritual  welfare. 

The  early  physicians  in  this  settlement  were  Drs.  John  Apperson  and  Seth 
Montague.  Apperson,  as  has  been  elsewhere  noted,  was  an  early  settler  of 
Paradise  Township,  but  his  range  of  practice  extended  to  then  the  uppermost  set- 
tlements along  the  Okaw.  Dr.  J.  T.  Johnson  came  in  some  years  later,  and  set- 
tled among  them,  and  was  for  many  years  the  leading  practitioner  in  the 
community.  The  first  post  office  established  in  the  township  was  about  the 
year  1852.  Dr.  Johnson  was  the  first  Postmaster,  and,  for  a  number  of  years, 
the  office  was  kept  at  his  house.  It  was  named,  however.  Fuller's  Point,  in 
honor  of  Henry  Fuller,  who  lived  in  a  point  of  timber  not  far  from  the  site  of 
the  post  office.  The  mail  was  carried  on  horse-back  from  Charleston,  along  a 
route  extending  to  Decatur.  Prior  to  the  establishment  of  the  office  at  Fuller's 
Point,  the  citizens  of  Okaw  got  their  mail-matter  at  Paradise,  distant  some 
eighteen  miles  from  portions  of  the  township.  In  1868,  an  office  was  estab- 
lished at  Cook's  Mills,  and  Elam  Cook  was  made  Postmaster.  Though  he  has 
not  acted  in  that  capacity  for  a  number  of  years,  yet  all  business  connected 
with  the  office  is  transacted  through  his  name.  Martin  Elder,  who  came  in  the 
fall  of  1835,  had,  perhaps,  the  first  store  in  all  this  section.  It  was  just  across 
the  line,  in  what  is  now  Moultrie  County.  The  new  enterprise  had  scarcely 
become  known,  however,  when  Elder  suddenly  left  for  parts  unknown.  It 
appears  that  he  had  been  guilty  of  some  crooked  transactions  in  regard  to  the 
mails  in  the  section  from  whence  he  came,  and  a  United  States  detective  sud- 
denly pounced  down  upon  him,  and,  having  secured  pretty  much  all  he  had, 
graciously  permitted  him  to  escape.  Some  years  later,  David  Robinson  had  a 
little  country  store  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township  proper. 

A  saw-mill  was  built  at  the  present  site  of  Cook's  Mills,  in  1864,  by  Robert 
Gillan,  who,  soon  after,  opened  out  a  general  country  store.  This  he  sold, 
together  with  the  saw-mill,  to  Elam  Cook,  about  the  year  1868.  Cook,  soon 
after  built  a  steam  flouring-mill,  the  only  grist-mill  in  the  township.  For  some 
years,  this  mill  was  operated  very  successfully ;  but,  for  the  past  few  years,  it 
has  not  been  of  much  benefit  to  the  surrounding  community.  D.  A.  Crumm 
is  at  present  proprietor  of  the  store,  and  has  a  full  general  stock. 

Schools  were  instituted  at  an  early  day,  and  among  those  who  wielded  the 
rod  of  correction  and  "boarded  round,"  may  be  mentioned  Josiah  Hoots,  James 
Hamilton  and  "  Grandpap  "  Baker.  The  township  has  kept  equal  pace  with 
her  neighbors  in  point  of  educational  advancement.  There  are  seven  school 
districts  in  the  township  proper,  each  supplied,  with  a  suitable  schoolhouse. 
During  the  past  year,  schools  have  been  maintained  throughout  the  several  dis- 
tricts, an  average  of  seven  and  one-half  months.  Male  teachers  employed, 
three ;  female,  five.  Highest  monthly  wages  paid,  males,  $40 ;  females,  $30. 
Principal  of  Township  Fund,  |2,300 ;  interest  from  same,  $230.     Special  dis- 


HISTORY    OF  COLES  COUNTY.  495 

trict  tax  levied,  $2,000.     Total  cost  of  schools  for  the  year,  $2,700.    Estimated 
value  of  school  property,  $2,100  ;  apparatus,  $125. 

Three  substantial  bridges  are  found  spanning  the  Okaw  within  the  limits  of 
the  township.  Two  of  these  are  wooden  structures,  and  the  remaining  one  a 
very  substantial  iron  bridge,  spanning  the  river  near  the  southwestern  corner  of 
the  townshp.  This  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  some  $2,000,  and  is  in  every 
respect  a  stanch  and  secure  structure.  After  township  organization  was  effected, 
John  Hoots  was  chosen  first  Supervisor ;  William  H.  Smith,  first  Township 
Clerk,  and  Joel  Martin  and  Jesse  K.  Ellis,  first  Justices.  This  position  Mr. 
Ellis  has  held  almost  constantly  since ;  and  it  may  be  said  to  the  credit  of  the 
morals  of  the  citizens,  that  during  all  these  years,  but  one  person  has  been  sent 
to  the  County  Jail  to  await  the  action  of  the  grand  jury.  A  trial  occurred  in 
an  early  day,  which  afforded  no  little  sport  and  amusement  to  the  entire  settle- 
ment. Martellus  Graham  had  rented  of  Samuel  Elder,  a  small  parcel  of 
ground,  and  was  to  give  one-third  of  the  product  for  rent.  Before  the  division 
was  made,  a  difficulty  arose  between  Graham  and  Elder,  and  on  Graham's  taking 
a  pumpkin  from  the  field.  Elder  immediately  instituted  proceedings  against  him 
for  theft.  The  officer,  armed  with  the  necessary  papers,  and  accompanied  by 
P.  M.  Ellis,  proceeded  to  the  residence  of  Graham,  and  arrested  him  on  the 
charge  of  theft.  This  occurred  just  before  daylight,  and,  as  soon  as  the  morn- 
ing meal  was  over,  they  set  out  to  bring  the  prisoner  before  the  Court.  Haw- 
kins Fuller  was  the  Justice  before  whom  the  case  was  tried.  The  whole  settle- 
ment was  on  the  ground  to  enjoy  the  sport.  The  prisoner  was  arraigned,  and 
pleaded  not  guilty.  The  squire  and  his  good  wife  set  about  hunting  up  the  law 
bearing  on  the  case.  Mrs.  Fuller,  who  was  by  far  the  better  lawyer  of  the 
two,  demanded  that  the  stolen  property  be  produced  in  court,  in  order  that  it 
might  be  identified,  and,  as  the  pumpkin  could  not  be  produced  by  the  prose- 
cution, the  case  was  dismissed  at  Elder's  cost,  amounting  to  some  $10  or  $12. 
It  was  many  a  day  before  Elder  heard  the  last  of  that  trial. 

As  has  already  been  stated,  but  few  families,  comparatively  speaking,  dwelt 
in  the  limits  of  Okaw  prior  to  the  building  of  the  railroads  in  1855  and  1856. 
David  McCullough,  so  far  as  we  can  learn,  was  the  only  person  who  went  from 
Okaw  Township  to  the  Mexican  war.  During  "  the  late  unpleasantness," 
however,  she  furnished  her  full  quota  of  brave  boys,  and  the  bones  of  many  of 
her  gallant  sons  lie  bleaching  on  Southern  soil. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  John  Turner  to  Matilda  Simms.  This  event 
occurred  as  early  as  the  fall  of  1836.  P.  M.  Ellis  lost  a  child,  July  10,  1835, 
and,  a  few  weeks  later,  James  Ellis,  a  brother,  died.  These  were,  doubtless, 
the  first  deaths  that  occurred  in  the  township. 

Bluff  Lodge,  No.  605,  I.  0.  0.  F,  was  organized  at  Cook's  Mills  in  1875. 
A  charter  was  granted  from  the  Grand  Lodge  to  J.  H.  Crumm,  Joseph  Perry, 
David  Perry,  James  Hamilton,  George  Crume  and  John  R.  Hamilton  as  char- 
ter members.     Joseph   Perry  was  appointed   N.  G. ;    James  Hamilton,  V.  G. ; 


496  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

John  R.  Hamilton,  Sec. ;  and  J.  H.  Crumm,  Treas.  The  Lodge  has  a  mem- 
bership of  sixty.  Stated  meetings  occur  Saturday  evenings  of  each  week.  Present 
officers,  William  Hammer,  N.  G. ;  John  Wilson,  V.  G. ;  E.  Gilbert,  Sec. ;  J.  L. 
Skidmore,  Treas. ;  and  J.  H.  Crumm,  Deputy  G.  M.  for  the  Lodge.  Liberty 
Lodge,  in  which  is  conferred  the  degree  of  Rebecca,  was  organized  in  1878,  and 
has  a  membership  of  twenty-nine.  Regular  meetings  Wednesday  evenings 
before  full  moon  in  each  month.  These  societies  meet  for  the  transaction  of 
business  pertaining  to  the  order  in  the  lodge-room,  over  D.  A.  Crumm's  store. 
The  present  officers  of  Liberty  Lodge  are:  Amanda  Hougland,  N.  G. ;  Eliza- 
beth Wright,  V.  G. ;  La  Fayette  Alaman,  Sec. ;  and  Mary  A.  Crumm,  Treas. 
While  we  have  not  seen  fit  to  set  apart  and  write  up  Cook's  Mills  as  a  vil- 
lage, it  is  no  more  than  proper  and  just  that  we  should  speak  of  its  advantages 
to  the  township.  The  saw  and  grist  mill,  with  a  well-selected  stock  of  goods^ 
the  post  office,  a  blacksmith  and  wagon  shop,  render  it  the  center  of  attraction 
for  the  township,  and  the  point  at  which  most  of  the  business  is  transacted ; 
and  but  for  the  lack  of  railroad  facilities,  it  would,  at  no  distant  day, 
grow  into  a  village  of  considerable  importance.  But  isolated  as  it  is  from 
all  other  places  of  importance,  with  no  avenues  of  ingress  or  egress  except 
dirt  roads,  and  these  much  of  the  season  almost  impassable,  it  must  ever  remain 
as  it  now  is,  a  point  of  interest  alone  to  the  citizens  of  the  immediate  vicinity. 
In  closing  this  section  of  our  history,  we  can  safely  say  that  for  industry  and 
enterprise,  for  social  and  moral  worth,  the  citizens  of  Okaw  rank  second  to  those 
of  no  other  portion  of  the  country. 


PARADISE  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  is  situated  in  the  extreme  southwest  corner  of  the  county, 
and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Mattoon  Township ;  east,  by  Pleasant  Grove 
Township  ;  south,  by  Cumberland  County,  and  west,  by  Shelby  County.  In  its 
primitive  state,  before  the  timber  and  underbrush  were  cleared  away,  for  the 
earliest-made  farms,  three-fourths  of  iis  surface  were  woodland  to  one-fourth 
prairie.  Its  surface  is  for  the  most  part  rolling,  and  easily  admits  of  drainage. 
The  Little  Wabash,  a  stream  rising  a  little  south  of  the  center  of  Mattoon 
Township,  flows  in  a  southern  direction  through  the  western  half  of  the  town- 
ship, and,  with  its  tributaries,  effectually  drains  the  central  and  western  portions. 
Dry  Grove  Run,  a  small  stream  rising  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  township, 
and  flowing  south  through  a  belt  of  timber  of  the  same  name,  affords  drainage 
for  the  eastern  half.  The  extreme  eastern  and  western  portions  are  prairie, 
while  the  timber  is  found  lining  either  side  of  the  Little  Wabash.  There  is, 
however,  a  small  belt  of  timber  in  the  eastern  portion  called  Dry  Grove,  the  aver- 
age width  of  which  does  not  exceed  one-half  mile,  and  its  length  not  more  than 
two  miles  and  a  half.  How  it  acquired  its  name,  Dry  Grove,  we  have  not  been 
able  to  determine.     The  soil,  for  the  most  part,  is  of  a  deep-black  cast,  very 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  497 

rich,  and  prodvices  well.  The  soil  of  the  woodland,  in  the  eastern  portion, 
reduced  to  a  state  of  cultivation,  exceeds  in  richness  and  fertility  even  the  adja- 
cent prairie.  Like  the  surrounding  townships,  it  is  well  adapted  to  the  growth 
of  the  various  cereals,  but  corn  is  the  staple  product.  The  western  portion  pro- 
duces fine  wheat,  and,  for  the  past  few  years,  quite  an  amount  has  been  sown. 
Taking  it  one  season  with  another,  those  possessing  woodland  farms  are  much 
surer  of  a  good  crop,  than  those  upon  the  prairie,  as  the  soil  is  generally  more 
rolling,  and  of  such  a  character  as  to  withstand  either  a  wet  or  dry  season 
better.  Much  valuable  timber  has  been  removed  from  her  groves,  since  the 
days  of  the  early  pioneers,  and  still  there  is  much  remaining.  In  different 
parts  may  be  seen  large  tracts  of  woodland,  from  which  the  underbrush  has 
been  removed,  well  set  in  blue  grass,  which  yields  excellent  pasturage.  The 
Chicago  Branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  enters  the  township  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  Section  3  and  passing  through  in  a  general  southwestern 
direction,  leaves  it  at  or  near  the  center  of  the  southern  boundary  of  Section 
21.  The  Grayville  &  Mattoon  Railroad  just  touches  the  northeast  corner  of 
the  township.  Paradise  contains  no  cities  or  towns,  and  but  two  small  villages. 
Paradise  and  Etna,  neither  of  which  is  incorporated.  Of  these,  we  will  speak 
more  specifically  at  the  close  of  the  township  history.  To  offer,  as  a  complete 
history  of  this  section  of  the  county,  only  what  may  be  truthfully  written  of 
the  township  since  reduced  to  her  present  limits,  would  be  an  act  of  great  injus- 
tice to  the  descendants  of  her  pioneers ;  and  yet,  the  early  history  and  settle- 
ment are  so  intimately  blended  with  that  of  the  surrounding  townships  that  to 
separate  them  with  any  degree  of  accuracy  will  be  a  task  attended  with  no  little 
labor  and  diflficulty.  Soon  after  the  formation  of  Coles  County,  the  territory 
comprising  it  was  divided  into  three  voting  precincts,  Charleston,  Woodbury 
and  Paradise.  Paradise,  at  that  time,  included  in  addition  to  its  present  limits- 
all  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Mattoon  and  Pleasant  Grove  Townships,  a 
portion  of  North  Okaw  and  a  large  scope  of  country  in  the  present  limits  of 
Cumberland  County.  Thus  we  find  that  the  name  Paradise,  as  applied  to  a 
portion  of  the  county,  was  almost  cotemporary  with  the  formation  of  the 
county  itself.  At  a  later  date,  we  find  it  became  necessary,  in  order  to  retain 
it,  to  submit  it  to  a  vote  of  the  citizens.  In  the  division  of  the  county  into 
townships.  Paradise  was  made  a  full  Congressional  township ;  but  a  few  years 
later,  when  Cumberland  County  was  erected,  she  was  shorn  of  her  two  southern 
tiers  of  sections  ;  this  gave  her  her  present  limits,  four  miles  north  and  south 
by  six  east  and  west.  When  the  question  of  naming  the  township  came  before 
the  people,  two  parties  appeared  in  the  field.  The  one,  led  by  H.  B.  Worley, 
proposed  the  name  Wabash,  while  the  other,  headed  by  Aaron  W.  Hart,  adhered 
to  the  ancient  landmark,  and  voted  for  Paradise.  Hart  and  his  friends  carried 
the  day.  It  is  said  by  some,  that  as  the  village  of  Etna  was  just  then  start- 
ing up,  and  Worley  was  largely  interested  in  her  welfare,  he  designed,  if 
the  name  Wabash  carried,  to  go  before  the  Commissioners,  and,  through   his 


498  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

personal  influence,  secure  a  change  from  Wabash  to  Etna.    A  decided  majority  in 
favor  of  Paradise  put  a  quietus  on  all  further  proceedings  in  the  matter  of  name. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

No  little  difficulty  has  been  experienced  in  the  attempt  made  to  determine 
when,  where  and  by  whom  the  first  settlement  was  made  in  the  township.  The 
statements  of  the  oldest  citizens  of  the  present  day  are  very  much  at  variance 
on  this  point.  The  claims  of  one  Daniel  Drake  seem  to  be  more  fully  established 
than  those  of  any  other,  and  perhaps  to  him  may  be  justly  accorded  the  honor 
of  building  the  first  cabin  and  making  the  first  improvement  in  what  is  now 
Paradise  Township.  Thomas  Hart,  son  of  Miles  H.  Hart,  still  resides  in  the 
village  of  Paradise,  and  from  him  we  have  gained  the  following  statement  of 
facts:  In  the  fall  of  1826,  the  Hart  families  came  from  Hardin  County,  Ky., 
to  Wayne  County,  111.,  with  a  view  to  settling  there.  Silas  Hart  had  settled  in 
Wayne  County  as  early  as  1822.  Disappointed  in  their  expectations,  the 
Harts  determined  to  prospect  the  country  further  north,  with  the  avowed  inten- 
tion of  returning  to  Kentucky  should  they  fail  in  their  attempts  to  find  a  desir- 
able location.  In  the  winter  of  1826-27,  Miles  H.,  Moses  and  Thomas  Hart, 
Jr.,  left  Wayne  County  and  came  north.  On  reaching  that  portion  of  the  Little 
Wabash  timber  now  included  in  Paradise  Township,  they  determined  to  locate. 
Moses  and  Thomas,  both  single  men,  remained,  and,  during  the  winter,  con- 
structed a  cabin,  near  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  W.  B.  Ferguson,  on 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Cunningham  farm.  Miles  H.  returned  to  his  family 
in  Wayne  County,  and,  in  March,  1827,  Uncle  Tommy  and  wife.  Miles  H.  and 
family,  came  and  occupied  the  cabin  erected  by  Moses  and  Thomas.  Soon  after 
coming,  they  found,  about  four  miles  west  of  them,  on  the  bank  of  the  Little 
Wabash,  about  one  mile  south  of  the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Paradise,  Daniel 
Drake,  from  Tennessee,  and  from  the  appearance  of  his  improvements,  Mr. 
Thomas  Hart  is  of  the  opinion  that  he  must  have  come  as  early  as  the  fall  of 
1825  or  the  spring  of  1826.  Settlements  were  made,  no  doubt,  at  an  earlier 
date  on  the  South  Kickapoo,  in  what  is  now  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  east  of 
the  Hart  settlement ;  but  the  evidence  is  pretty  conclusive  that  Drake  was  the 
first  man  to  make  an  improvement  in  Paradise  Township.  It  is  maintained  by 
some  that  one  Thomas  Wilmuth,  a  sort  of  second-rate  shoemaker,  had  built  and 
occupied  a  cabin  or  half-faced  camp  east  of  the  Hart  settlement,  and  prior  to 
their  coming,  in  March,  1827,  and  that  he  made  the  first  settlement  in  the  town- 
ship. His  claims,  however,  seem  not  to  be  so  well  authenticated  as  those  of 
Drake.  In  June,  1827,  Charles  Sawyer,  who  is  recorded  as  the  first  settler  of 
Mattoon  Township,  stopped  a  few  days  at  the  Hart  settlement,  and  then  moved 
north  and  west  to  his  place  of  settlement.  The  settlers  of  1827  were  Daniel 
Drake,  Uncle  Tommy  Hart  and  his  sons  Miles  H.,  Moses  and  Thomas.  There 
may,  indeed,  have  been  two  or  three  other  families,  but,  if  so,  their  names  have 
been  lost  or  are   incorporated  with  those  of  a  later  date.     In   February,  1828, 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  499 

Silas  and  Jonathan  Hart,  the  two  remaining  sons  of  Uncle  Tommy,  came  up 
from  Wayne  County,  and  settled  near  their  father.  During  the  year,  there  was 
quite  an  influx  of  population.  Among  the  number  dating  back  to  that  period, 
"we  find  the  names  of  Jefferson  Coleman,  Jacob  Slover,  Isaac  -Slover  and  his  son 
Jacob  Slover,  Jr.,  then  a  young  man,  Ichabod  Radley  and  his  sons  Nicholas, 
Samuel,  Hiram  and  Barney,  familiarly  known  as  Shoot,  Jacob  Bales  and  his 
sons  Jonathan,  Mace  and  Levi.  Most  of  these  were  men  of  families.  The 
Slovers,  Radleys  and  Coleman  were  from  Kentucky ;  the  Bales  families  came 
from  Tennessee.  These  all  settled  in  the  timber  east  of  the  Little  Wabash. 
In  the  fall  of  1829,  Dr.  John  Apperson  and  family,  George  M.  Hanson  and 
David  Hanson  came  in.  Dr.  Apperson  came  direct  from  Virginia,  while  the 
Hansons,  brothers-in-law,  had  come  from  the  south  part  of  the  State.  Apper- 
son purchased  a  small  cabin  from  John  Graham,  a  son  of  Rev.  James  Graham, 
one  of  the  early  pioneer  preachers,  whose  history  is  given  in  connection  with 
Mattoon  Township.  This  cabin  stood  in  the  timber  about  one  hundred  yards  east 
of  the  roadbed  of  the  I.  C.  R.  R.  He  paid  for  it  the  magnificent  sum  of  $21, 
an  amount  of  ready  cash  not  possessed  by  one  in  twenty  in  that  early  day.  Here 
he  lived  through  the  winter  of  1829  and  1830.  In  the  spring  of  1830,  he  moved 
his  cabin  to  the  edge  of  the  timber  and  broke  and  put  in  cultivation  thirty  acres 
of  prairie.  George  M.  Hanson  located  the  farm  now  owned  by  John  E.  Trem- 
ble, and  David  Hanson  the  farm  on  which  Dr.  Apperson  passed  nearly  fifty 
years  of  his  life.  And  here  an  incident  of  pioneer  life  occurred  which  is  well 
worth  preserving.  David  Hanson,  desiring  to  move  to  the  National  Road, 
which  was  then  in  process  of  construction,  offered  to  sell  his  improvements  to 
Dr.  Apperson.  The  Doctor  made  the  purchase,  with  the  view  of  entering  both 
Hanson's  and  his  own  improvements,  so  soon  as  the  land  should  come  into  market. 
Before  this  was  done,  however,  a  man  of  the  name  of  Ike  Walker,  encouraged 
by  Sylvester  Dunbar,  his  brother-in-law,  having  learned  of  Dr.  Apperson's 
purchase,  and  that  his  own  improvement  was  not  yet  entered,  posted  off  to  Van- 
dalia,  the  seat  of  government,  and,  taking  the  necessary  steps,  "  entered  him 
out."  Soon  the  fact  became  noised  abroad,  and,  in  their  indignation,  the  set- 
tlers, a  few  nights  afterward,  came  with  their  teams,  loaded  up  the  Doctor's 
goods,  tore  down  and  loaded  up  the  cabin,  with  every  other  vestige  of  improve- 
ment, and  moved  all  to  his  late  purchase.  They  even  went  so  far  as  to  kill  a 
dog  and  throw  its  body  into  the  well,  with  other  rubbish.  Having  severed  its 
head  from  the  body,  they  placed  it  upon  a  pole  and  set  it  up  in  front  of  Dunbar's 
cabin,  where  Walker  was  stopping.  This  simple  device  was  full  of  mean- 
ing, and,  as  it  was  a  work  in  which  the  very  best  men  of  the  entire  neighbor- 
hood had  played  a  leading  part.  Walker  felt  that,  for  the  sharp  game  he  had 
played,  he  had  been  ostracized.  He  made  no  improvement,  and  soon  left  the 
country.     Dunbar  tarried  a  few  years  later,  and  then  also  left. 

The  year  1830  brought  into  the  settlement  a  number  of  families.     From 
Kentucky,  came  William  Bryant,  James  T.  Cunningham  and  his  mother-in- 


500  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

law,  Mrs.  Yocum,  with  her  sons  Ambrose  and  Thornton,  and  her  daughters 
Fanny  and  Mary  Jane.  Her  other  daughters,  Catharine,  wife  of  Miles  H. 
Hart,  and  Eliza,  wife  of  Jeiferson  Coleman,  had  preceded  her.  While  these 
settlements  were  being  made  along  the  eastern  edge  of  the  Wabash  timber, 
and  in  the  vicinity  of  what  is  now  called  Dry  Grove,  we  find  settlements  multi- 
plying ;  also  on  the  west  of  Wabash  River.  As  early  as  1828,  a  man  of  the 
name  of  Joseph  Smart  made  an  improvement  near  the  present  village  of  Para- 
dise. Whence  he  came,  or  what  became  of  him,  no  one  seems  to  know. 
Farther  west,  we  find  as  early  settlers,  the  Currys,  Moores,  Mclntoshes,  Alex- 
anders, Crosses,  Brinegars,  Champions  and  others.  Some  of  these  came  as 
early  as  1828  or  1829,  and  all  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  country. 
A  very  large  percentage  of  these  early  pioneers  were  from  Kentucky.  A  few, 
however,  came  from  Virginia,  some  from  Tennessee,  and  still  others  from  North 
Carolina.  About  the  years  1831  and  1832,  the  Gannaways,  Norrises  and 
Nabbs  put  in  their  appearance.  From  this  date  forward,  additions  were  con- 
stantly made  to  the  various  settlements,  and  to  attempt  to  give  the  exact  date, 
the  names  of  parties,  or  the  order  in  which  they  came,  would  be  a  work  of 
supererogation. 

Of  the  early  settlements,  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  remark  that  all  were 
made  either  in,  or  very  near,  the  timber.  The  monotony  of  the  vast  stretches 
of  prairie  on  either  hand  were  unbroken  by  the  appearance  of  a  single  human 
habitation.  Indeed,  the  early  settlers  never  expected  to  see  these  broad  and 
fertile  plains  reclaimed  from  their  native  wildness  and  reduced  to  rich  product- 
ive farms.  But,  in  a  few  short  years,  the  tide  of  emigi'ation  swept  by,  and  far 
away  from  timber  on  the  open  prairie,  where  once  it  was  thought  impossible 
that  man  should  abide  and  gain  a  sustenance,  the  humble  cabin  was  erected, 
the  tough  and  matted  sod  was  overturned  and  the  golden  corn  rustled  .and 
waved  in  the  autumnal  breezes. 

The  people  of  to-day  living  in  comfortable  homes,  equipped  with  the  many 
improvements  and  inventions  of  modern  times  and  beautified  and  adorned  by 
art,  have  but  faint  conceptions  of  the  difficulties  and  privations  endured  by  the 
early  settlers  of  this  Western  country.  Most  of  them  were  men  of  large  fam- 
ilies, and  poor  in  this  world's  goods ;  but  they  were  men  of  stout  hearts  and 
willing  hands,  and,  leaving  the  older-settled  portions,  came  here  in  the  fond 
hope  of  bettering  their  condition.  The  first  care  of  the  early  settler,  on  arriv- 
ing at  the  end  of  his  wearisome  journey,  was  to  provide  for  himself  and  family 
a  suitable  shelter  from  the  bleak  winds  and  pelting  storms.  Their  homes,  as  a 
a  matter  of  course,  were  of  rude  construction,  but,  by  certain  appliances  well 
known  to  the  pioneer,  they  were  made  very  comfortable,  and  to-day  many  an 
old  pioneer  recounts  as  among  the  happiest  days  of  his  life  those  spent  beneath 
the  clapboard  roof  of  his  little  old  log-cabin.  The  homes  of  the  early  settlers 
presented  to  the  eye  much  the  same  appearance  both  internally  and  externally ; 
their  chief  difference  consisted  in  size,  most  of  them  being  single,  while  a  few 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  501 

were  built  double.  As  the  manner  of  constructing  them  has  been  accurately 
portrayed  in  other  portions  of  this  work,  we  deem  it  unnecessary  to  particularize. 
A  house  provided,  next  came  the  necessity  of  laying  in  supplies  for  man  and 
beast.  Game  of  all  kinds  abound  on  every  hand.  Deer,  turkeys,  rabbits, 
squirrels,  quails  and  such  like,  were  here  in  plenteous  profusion.  The  faithful 
dog  and  the  unerring  rifle  seldom  fail  to  bring  the  fat  buck  and  plump,  rich 
turkey  to  the  cabin-door.  Meat  is  easily  supplied,  but  bread,  the  mainstay  of 
life,  is  not  so  readily  obtained.  Corn  is  far  away  in  the  older  settlements  and 
must  be  brought  by  that  fast  express  of  early  times,  the  ox-team.  And  when  at  hand, 
often  the  settler  must  make  a  pilgrimage  of  twenty-five  to  thirty  miles  to  mill 
and  wait  a  day  and  night  for  his  "turn."  And,  gentle  reader,  should  you 
wonder  why  the  old  pioneer  speaks  so  often  of  the  "johnny-cake"  and  hoe-cake, 
to  the  utter  disregard  of  the  snowy,  light  bread  and  flaky  biscuit  which  you  so 
much  enjoy,  let  me  remind  you  that  one  biscuit  to  each  member  of  the  family 
on  Sunday  morning  of  each  week,  or,  perchance,  once  a  month,  was  a  luxury 
that  few  families  enjoyed.  Around  the  rude  table,  often  consisting  of  a  goods- 
box  turned  on  its  side,  loaded  with  venison  or  fat  turkey,  with  his  johnny-cake, 
smoking-hot  from  the  board,  and  that  added  luxury,  wild  honey,  obtained  from 
the  bee-trees  near  his  cabin,  the  pioneer,  with  his  family,  sat  down  and  fared 
sumptuously  every  day.  Generally  speaking,  the  pioneers  were  men  of  simple 
habits,  noted  for  their  hospitality.  They  knew  how  to  receive  and  bestow  a  favor. 
In  this  age  of  cultivation  and  refinement,  they  would,  doubtless,  be  regarded  by 
many  as  rude  and  uncouth ;  but  this  was  not  the  fact.  The  latch-string  of 
their  cabin-doors  hung  out  by  day,  and  this  was  a  standing  invitation  to  enter 
and  share  their  comforts.  Often  a  simple  act  of  kindness  has  resulted  in  the 
establishment  of  a  friendship  between  those  who  were  strangers  at  the  time 
which  has  remained  unbroken  throughout  remaining  life.  Such  an  instance 
occurred  in  Paradise  Township  in  an  early  day.  Soon  after  the  coming  of  Dr. 
Apperson,  Silas  Hart,  in  passing  near  his  cabin,  concluded  to  call  and  form  the 
acquaintance  of  the  new-comers.  Riding  up  to  the  cabin,  he  discovered  Mrs. 
Apperson  weeping  and  in  great  distress.  Exchanging  the  usual  salutations  with 
the  Doctor,  Hart  inquired,  "  How  are  you  prospering,  and  how  do  you  like  your 
new  home?"  The  Doctor  replied  that  he  was  well  pleased,  but  that  his  wife 
was  fearful  that  starvation  would  overtake  them,  as  their  only  supply  was  a 
small  amount  of  meal.  Without  a  word  of  encouragement  or  sympathy.  Hart 
turned  about  his  horse  and  rode  away.  In  speaking  of  this  in  after  years,  Dr. 
Apperson  often  remarked  that,  at  that  time,  he  looked  upon  Hart  as  a  man  in 
whose  soul  there  was  no  sympathy.  Hart  had  not  been  long  gone  when  the 
clear,  ringing  report  of  his  trusty  rifle  resounded  through  the  woods.  He  had 
sighted  a  fine,  fat  doe,  and  the  game  was  his.  Hastily  removing  the  entrails, 
he  placed  the  deer  on  his  horse,  in  front  of  his  saddle,  and,  in  half  an  hour  from 
the  time  of  his  departure,  he  again  rode  up  to  the  Doctor's  cabin,  and,  tumbling 
oflf  his  load,  quietly  rode  away,  leaving  the  Doctor  in  full  possession.     From 


502  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

this  simple  act,  there  grew  up  a  firm  friendship  between  these  two  men  which 
remained  unbroken  for  almost  half  a  century.  Dr.  Apperson  was  Hart's 
family  physician  as  long  as  he  lived,  and  for  all  his  services  he  would  never 
receive  one  cent  of  compensation. 

But  from  this  digression,  we  must  hasten  back  to  the  main  thread  of  our 
history.  The  early  settlers  of  Paradise  Township  were  highly  favored  in  many 
respects,  above  others  who  settled  in  other  parts  of  this  and  adjacent  counties. 
About  the  year  1830  or  1831,  Jacob  Slover,  who  had  settled  in  1828,  opened  a 
store  in  one  department  of  his  double  log  cabin,  then  standing  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Moffett  farm.  This  was  the  first  store  opened  in  Paradise  Town- 
ship, and,  indeed,  in  all  this  section  of  country.  Here  the  settlers  came  for 
miles  around  to  barter  their  products  for  such  wares  and  merchandise  as  they 
most  needed.  Wild  honey  was  abundant  in  those  days,  and  was  taken  in 
exchange  for  goods  at  the  rate  of  eleven  pounds  to  the  gallon.  In  speaking  of 
this  honey,  Mrs.  Dr.  Apperson,  who  is  still  living,  says  it  had  a  much  better 
flavor  than  any  produced  at  the  present  day,  and  that,  in  appearance,  it  was  so 
pure  and  white  that  strangers  before  whom  it  was  placed  often  mistook  it  for 
lard.  Some  time  after  the  opening  of  the  store,  Isaac  Slover,  a  brother  to  the 
merchant,  built  a  horse-mill  in  the  immediate  neighborhood.  In  point  of  speed, 
this  was  a  great  improvement  on  the  grater  and  hominy-mortar.  In  a  few  years, 
these  became  obsolete,  and  were  only  preserved  as  relics  of  the  past.  Though 
the  horse-mill,  as  has  been  said,  was  a  wonderful  impi'ovement  on  the  former 
methods  of  obtaining  meal,  yet  it  by  no  means  equaled  the  water  or  steam 
mills  of  to-day.  To  grind  out  a  grist  of  two  bushels  required  a  full  day.  Para- 
dise was  blessed  with  a  steam-mill  as  early  as  1838;  but  as  its  history  belongs 
more  properly  to  the  history  of  Paradise  village,  we  will  defer  writing  it  till  the 
village  history  is  reached. 

The  spiritual  and  intellectual  culture  of  themselves  and  their  children  was 
by  no  means  neglected.  Many  of  them  were  men  of  deep  religious  con- 
victions, and  not  a  few  were  acceptable  proclaimers  of  the  Gospel  of 
Peace.  Among  the  early  preachers  may  be  mentioned  the  names  of  Revs. 
James  Graham,  George  M.  Hanson,  Daniel  Bryant,  Miles  H.  Hart,  Hiram 
Tremble,  Dr.  John  Apperson,  Clemence  Goar  and  others,  who  are  worthy  of 
being  here  recorded,  but  whose  names  have  passed  from  memory.  Meetings 
were  held  in  an  early  day  in  the  cabins  of  Miles  Hart,  Dr.  Apperson,  John 
Sawyer  and  others,  and  when  they  met,  the  men  clad  in  their  homespun  and 
the  mothers  and  daughters  in  their  linsey-woolsey,  it  was  not  for  the  young 
sisters  to  discuss  and  criticise  the  latest  fashions,  or  for  the  boys  to  ogle  the 
o^irls,  but  to  engage  in  solemn  devotion  to  the  Giver  of  all  good.  Simplicity 
of  manners  was  characterized  by  simplicity  of  dress,  which,  though  plain,  was 
always  neat.  After  a  week  of  hard,  laborious  toil,  it  was  esteemed  a  blessed 
privilege  to  be  permitted  to  ride  five  or  six  miles,  on  horse-back,  to  engage  in 
hymning  songs  of  praise  to  God  and  to  hear  the  sweet  words  of  Gospel  truth,  as  they 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  503 

were  read  and  expounded  by  some  revered  brother.  These  were  not  the  days 
of  cushioned  pews,  in  which  the  audience  lazily  dreamt  the  hour  away,  but, 
gathered  beneath  the  roof  of  the  humble  cabin,  seated  on  backless  benches,  of 
rude  construction,  men,  women  and  children  gave  earnest  attention  to  the 
preached  Word.  The  impressions  made  by  those  early  and  earnest  workmen 
in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  were  lasting,  and  their  influence  for  good  has  been  felt 
through  the  ongoing  years.  Most  of  the  early  ministers  in  this  section  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  the  many  flourishing  socie- 
ties of  that  denomination  to-day  throughout  this  section  of  country  bear  testi- 
mony to  their  early  labors.  The  first  church  built  in  Paradise  was  in  Dry 
Grove;  the  exact  date  of  building  cannot  be  ascertained.  In  1860,  the  pres- 
ent church,  a  neat,  substantial  frame,  was  erected.  Two  others  are  in  the 
township,  one  in  Paradise  village  and  the  other  in  Etna. 

The  schoolmaster  put  in  his  appearance  in  an  early  day,  and,  as  schools 
were  supported  by  individual  subscriptions,  the  first  schools  were  taught  in  the 
most  populous  neighborhoods.  The  first  school  in  the  township  was  kept  by  a 
Mr.  Drake,  and  some  of  his  pupils,  still  living,  state  that  he  was  by  no  means 
a  successful  teacher.  The  second  school  was  kept  by  a  Mr.  Kellar,  near  the 
residence  of  Miles  H.  Hart.  To  those  already  given  may  be  added  the  names 
of  William  Moifett,  David  Campbell  and  Ebenezer  Alexander.  To-day,  the 
township  is  provided  with  comfortable  schoolhouses  in  each  district,  and  the 
children  enjoy  the  benefits  accruing  from  our  well-regulated  school  system. 

Going  back  a  little  in  point  of  time,  we  find  the  winters  of  1830,  1831  and 
1832  were  very  cold.  The  last  of  November,  1830,  there  came  a  fall  of  snow 
of  thirty-two  inches  in  depth,  which  remained  until  March.  About  the  middle 
of  February,  it  rained  part  of  two  days,  reducing  the  snow  to  a  slush,  and  sud- 
denly turning  cold,  froze  the  water  and  soft  snow  into  ice.  The  whole  face  of 
the  country  was  one  continuous  sheet  of  ice.  Great  difficulty  was  experienced 
in  caring  for  stock,  as  it  was  obliged  to  be  cared  for  just  where  the  freeze 
caught  it.  It  was  a  complete  blockade,  and  the  only  way  they  had  of  provid- 
ing fuel  was  for  the  men  to  draw  it  from  the  timber  on  hand  sleds,  as  horses 
and  oxen  could  not  be  moved  about  over  the  smooth  surface.  Notwithstanding 
the  difficulties  with  which  they  were  environed,  they  often  had  days  of  real 
enjoyment.  Three  or  four  neighbors,  accompanied  by  their  trusty  rifles  and 
all  the  dogs  they  could  muster,  would  often  engage  in  what  was  called  the 
"deer  drive."  As  the  fleet-footed  deer  could  not  stand  on  the  smooth,  glassy 
surface,  and  as  the  dog  could  make  good  headway,  few  that  were  started  up 
succeeded  in  making  good  their  escape.  It  was  not  an  unusual  thing  to  capt- 
ure some  half  dozen  in  a  single  day ;  and  so,  however  meager  might  be  the 
supply  of  breadstuff",  there  was  no  lack  of  fat,  juicy  venison. 

When,  in  1832  and  1833,  the  whole  Western  frontier  was  thrown  into 
wild  commotion  by  the  re-appearance  of  Black  Hawk  and  his  warriors,  although 
the  call  for  troops  to  repel  the  invaders  did  not  include  the  young  county  of 


504  .  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

Coles,  yet  there  were  brave  hearts  in  Paradise  Township  that  flew  to  the  rescue 
of  their  imperiled  countrymen.  The  following-named  persons  went  from  this 
township:  Thomas  Ross  (Captain),  John  Shadwell,  Thomas  Studer,  John 
Young,  Moses  Hart,  Jonathan  Hart,  John  C.  Jones,  David  Hanson,  Trusse 
Hanson  and  Thomas  Hayes.  There  were  others,  doubtless,  whose  names  have 
passed  from  memory.  Mrs.  Dr.  Apperson  has  in  her  possession  the  snuflf-box 
of  the  renowned  warrior,  taken  from  his  wallet  by  her  brother,  David  Hanson, 
and  by  him  presented  to  Dr.  Apperson,  on  his  return  from  the  war.  The 
meteoric  display  of  1833,  and  the  sudden  freeze  of  1836,  have  been  treated  at 
such  length  in  other  portions  of  this  work,  that  we  feel  justified  in  passing 
them  by  without  comment. 

As  early  as  1830,  George  M.  Hanson  circulated  a  petition  for  and 
obtained  from  the  Government  the  establishment  of  a  post  office.  Mr.  Hanson 
was  the  first  Postmaster,  and  the  office  was  first  kept  at  his  house  on  the  farm 
where  J.  E.  Tremble  now  resides,  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  township.  It 
was  called  Paradise  Post  Office,  and  was  afterward  removed  to  Slover's  store, 
thence  to  Richmond,  in  Mattoon  Township,  and  finally  to  Paradise  Village, 
where  it  has  since  remained.  This  was  the  first  post  office  established  in  what 
is  known  as  the  Wabash  Point  settlement,  and  differs  in  some  points  of  its 
history  as  here  recorded,  from  the  account  given  in  the  history  of  Mattoon 
Township,  and  is,  perhaps,  the  more  accurate  statement  of  the  two. 

The  fii'st  burial  that  occurred  in  the  township  was  that  of  James  Nash,  who 
died  at  his  home  in  Mattoon  Township,  December  24,  1829,  and  was  buried  on 
Christmas  Day,  just  across  the  line  in  Paradise  Township,  a  short  distance  south 
of  where  Capp's  mill  now  stands.  The  second  was  that  of  Grandma  Bush,  a 
very  elderly  lady,  whose  grave  was  the  first  opened  in  Dry  Grove  Cemetery. 

At  the  first  election  held  in  the  county  for  county  officers.  Paradise  fur- 
nished her  full  quota  of  candidates  and  secured  the  election  of  a  large  number 
of  them.  George  M.  Hanson  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Board  of  County 
Commissioners,  Ambrose  Yocum  was  elected  first  Sheriff,  Ichabod  Radley,  first 
Coroner,  and  Nathan  Ellington  was  appointed  first  County  Clerk.  This  office 
Mr.  Ellington  held  afterward  by  successive  re-elections,  till  1853  or  1854, 
when  he  lost  his  life  by  violence  at  the  hands  of  Dolph  Munroe,  his  son-in-law. 
The  following  account  is  given  of  Mr.  Yocum 's  election  as  Sheriff.  The  elec- 
tion was  held  at  the  residence  of  a  Mr.  Ashmore,  in  Kickapoo  Point.  A  can- 
didate from  the  Kickapoo  settlement  was  making  the  race  for  Sheriff.  Early 
in  the  day,  Ashmore  made  the  remark  that  his  fire  was  free  to  all  who  would 
vote  for  his  candidate.  This  speech  at  once  aroused  opposition.  Some  of  the 
Harts  and  others  built  a  log  heap,  declared  that  their  fire  was  free  to  all,  and 
immediately  put  in  nomination  for  Sheriff,  Ambrose  Yocum.  Then  the  con- 
test began  in  earnest,  and  at  the  final  summing-up  of  the  votes  it  was  ascer- 
tained, to  the  great  satisfaction  of  his  friends  and  to  the  utter  discomfort  and 
chagrin  of  the   Kickapooites,  that   Yocum   had  been  elected   by   a  handsome 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  505 

majority.  Among  others  of  her  citizens,  who,  at  an  early  date,  were  honored 
with  political  preferment,  were  James  T.  Cunningham  and  George  M.  Hanson. 
Cunningham  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  eight  years  in  succession. 
Hanson  was  chosen  to  the  Legislature  in  1842,  and  two  years  later — 1844 — 
was  sent  to  the  State  Senate.  In  1846,*  he  was  a  candidate  for.  Congress,  but 
was  defeated  by  Hon.  T.  R.  Young,  at  present  a  resident  of  Mattoon.  George 
M.  Hanson  figures  so  largely  in  the  early  history  of  Coles  County,  and  his  mem- 
ory is  so  highly  revered  by  the  citizens  of  this  township  that  there  is  seem- 
ingly a  demand  for  more  than  a  passing  notice  of  his  acts.  The  early  settlers 
of  Kickapoo,  Muddy  and  Wabash  Points,  were  included  in  the  limits  of  Clark 
County,  and  as  the  county  seat  at  Darwin  was  at  a  distance  of  fifty  miles  from 
the  northwest  corner  of  the  county,  they  experienced  no  little  difficulty  in 
attending  to  legal  proceedings.  In  1829,  soon  after  coming,  Hanson  drafted 
and  circulated  a  petition  for  the  erection  of  a  new  county,  which  should  con- 
tain within  its  limits  the  settlements  of  the  above-named  places.  He  was  made 
bearer  of  the  petition  to  the  seat  of  Government,  then  at  Vandalia.  Through 
his  own  personal  influence,  seconded  by  that  of  Col.  William  B.  Archer,  then 
a  member  of  the  Legislature  as  Senator  from  Clark  County,  he  succeeded  in 
getting  the  bill  passed,  and  in  less  than  two  weeks  returned  home  with  a 
certified  copy  of  the  bill  in  his  pocket. 

As  soon  as  the  Governor  approved  the  bill,  Mr.  Hanson  went  to  the  land 
office  and  entered  the  first  tract  of  land  ever  purchased  in  Coles  County.  He 
was  the  intimate  associate  of  Dr.  John  Apperson,  Elisha  Linder,  Eben  Noyes, 
Sr.,  and  others  of  the  leading  settlers  ;  and  being,  perhaps,  the  ablest  and  most 
cultivated  man  in  all  this  section,  became  the  leader  in  the  intellectual  arena  of 
those  early  days.  Soon  after  the  establishment  of  the  Charleston  Courier,  he 
became  a  valued  contributor  to  its  columns,  and  his  suggestions  were  almost 
universally  accepted  by  the  early  settlers.  Whatever  he  believed  would  advance 
the  interests  of  his  county  and  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  her  citizens,  met 
his  earnest  encouragement.  The  grand  wolf-hunt  which  he  organized  in  an 
early  day  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  Hs  proposed  that  the  settlers  on  all  sides 
should  assemble  in  the  edge  of  the  timber,  and,  spreading  out,  move  over  the 
prairie  in  which  Mattoon  now  stands,  toward  Dodge  (now  Herkimer's)  Grove, 
and  that  each  should  so  time  his  advance  as  to  reach  the  grove  precisely  at  12 
on  the  day  appointed.  The  settlers  from  all  parts  came,  and  the  hunt  was 
instituted.  The  wolves,  driven  from  their  secret  hiding-places,  would  dart  away 
to  the  opposite  side  of  the  prairie  only  to  find  a  cordon  of  men  and  dogs  drawn 
completely  around  them,  and  thus  hemmed  in,  with  the  boundaries  continually 
contracting,  a  large  drove  was  corraled  in  the  grove,  where  expert  marksmen 
picked  them  off  as  they  were  driven  out  by  the  dogs.  That  wolf-hunt  was 
among  the  memorable  events  of  those  early  days,  and  is  still  referred  to  with 
pleasure  by  those  who  participated  in  its  fun  and  frolic.  Hanson  was  a  minister 
in  the  ranks  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and,  surpassing  most  of  his  brother  minis- 


506  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

ters  in  power  and  vigor  of  thought,  was  justly  regarded  as  a  leader.     In  1849^ 
he  emigrated  to  California.     He  died  in  that  State  in  the  latter  part  of  1878. 

Dr.  John  Apperson  was  the  first  physician  in  all  this  section  of  country. 
He  was  born  in  Culpeper  County,  Va.,  January  8,  1794,  and  died  at  his  home 
in  Paradise  Township,  June  5,  1877.  He  came  here,  as  has  been  elsewhere 
stated,  in  the  autumn  of  1829.  Here  he  spent  over  forty  years,  engaged  in 
the  duties  of  his  profession.  His  practice  was  large,  and  often  he  was  called  to 
attend  the  sick  at  a  distance  of  twenty-five  miles  from  his  home.  He  was  highly 
esteemed  as  a  practitioner,  and  even  after  he  had  repeatedly  declared  his  inten- 
tion to  retire  from  active  life,  and  his  unfitness  through  age  and  infirmity  to 
longer  serve  his  friends  and  neighbors,  yet  the  old  settler,  when  afflicted  with 
disease,  would  suffer  no  one  to  prescribe  for  his  ailments  save  the  good  old 
Doctor.  As  a  novel  way  of  collecting  a  bill,  the  following  may  not  be  out  of 
place  :  On  a  certain  occasion,  when  the  Doctor  was  called  to  visit  a  patient 
on  the  east  side  of  the  North  Okaw,  he  had  thought  to  cross  the  stream  and 
collect  some  bills.  The  stream  was  bank-full  and  past  fording,  and,  unfort- 
unately, no  canoe  was  at  hand.  The  Doctor  being  sadly  in  need  of  a  little 
money,  and  seeing  one  of  his  patrons  across  the  stream,  politely  asked  him  for 
his  bill.  The  man,  having  procured  a  suitable  stick,  proceeded  to  cut  a  hole  in 
one  end  with  his  knife ;  and  having  placed  some  bank-bills  in  the  cavity  thus 
formed,  fastened  up  the  opening  with  a  wooden  plug,  proceeded  down  the  stream 
some  distance  to  a  narrow  place  and  threw  stick,  money  and  all  across  to  the 
Doctor. 

After  the  adoption  of  township  organization,  in  1860,  the  following  officers 
were  chosen  in  Paradise  Township :  John  Hendrix,  Henry  Burgher  and 
A.  Y.  Hart,  Jr.,  Commissioners  of  Highways  ;  Adam  W.  Hart,  Supervisor ; 
James  H.  Wilson,  Collector ;  R.  B.  Tate,  Assessor ;  John  Campbell,  Town 
Clerk ;  J.  W.  P.  Deckard  and  Blaine  Matthews,  Justices. 

By  way  of  closing  our  township  history,  we  would  add  that  the  mineral 
wealth  of  Paradise  Township  lies  to-day  wholly  unexplored.  Doubtless  rich 
deposits  of  coal  are  underlying  much  of  her  territory.  Veins,  varying  in 
thickness  from  four  to  seven  feet,  have  been  passed  through  in  Mattoon  Town- 
ship, just  north  of  her,  but  at  such  a  great  depth  below  the  surface  as  to  render 
their  successful  working  impracticable,  especially  so  since  such  an  abundance 
yet  exists  in  different  parts  of  the  State  much  nearer  the  surface  and  far  more 
easily  accessible.  To  reach  it  here  would  require  the  sinking  of  a  shaft  to  a 
depth  of  from  four  hundred  and  fifty  to  five  hundred  feet.  A  number  of  rich 
specimens  of  copper  ore  have  been  picked  up  on  Section  4  of  this  township. 
One  in  the  possession  of  J.  W.  Doran,  of  Mattoon,  would  yield  from  75  to  80 
per  cent  of  pure  metal.  Future  explorations  and  developments  may  reveal  the 
fact  that  a  rich  deposit  of  ore  exists  there.  We  shall  now  pay  our  respects  to 
the  villages  of  Paradise  and  Etna,  and,  with  their  history,  conclude  this  part 
of  the  work. 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUUTY.  507 


PARADISE    VILLAGE. 


On  the  principle  that  age  should  be  venerated,  we  will  proceed  to  trace  the 
history  of  Paradise  first ;  a  history  extending  through  a  period  of  forty  odd 
years,  and  which  must  be  comprised  in  the  short  space  of  a  page  or  two.  This 
village,  situated  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township,  and  often  facetiously 
referred  to  by  the  citizens  of  to-day  as  "  Paradise  Lost,"  was  surveyed  and 
platted  by  Joseph  Fowler  for  Miles  W.  Hart  and  Clemme  Goar,  in  the  spring 
of  1837.  In  order  to  procure  the  erection  of  a  steam-mill  at  this  point  on  the 
Little  Wabash,  Thomas  Brinegar  and  David  Moore  had  made  to  Hart  and  Goar 
a  donation  of  forty  acres  of  land,  and  on  a  portion  of  this,  adjacent  to  the  mill- 
site,  the  town  plot  was  laid.  James  T.  Cunningham  was  at  that  time  a  member 
of  the  Legislature  at  Vandalia,  and  to  him  was  accorded  the  honor  of  naming 
the  place.  He  called  it  Paradise,  and  it  was  so  recorded.  Soon  after  the  lay- 
ing-out of  the  village,  a  public  sale  of  lots  occurred,  and  some  $500  or  $600 
worth  were  disposed  of.  In  the  fall  of  1836,  Hart  came  from  Kentucky  on  a 
visit  to  friends  and  relatives  living  in  Wabash  Point,  and  on  his  way  called  to 
see  Mr.  Goar,  his  brother-in-law,  who  was  then  living  in  Indiana.  While  here, 
he  perfected  the  arrangements  for  building  a  mill  and  starting  a  town.  He 
afterward  induced  Goar  to  take  an  interest  with  him.  He  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky, and,  in  the  winter  of  1836,  came  back  with  his  family.  Mr.  Goar,  with 
his  family,  came  early  in  the  spring  of  1837.  The  first  citizen  of  the  place 
was  Pleasant  Hart,  who  built  his  residence  and  occupied  it  during  the  winter  of 
1836.  In  the  spring  of  1837,  Hart  and  Goar  each  constructed  a  mud  house, 
and  the  same  spring  began  the  erection  of  their  mill.  This  was  the  first  steam- 
mill  built  in  all  this  section.  During  the  summer,  they  raised  the  frame, 
covered  it  in  and  arranged  for  running  one  set  of  corn  buhrs  and  a  saw.  It 
had  been  in  operation  but  a  short  time  when  it  caught  fire  and  burned 
down.  The  loss  was  total,  there  being  no  insurance  either  upon  the  building 
or  machinery.  Having  received  liberal  donations  from  the  citizens  in  aid  of 
the  loss  sustained,  in  1839,  they  again  built  upon  the  same  site,  at  a  cost  of  not 
less  than  $5,000.  This  mill  was  operated  some  eight  or  ten  years.  Not  long 
after  the  completion  of  the  second  mill.  Hart  sold  his  interest  to  his  brother, 
Aaron  Hart,  and  at  the  end  of  six  months  he  disposed  of  his  interest  to 
Mr.  Goar.  In  1845,  Goar  sold  out  to  George  M.  Hanson,  who  operated  it 
about  one  year  and  then  sold  to  Bird  Munroe.  Munroe  continued  the  work 
one  year  longer  and  then  moved  the  machinery  up  to  Charleston.  Thus  Para- 
dise lost  h^  greatest  and  best  improvement.  Miles  W.  Hart  brought  and  sold 
the  first  goods  in  the  village.  He  is  not,  however,  regarded  as  the  first  mer- 
chant, as  he  simply  brought  what  he  did  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  hands 
while  engaged  in  constructing  the  mill.  Bird  Munroe  opened  out  the  first  store 
about  the  year  1842  or  1843.  Soon  after,  John  Cunningham  moved  his  stock 
down  from  Richmond  in  Mattoon  Township.     Others,  of  smaller  pretensions. 


508  HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 

from  time  to  time  essayed  to  play  the  merchant.  Sam  PuUen  started  a  tan- 
yard  about  the  time  Paradise  was  laid  out,  and  a  Mr.  Gear  opened  a  blacksmith 
shop.  Miles  W.  Hart  put  up  the  first  storehouse  and  was,  perhaps,  the  first 
Postmaster.  A  brick  church  was  erected  by  the  Methodist  society  in  1853  or 
1854.  This  has  since  been  removed  and  rebuilt  on  the  hill  just  west  of  the 
village  and  is  called  Mount  Zion  Church.  The  new  building  was  erected  in 
1869,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500,  and  has  a  capacity  for  seating  300  persons.  Before 
the  building  of  the  church,  public  worship  was  held  at  the  house  of  Uncle 
Clemme  Goar.  Schools  may  have  been,  and  probably  were,  kept  in  the  village 
at  different  times,  but  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn  no  building  was  ever 
erected  for  that  special  purpose.  The  post  office,  as  has  been  said,  was  brought 
from  Richmond  to  Paradise,  in  an  early  day,  and  here  it  has  since  remained. 
A.  Y.  Hart,  Sr.,  is  the  present  Postmaster.  The  mail  is  carried  twice  per  week, 
on  horse-back  from  Etna  to  Paradise.  Wabash  Lodge,  No.  179,  A.,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  was  organized  here  under  dispensation  from  the  Grand  Lodge  in  1855,  but 
as  it  has  since  been  removed  to  Etna,  its  history  will  be  given  in  that  con- 
nection. When,  in  1854,  the  I.  C.  R.  R.  was  finally  located  about  one  mile 
and  a  half  east  of  Paradise,  her  star  of  destiny  began  rapidly  to  decline.  Mat- 
toon  sprang  into  existence  at  the  crossing ;  a  station,  a  few  years  later,  was 
established  at  Etna.  Trade  flowed  into  other  channels ;  soon  her  merchants 
deserted  her  for  fields  promising  a  more  abundant  harvest,  and  she  was  left 
alone  to  weep  over  blighted  prospects  and  buried  hopes.  Once  she  was  the 
pride  and  joy  of  the  surrounding  country,  now  her  name  is  often  spoken  with  a 
jeer.  Yet,  in  the  midst  of  her  distresses,  she  can  truthfully  say  to  the  proud  city 
of  Mattoon,  with  her  boasted  6,000  inhabitants,  "long  before  thou  wast,  / 
existed."  At  one  time  Paradise  counted  her  citizens  by  the  hundred;  had  four 
good  stores,  shops  of  difierent  kinds  and  was  a  place  in  which  much  business 
was  transacted.  Now  her  citizenship  does  not  exceed  fifty;  she  has  a  very 
small  grocery  store  operated  by  William  Morrison  &  Son,  and  one  blacksmith 
and  wagon  repair  shop  owned  by  Hiram  Surber.  In  her  case,  at  least,  there 
seems  to  be  a  clear  demonstration  of  the  truthfulness  of  that  seemingly  para- 
doxical expression,  that  to  kill  a  thing  effectually,  it  is  sometimes  only  neces- 
sary to  miss  it.  Had  the  railroad  passed  through  Paradise  village,  she  had  still 
been  living;  but  passing  by  as  it  did,  it  effectually  destroyed  her. 

ETNA. 

A  small  village  on  the  I.  C.  R.  R.,  seven  miles  southwest  of  Mattoon,  was  sur- 
veyed and  platted  by  James  Richards,  County  Surveyor,  on  land  belonging  to 
Daniel  R.  Bland  and  Richard  Sayer,  in  March,  1860.  Harry  B.  Worley  and 
Robert  S.  Mills  secured  each  a  one-fourth  interest  by  purchase,  and,  soon  after, 
E.  B.  McClure  (now  General  Superintendent  of  the  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R.),  who 
was  at  that  time  Roadraaster  on  the  I.  C.  R.  R.,  was  given  a  one-fifth 
undivided   interest  for  his   influence   in  securing  a  station.     The  citizens   of 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY.  509 

the  surrounding  community,  at  their  own  expense,  put  in  the  switches  and 
side-track.  The  village  is  situated  on  the  adjoining  corners  of  Sections  15, 
16,  21  and  22  in  Paradise  Township.  Soon  after  the  laying-out  and  plat- 
ting, Bland  built  a  residence  and  occupied  it.  Others  soon  followed,  and 
Etna  rapidly  grew  from  a  station  into  a  village.  Isaac  Hart  and  his  son  James 
L.  Hart,  Mrs.  Veach,  Dr.  Deckard,  J.  F.  Lawson  and  James  Elhart  were 
among  the  earliest  citizens.  As  early  as  the  winter  of  1860,  Isaac  Hart  & 
Son  opened  out  a  stock  of  dry  goods  and  groceries.  They  moved  their  stock 
over  from  Paradise.  This  was  the  first  store  kept  in  the  place.  Soon  after 
the  coming  of  Hart  &  Son,  Cornelius  Owens,  of  Charleston,  opened  up  a 
stock  of  hardware,  groceries  and  liquors.  This  enterprise  was  managed  by 
Robert  S.  Mills.  In  February,  1861,  J.  F.  Lawson  bought  out  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Hart  &  Son,  and  the  firm  of  Hart  &  Lawson  was 
established.  In  the  early  part  of  May,  1862,  Hart  &  Lawson  sold  out  to 
Charles  Sawyer,  of  Neoga,  and  a  short  time  afterward,  Lawson  purchased  the 
establishment  started  by  Cornelius  Owens.  He  rolled  back  the  building  in 
which  the  store  was  kept  and  built  a  new  front.  This  building  was  since  destroyed 
by  fire.  After  conducting  the  business  alone  for  six  months.  Dr.  Deckard 
became  a  partner.  Deckard  died  in  February,  1863,  and  J.  R.  Wortham 
took  his  interest.  They  added  to  the  business  that  of  buying  and  shipping 
grain.  In  1865,  Lawson  bought  out  the  business,  and  continued  it  till  1867, 
when  he  sold  to  a  Mr.  Percy,  and  he  to  James  Bishop,  a  brother  of  Dr.  Bishop, 
who  now  resides  in  Etna.  Norris  &  Allen  built  a  store-room  in  the  early  part 
of  1864,  and  brought  on  a  stock  of  general  merchandise.  S.  Vanderen  k 
Son  began  business  about  the  same  time,  and  a  short  time  afterward  Dr.  S.  D. 
Gardner  erected  a  building  and  opened  out  a  drug  store. 

In  1860,  a  ueat  frame  church  was  built  by  a  general  contribution  from  the 
citizens  and  friends  of  the  town,  and  is  free  for  the  use  of  all  religious  denomi- 
nations. The  Masonic  Hall  occupies  the  second  story  of  this  building.  A 
schoolhouse  was  built  in  the  village  in' the  summer  of  1868.  James  Richard- 
son began  the  first  session  taught  in  the  building,  but  died  while  the  school  was 
in  progress,  and  Dr.  S.  D.  Gardner,  finished  the  term.  At  one  time  Etna  had 
four  stores,  and  did  quite  an  extensive  grain  business.  On  a  commission  of 
5  per  cent,  Mr.  Lawson  says  his  receipts  for  handling  grain  often  amounted 
to  $80  per  month.  Her  population  at  present  does  not  exceed  one  hundred. 
She  has  one  small  store,  that  of  Montgomery  &  Tate,  and  two  smith  shops. 
The  post  office  was  established  in  1860,  and  Robert  S.  Mills  was  appointed 
Postmaster.  He  was  also  the  first  agent  for  the  R.  R.  Co.  at  this  point.  J. 
F.  Lawson  was  made  Postmaster  and  agent  on  the  retiring  of  Mills,  and  held 
the  position  till  he  removed  from  the  village.  The  post  office  and  ticket  office 
are  both  now  kept  in  the  store  of  Montgomery  &  Tate.  Wabash  Lodge,  No. 
179,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  as  has  been  elsewhere  stated,  was  organized  in  Paradise 
village.     Its  charter  bears  date  October  3,  1855,  issued  under  the  seal  of  the 


510 


HISTORY  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 


Grand  Lodge,  presided  over  at  that  time  by  J.  L.  Anderson,  G.  M.,  and  H. 
G.  Reynolds,  G.  Sec.  The  charter  was  issued  to  Augustus  H.  Chapman, 
Newton  W.  Chapman,  A.  W.  Waller,  Dr.  John  Apperson  and  others  as  char- 
ter members.  A.  H.  Chapman  was  appointed  W.  M. ;  N.  W.  Chapman,  S. 
W. ;  and  A.  W.  Waller,  J.  W.  The  meetings  of  the  Lodge  were  held  for  a 
time  in  the  second  story  of  the  mud  house  built  by  Miles  W.  Hart  in  1837. 
The  Lodge  continued  to  meet  in  Paradise  till  1860,  when,  by  a  vote  of  the 
Lodge  and  by  consent  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  it  was  moved  to  Etna.  Its  present 
officers  are:  B.  H.  Lawson,  W.  M. ;  Col.  T.  A.  Apperson,  S.  W. ;  J.  F.  Wool- 
dridge,  J.  W. ;  A.  L.  A.  Green,  Sec. ;  J.  W.  Montgomery,  Treas. ;  Joseph 
Carins,  S.  D. ;  H.  H.  Anderson,  J.  D.  Its  membership  numbers  about  fifty. 
Regular  meetings,  Friday  night  on  or  before  full  moon  each  month.  Two  dif- 
ferent methods  of  spelling  the  name  of  the  village  seem  to  be  fully  recognized. 
The  citizens,  and  Government,  through  the  Post-Office  Department,  seem  to 
accept  as  correct  orthography  Etna,  while  the  R.  R.  Co.  invariably  adopts  the 
spelling  ^tna.  But  whether  we  use  the  single  vowel  or  the  diphthong  at  the 
beginning,  we  are  inclined  to  believe  that  neither  will  materially  add  to  or 
detract  from  the  prosperity  of  the  village. 


VALEDICTORY. 

Friendly  reader,  our  task  is  done — not  well,  we  know,  but  truly.  To  you 
who  have  followed  us  through  these  pages,  and  especially  to  the  old  pioneers 
and  patriarchs,  whose  heads  are  "  silvered  over  with  the  frosts  of  many  winters," 
we  come  now  to  part,  never,  perhaps,  to  meet  this  side  of  the  tomb.  Our  inter- 
course with  you  is  of  the  pleasantest  character,  and  it  is  with  a  feeling  of  sad- 
ness that  we  bid  you  adieu,  each  to  go  his  way,  mingling  in  the  great  world 
as  the  tiny  raindrops  mingle  with  the  waters  of  the  sea.  Should  our  diverging 
planets  never  more  cross  each  other's  orbits,  and  we  meet  no  more  here — and  it  is 
more  than  probable  that  we  shall  not,  for  our  work  lies  in  another  direction — we 
crave  your  kind  remembrance  of  us  and  a  generous  criticism  of  our  work. 

Adieu. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES 


O^    OTJie 


-^TISOIbTS. 


CHARLESTON    TOWNSHIP. 


CAPT.  WM.  E.  ADAMS,  attorney  at 
law,  Charleston ;  was  born  in  Bedford  Co., 
Tenn.,  Oct.  15,  1830,  being  the  son  of 
John  J.  and  Martha  (Gammell)  Adams, 
who  came  to  Coles  Co.  in  December,  1830, 
settling  in  what  is  now  Pleasant  Grove  Tp., 
on  the  farm  where  his  father  still  resides  ; 
he  made  his  home  at  his  father's  until 
about  1855,  when  he  engaged  in  buying 
and  herding  stock,  and  driving  it  to  Wis- 
consin ;  he  continued  in  this  business 
until  1860.  He  was  married  in  August, 
1859,  to  Miss  Olive  A.  Holton,  of  Blue 
Mounds,  Wis.,  and  has  a  family  of  five 
children — John  H.,  Jennie  .M.,  Sarah  S., 
Willie  and  Helen.  He  had  previously 
read  law  and  been  admitted  to  the  bar,  and, 
in  1860,  located  in  Mattoon  and  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  ;  in 
August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  123d  111. 
Vols.,  and  on  the  organization  of  the  regi- 
ment was  chosen  Captain  of  Co.  I ;  he 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Perryville, 
Ky.,  Milton,  Tenn.,  Chattanooga  and 
Chickamauga,  after  which,  his  regiment, 
having  previously  been  attached  to  Wild- 
er's  Brigade  of  Mounted  Infantry,  pur- 
sued Gren.  .Wheeler,  who  was  then  making 
a  raid  on  the  rear  of  Gen.  Rosecrans' 
army  ;  his  regiment  had  a  severe  engage- 
ment at  Farmington,  Tenn.,  in  which  the 
Colonel  was  killed  and  fully  half  of  Capt. 
Adams'  company  either  killed,  wounded 
or  taken  prisoners,  and  where  the  Captain 
himself  was  wounded ;  after  participating 
in  the  capture  of  Atlanta,  his  regiment 
was  remounted  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  and 
proceeded  thence  to  Selma,  Ala.,  and,  after 
the  capture  ot  that  city,  to  Montgomery, 
Columbus  and  Macon,   Ga. ;  a  portion   of 


his  command  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Jeff. 
Davis,  the  President  of  the  defunct  Con- 
federacy. Keturning  in  July,  1865,  he  was 
elected  in  the  fall  of  that  year  Clerk  of  the 
County  Court  of  Coles  Co.,  and  re-elected 
iu  1869  ;  on  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
office  in  1873,  he  was  elected  County 
Judge,  serving  till  1877,  since  which  he 
has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law. 
He  was  for  three  years  a  member  of  the 
City  Council,  and  is  the  present  Secretary 
of  the  Coles  County  Old  Settlers'  Society. 
CAPT.  JAMES  M.  ASHMORE, 
Charleston ;  is  a  native  of  Coles  Co. ;  he 
is  a  son  of  Hezekiah  J.  Ashmore,  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  the  county,  who  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  Sept.  30,  1802,  and  came  to 
Coles  Co.  with  his  family,  consisting  at 
that  time  of  a  wife  and  two  children,  in 
1830,  and  settled  in  the  northeast  part  of 
the  county,  in  what  is  now  Oakland  Tp. ; 
in  1836,  he  removed  to  the  eastern  part 
the  county,  and  for  him  the  town  of  Ash- 
more  was  named,  as  well  as  the  village  of 
that  name,  which  he  laid  out  in  1855  ;  he 
came  to  Coles  Co.  a  poor  man,  with  but 
thirty-seven  and  a  half  cents  in  his  pos- 
session, but  went  to  work  and  as  fast  as 
he  accumulated  a  little  money,  he  invested 
it  in  land,  owning  at  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1872,  about  1,600  acres;  he 
was  for  many  years  a  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  one  of  the  Commissioners  of  the 
county.  He  left  a  family  of  ten  children, 
of  whom  James  M.  is  the  second  in  age. 
He  was  bora  April  4,  1832  ;  he  remained 
at  home  on  the  farm  until  1859,  when  he 
engaged  in  merchandising  in  Charleston. 
In  1861,  he  entered  the  Union  army  as 
Captain  of  Co.  C,  8th  111.   Vols.,  for  three 


512 


BIOGRArmCAL  SKETCHES: 


months,  and  on  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  service,  re-cnlisted  with  his  regiment  for 
three  years;  he  was  wounded  at  the  battle 
of  Shiloh,  upon  which  he  resigned  and 
returned  home  ;  upon  the  organization  of 
the  123d  111.  Vols.,  he  was  appointed  Drill- 
master,  and  drilled  that  regiment  for  six 
months.  In  1865,  he  located  at  Ashmore, 
and  followed  mercantile  business  there 
two  years,  and  then  engaged  in  shipping 
stock  until  1876;  he  served  six  years  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  seven  years  on 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  ;  in  1876,  he  was 
elected  Sheriff  of  Coles  Co.,  holding  the 
office  two  years.  He  was  married  March 
26,  1852,  to  Miss  Lizzie  March,  daughter 
of  Thomas  J.  March,  an  old  resident  of 
Charleston. 

W.  J.  ASHMORE,  dealer  in  boots 
and  shoes  (firm  of  Ashmore  &  Mitch- 
ell), Charleston  ;  was  born  in  Coles 
Co.,  111.,  May  15,  1853  ;  he  is  the 
youngest  son  of  Samuel  C.  Ashmore, 
who  came  to  Coles  Co.  among  the  early 
settlers,  and  entered  a  large  tract  of  Gov- 
ernment land,  and  when  Douglas  Co.  was 
foruied,  the  line  passed  through  the  mid- 
dle of  his  land  ;  he  was  a  prominent  farm- 
er and  stock-raiser,  and  for  many  years 
held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He 
died  in  1855  ;  his  widow  Sarah  Ashmore 
and  six  children  still  surviving.  The  son, 
W.  J.  Ashmore,  when  about  20  years  of 
age,  went  to  Lebanon,  Ohio,  and  spent 
one  year  as  a  student  in  the  State  Normal 
School.  In  1874,  he  came  to  Charleston 
and  engaged  as  a  clerk  for  B.  M.  Payne,  and 
on  i-he  1st  of  January,  1878,  engaged  with 
A.  M.  Mitchell  in  the  boot  and  shoe  trade. 
He  was  married  Oct.  2,  1878.,  to  Miss 
Belle  Arterburn,  of  Kansas,  Edgar  Co., 
111. 

BANDALL  ALEXANDER,  breeder 
and  shipper  of  Poland-China  swine, 
Charleston  ;  about  ten  years  ago  this  gen- 
tleman, in  company  with  S.  M.  Shepard, 
made  his  first  start  in  the  introduction  and 
breeding  of  thorough-bred  swine  in  Coles 
Co.  After  having  experimented  thor- 
oughly with  the  various  breeds  of  hogs, 
they  became  convinced  that  the  Poland- 
China  possessed  all  the  retjuisites  of  size, 
docility,  fertility,  early  maturity,  aptitude 
for  taking  on  flesh,  and  great  constitution- 
al vigor,  necessary  to  render  it  pre-emi- 
nently   the  hog  for  the  former.     From    a 


small  beginning,  the  business  has  grown  to 
its  present  proportions.  Mr.  Alexander  is 
now  one  of  the  most  prominent  breeders  in 
the  State ;  his  trade  extends  to  every  part 
of  the  countr) ,  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  Canada, 
the  Southern  States,  etc. ;  his  farm,  near 
Charleston,  possesses  all  the  advantages  of 
a  perfect  hog  farm,  such  as  pure  running 
water,  sheltered  location,  shade,  range,  etc. 
Mr.  Alexander  was  born  in  Madison,  Jef- 
ferson Co.,  Ind.,  Aug.  5,  1842 ;  when 
about  10  years  old,  he  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Tipton  Co.,  Ind. ;  at  14,  he  left 
home,  and  going  to  Louisiana,  Mo.,  en- 
gaged as  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  store.  In 
1861 ,  he  went  to  Tuscola,  Douglas  Co.,  111., 
and  clerked  one  year ;  he  then,  with  Mr, 
Robert  Beech,  built  the  Beech  House,  the 
finest  hotel  on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
from  Chicago  to  Cairo  ;  after  running  the 
house  one  year  he  came  in  1863  to  Charles- 
ton, and  continued  clerking  till  1865,  when 
he  engaged  in  business  for  himself,  con- 
tinuing as  a  member  of  difi^erent  firms  un- 
til  about  four  years  ago ;  he  is  at  present  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  in 
Charleston.  He  was  married  May  21, 
1866,  to  Miss  Nancy  A.  Compton,  a 
daughter  of  Albert  Compton,  of  Charles- 
ton, and  has  four  children — Albert  C, 
Edwin  R.,  Rufus  C.  and  Dora  T. 

JACOB  I.  BROWN,  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  Charleston  ;  a  son  of  John  and  Ra- 
chel Brown  ;  was  born  Oct.  12,  1819,  near 
Jonesboro,  Washington  Co.,  Tenn.  ;  his 
parents  afterward  removed  to  Wayne  Co., 
Ind.,  but  soon  returned  to  Tennessee; 
their  next  move  was  to  the  White  Water 
River,  where  his  father  and  eight  brothers 
and  sisters  died  of  yellow  fever  inside  of  a 
few  months.  His  mother  soon  afterward 
removed  with  her  remaining  children,  con- 
sisting of  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  to 
Bloondngton,  Ind.  In  1832  or  1833,  he 
went  to  learn  the  printing  business,  and 
worked  for  difterent  parties  till  1840, 
when  he  came  on  foot  to  Paris,  111.,  and 
bought  the  Illmots  S/((tcsman  printing 
office,  and  began  the  publication  of  a  Dem- 
ocratic newspaper;  in  1844,  he  moved  the 
office  to  Charleston,  and  started  a  paper 
called  the  Investigator,  in  connection  with 
which  he  published  a  religious  periodical, 
edited  by  Rev.  Richard  Newport.  In  1845, 
he  was  elected  Assessor  for  the  county.  He 
was  married  June  24,  1845,  to  Miss  Ann 


CHARLESTON  TOWNSHIP. 


51S 


E.  Javins,  who  was  born  near  Alexandria, 
Va.,  and  after  the  death  of  her  father,  re- 
moved with  her  mother  to  Vincennes,  Ind., 
and  after  her  mother's  death,  came  to 
Charleston,  and  resided  in  the  family  of 
her  uncle,  Albert  Compton.  In  1846  or 
1847,  in  company  with  W.  D.  Latshaw,  he 
began  the  publication  of  the  7/^iHOis  Glohe, 
a  Democratic  paper,  continuing  it  seven  or 
eight  years  ;  in  the  mean  time,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Postmaster,  and  held  the  office  un- 
der Presidents  Polk,  Pierce  and  Buchanan. 
He  was  also  engaged  with  various  partners 
in  the  grocery  and  drug  business  till  the 
spring  of  1861  ;  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  he 
was  elected  County  Clerk,  and  held  that 
office  four  years,  after  which  he  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business.  On  the 
2d  of  May,  1868,  he  was  commissioned 
Justice  of  the  Peace  by  Gov.  R.  J.  Ogles- 
by,  and  re-elected  to  the  same  office  in 
1872,  and  has  served  as  such  ever  since; 
he  has  been  several  times  a  member  of  the 
City  Council,  and  served  twice  on  the 
Board  of  Education,  and  is  now  a  member 
of  the  School  Board  for  the  township. 

EUGENE  B.  BUCK,  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Charleston  Courier,  Charles- 
ton ;  was  born  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  Oct. 
12,  1834;  when  he  was  about  five  years 
old,  his  father's  family  removed  to  Mc- 
Lean Co.,  111. ;  he  served  his  apprentice- 
ship to  the  printer's  trade  in  Bloomington  ; 
in  1852,  he  went  to  Peoria,  111.,  and,  in 
1855,  was  connected  with  the  publication 
of  the  Pekin  Plaindealer ;  in  1856,  he 
was  associated  with  four  other  journeymen 
printers  in  running  a  co-operative  daily 
paper  in  Peoria;  in  1857,  he  conducted 
the  Washington  Advertiser,  in  Franklin 
Co.,  Mo. ;  in  1859,  he  edited  the  Daily 
Enterprise,  in  Decatur,  111.,  and,  in  1861 
and  1862,  the   3Iagnet  in   that    city;    in 

1864,  he  run  the  Constitution,  a  campaign 
paper,  in  Pontiac,  Livingston  Co.,  111., 
and,  the  next  year — 1865 — he  started  the 
Bloomington  Journal  ^  in  1868,  he  be- 
came connected  with  the  Charleston  Cour- 
ier, a  live  weekly  newspaper  and  a  vigorous 
advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and,  in  1874,  became  sole 
proprietor  and  editor  ;  the  esteem  in  which 
Mr.  Buck  is  held  by  ,the  editorial  pro- 
fession is  manifest  from  the  fact  that,  in 

1865,  he  was  chosen  President  of  the 
Illinois    Press    Association,  a   member  of 


the  Executive  Board  in  1877,  and  is  at 
present  a  Vice  President  of  that  body ; 
he  is  a  Director  of  the  Second  National 
Bank ;  in  1 876,  he  received  the  nomination 
as  Bepi'esentative  to  the  State  Legislature, 
but,  owing  to  disaffection,  withdrew  from 
the  contest ;  for  nine  years,  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and 
was  for  seven  years  Chairman  of  the 
Board  ;  he  has  also  been  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education  of  this  city.  He  was 
married  Feb.  11,  1860,  to  Miss  Mary  C. 
Jones,  of  Decatur,  111.,  and  has  four  chil- 
dren— Ida  May,  Katie  Florence,  Willie 
Clarence  and  Eugene  Clifford. 

A.  N.  BAIN,  proprietor  of  the  Charles- 
ton Foundry,  Chai'leston ;  was  born  in 
Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  April  3,  1828;  his  father 
was  a  ship-carpenter,  with  a  family  of  nine 
children  ;  at  the  age  of  14,  Mr.  Bain  be- 
gan working  on  a  farm,  which  he  contin- 
ued until  the  spring  of  1845,  when  he 
entered  the  Mad  River  &  Lake  Erie  Rail- 
road shop  at  Sandusky,  Ohio,  as  an  ap- 
prentice, remaining  there  until  1852,  and 
thoroughly  mastering  the  machinist's 
trade.  He  then  went  to  New  Albany, 
Ind.,  where  he  was  married,  Feb.  3,  1853, 
to  Miss  Catharine  Caldwell,  of  that  city, 
who  was  born  in  Appomattox  Co.,  Va., 
Feb.  8,  1832.  While  in  New  Albany,  he 
worked  as  a  mechanic  in  the  shops  of  the 
New  Albany  &  Salem  Railroad ;  in  April, 
1853,  he  removed  to  Terre  Haute,  Ind., 
and  entered  the  foundry  of  Grover  & 
Madison,  and  remained  in  their  employ 
until  April  1,  1857;  he  then  came  to 
Charleston,  and,  with  his  brother,  William 
Bain,  and  George  0.  Carr,  erected  a  small 
building,  25x50  feet  in  size ;  Mr.  Carr 
soon  retired  from  the  firm  ;  they  ran  a 
general  repair  foundry  till  1863,  when 
they  made  their  first  stove,  and  enlarged 
their  buildings,  which  now  cover  four  town 
lots,  while  their  trade  extends  from  In- 
dianapolis on  the  east,  to  the  Rocky 
Mountains  on  the  west;  in  1869,  Mr. 
Bain  engaged  in  the  stove,  tin,  and  house'- 
furnishing  business,  and  built  up  a  very 
large  and  successful  trade ;  in  1874,  he 
sold  out  and  returned  to  the  management 
of  the  foundry  ;  his  brother  died  in  June, 
1875  ;  in  addition  to  his  foundry  business, 
he  owns  a  farm  of  220  acres  in  Seven 
Hickory  Tp.,  where  he  is  largely  engaged 
in  stock-raising,  keeping  about  two  hun- 


514 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  : 


<lred  and  fifty  head,  including  cattle,  hogs, 
horses  and  mules  ;  he  also  owns  a  farm  of 
170  acres  in  Douglas  Co.;  Mr.  Bain  was 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
Charleston  two  years.  He  has  five  chil- 
dren— Emma  (a  graduate  of  the  Indiana 
State  Normal  School  at  Terre  Haute,  and 
now  a  teacher  in  the  Charleston  public 
schoolsj,  Fannie,  Charles  F.,  Katie  and 
Nannie.  Politically,  Mr.  Bain  has  been  an 
active  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party  since  its  organization, 
previous  to  which  he  was  a  Whig.  He  is 
outspoken  and  fearless  in  maintaining  his 
opinions  ;  as  a  business  man,  his  success  is 
due  entirely  to  his  own  industry,  persever- 
ance and  good  management. 

TILLMAN  BAGLE^,  horticulturist; 
Charleston ;  was  born  in  Loudoun  Co., 
Va.,  June  6,  1828 ;  being  left  father- 
less when  but  a  child,  he  accompanied  his 
mother,  at  the  age  of  9  years  to  Mus- 
kingum Co.,  Ohio,  where  they  settled  on  a 
farm  about  twelve  miles  north  of  Zanes- 
ville ;  at  19,  he  left  the  farm  to  learn 
the  trade  of  a  marble-cutter,  after  com- 
pleting which  he  worked  as  a  journeyman 
until  1853  ;  he  then  came  to  Charleston, 
and  after  working  two  years,  started  in  the 
marble  business  for  himself,  in  which  he 
continued  till  18G9  ;  at  which  time  he 
purchased  what  is  known  as  the  True  farm, 
in  La  Fayette  Tp.,  and  followed  farming 
four  years.  Having  a  natural  taste  for 
horticultural  pursuits  he  sold  his  farm  and, 
returning  to  Charleston,  purchased  sixteen 
acres  of  land  lying  within  the  corporation, 
which  he  began  to  improve  ;  he  built  his 
residence  and  set  his  land  to  peaches,  apples, 
raspberries,  blackberries  and  strawberries; 
his  aim  was  to  secure  the  very  earliest  as 
well  as  the  very  latest  varieties  of  fruit 
which  it  was  possible  to  obtain,  thus  com- 
manding the  highest  prices  for  his  prod- 
ucts. Mr.  Bagley  was  married  March 
26,  185(5,  to  Miss  Ann  Craig,  a  daughter 
of  Elijah  Craig,  an  early  settler  of  Coles 
Co.;  she  was  born  in  Boone  Co.,  Ky., 
April  21,  1829,  and  came  to  Coles  Co.  in 
183G ;  they  have  two  children — Simeon 
E.  and  Allen  C. 

GEORGE  BIRCH,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Charleston ;  was  born  near  Shrewsbury, 
Shropshire,  England,  March  25, 1815 ;  he  is 
a  son  of  William  Birch,  a  farmer  who,  in 
1833,  came  to  America  with  his  family, 


and  lived  for  three  years  near  Philadelphia, 
occupying  an  old  house,  once  the  residence 
of  William  Penn,  on  the  bank  of  the 
Schuylkill,  near  Fairmount  Park  ;  in  1836, 
they  removed  to  Illinois,  and  settled  near 
Hitesville,  Coles  Co.,  where  his  father  died 
April  15,  1864,  at  the  age  of  88  years; 
Mr.  Birch  spent  the  first  few  years  of  his 
residence  in  this  county  in  working  at  farm 
labor ;  he  has  worked  for  50  cents  a  day 
and  waited  until  Christmas  for  his  pay. 
He  was  married  on  his  twenty-sixth  birth- 
day, March  25,  1841,  to  Miss  Catherine 
Jones,  a  daughter  of  William  Jones ;  she 
was  born  in  Jeiferson  Co.,  Ky.,  March  19, 
1820,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  Coles 
Co.  about  1831  ;  in  1844,  they  settled  on 
a  farm  near  Hitesville,  where  they  resided 
for  more  than  thirty-three  years,  and,  in 
1878,  removed  to  Charleston,  where  they 
now  reside  ;  Mr.  Birch,  in  1842,  hauled 
wheat  to  Chicago,  a  distance  of  180  miles, 
and  there  sold  it  for  62 J  cents  per  bushel; 
he  has  driven  hogs  to  Clinton,  [nd.,  and 
sold  them  for  $1.25  to  $'2.  per  hundred, 
net  weight ;  Mrs.  Birch,  when  a  girl,  has 
dropped  corn  for  25  cents  a  day ;  and,  aft- 
er her  marriage,  worked  in  the  field  until 
near  noon,  and  would  then  go  to  the 
house  and  get  dinner.  Mr.  Birch  is  an 
example  of  a  substantial,  successful  farm- 
er, and  feels  a  pardonable  pride  in  recall- 
ing to  mind  the  hardships  of  the  early 
days  in  Coles  Co. ;  he  has  recently  pur- 
chased the  Glassco  farm  of  300  acres,  two 
miles  west  of  the  Court  House,  and  still  re- 
tains 40  acres  of  land  in  Aslimore  Tp.; 
he  has  served  as  School  Director  and 
School  Treasurer.  They  have  had  twelve 
children,  eight  of  whom  are  living — VVill- 
liam,  a  resident  of  Ashmore  Tp.,  Jacob, 
of  St.  Clair  Co.,  Mo.,  Martha  J.  (now 
Mrs.  Lafayette  Connelly,  of  Henry  Co., 
Mo.)  George  and  Jonathan  (both  now  of 
Henry  Co.,  Mo.),  Lizzie  E.,  Frank  and 
Marv  S. 

CHARLES  R.  BRIGGS,  portrait- 
painter,  Charleston ;  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington Co.  N.  Y.,  Jan.  5,  1816;  his 
father  was  a  farmer  and  carriage-manufact- 
urer in  Easton  ;  at  the  age  of  17  years,  he 
left  home,  and  going  to  Troy,  apprenticed 
himself  to  the  trade  of  a  coacli-painter ; 
he  remained  there  four  yeirs  and  helped 
to  paint  tlie  first  passenger- coiches  on  the 
Albany  &  Schenectady  R  lilroad  ;    thence 


CHARLESTON  TOWNSHIP. 


515 


he  went  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  entered  the 
employ  of  Benjamin  Rathbone,  the  great 
contractor  of  that  city  ;  about  a  year  later, 
he  went  to  New  York  City,  and  thence, 
shortly  afterward,  came  West ;  this  was 
in  1 839  ;  after  spending  a  few  montha  in 
St.  Louis,  he  located  in  Coles  Co.,  and, 
after  farming  one  year,  engaged  in  car- 
riage, house  and  sign  painting  in  Charles- 
ton. He  early  turned  his  attention  to 
portrait  painting,  for  which  he  had  a  de- 
cided talent,  and  for  the  past  few  years  has 
made  a  specialty  of  the  painting  of  fine 
stock,  a  branch  of  the  art  in  which  he  is 
excelled  by  none  in  the  State  ;  he  started 
the  first  livery-stable  in  Charleston  about 
1843,  with  oYie  horse,  and  continued  it 
about  a  dozen  years,  running  it  up  to  forty- 
two  horses  ;  in  1848,  he  opened  a  farm  of 
363  acres  in  the  timber  adjoining  the  city, 
fencing  it  in  eastern  style,  mostly  in  ten- 
acre  lots,  and  followed  farming  for  several 
years.  He  was  married  in  September, 
1842,  to  Miss  Harriet  Stoddert,  of  Charles- 
ton ;  they  have  five  children  living — 
Lyzink  (wife  of  Charles  Cleary,  of  Charles- 
ton), Helen,  Walter  M.,  Charles  S.  and 
Ma,y  ;  their  oldest  daughter,  Loretta,  died 
in  1859 ;  Mary  died  at  about  2  years  of 
age,  and  one  son,  Jerome,  died  in  1873. 

STEPHEN  BISHOP,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser,  P.  0.  Charleston ;  was  born 
near  Providence,  R.  L,  May  30,  1815; 
when  he  was  but  2  years  old,  his  parents 
emigrated  to  the  then  Far  West,  and 
located  in  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  where  his 
father  entered  land  from  the  Government, 
and  engaged  in  farming,  being  among  the 
pioneers  in  that  part  of  the  State ;  Knox 
Co.  was  then  comparatively  a  wilderness ; 
Mt.  Vernon,  the  county  seat — now  a  city 
of  about  10,000  inhabitants — containing  at 
that  time  but  half  a  dozen  houses ;  Mr. 
Bishop  remained  at  home  on  the  farm  until 
he  was  20  years  of  age,  and  then  learned  the 
trade  of  a  blacksmith,  and  going  to  Mt. 
Vernon,  carried  on  the  carriage-making 
business  there  until  1858,  when  he  re-  , 
moved  to  Illinois,  and  settled  on  a  fiu-m 
lying  mostly  in  Coles  Co.,  his  house,  how- 
ever, being  situated  just  over  the  line  in  I 
Clark  Co. ;  in  the  spring  of  1863,  he  re- 
moved to  a  farm  in  Seven  Hickory  Tp., 
containing  248  acres,  on  which  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  September,  1876, 
when  he  removed  to  Charleston,  still  re-  ; 


taining  his  farm  in  Seven  Hickory  Tp.,  and 
twenty  acres  of  timber  in  Charleston  Tp. ; 
Mr.  Bishop  served  one  term  as  Justice  of 
the  Peace.  He  was  married  Feb.  25, 
1841,  to  Miss  Joanna  Bane,  of  Knox  Co., 
Ohio,  who  was  born  in  Washington  Co., 
Penn,  Oct.  8,  1822 ;  they  have  seven 
children — Jasper  N.,  now  of  Lovington, 
111.;  Frank  L.,  of  Charleston ;  Anna  A., 
wife  of  Gr.  H.  Harvey,  of  Newark,  Ohio; 
Minnie  M.,  Lizzie  C,  Charles  E.  and 
Willie  B. 

FRANK  L.  BISHOP,  proprietor  of 
the  Bee- Hive  store,  dealer  in  dry  goods 
and  notions,  boots  and  shoes,  etc.,  Charles- 
ton ;  was  born  in  Mt.  Vernon,  Knox  Co., 
Ohio,  Nov.  20,  1846 ;  he  is  a  son  of 
Stephen  and  Joanna  (Bane)  Bishop,  and 
came  with  his  father's  family  to  Coles  Co., 
as  above  stated  ;  he  was  engaged  as  a  clerk 
for  Mathews,  Alexander  &  Co.,  in  Charles- 
ton, for  three  years,  after  which  he  spent 
three  years  in  La  Fayette,  Ind;  he  then  en- 
gaged in  general  merchandising  in  Loving- 
ton,  111.,  the  firm  being  Dickson  &  Bishop; 
after  remaining  there  three  years,  he  re- 
turned to  Charleston  and  established  his 
present  business  in  September,  1876. 

MAJ.  J.  A.  CONNOLLY,  attorney  at 
law,  Charleston  ;  was  born  in  Newark,  N. 
J.,  March  8,  1838;  his  parents  removed 
to  Chesterville,  Morrow  Co.,  Ohio,  when 
he  was  about  12  years  old,  and  at  the  age 
of  18,  he  went  to  Mt.  Gilead,  the  county 
seat  of  Morrow  Co.,  and  began  reading 
law  with  Judge  A.  K.  Dunn,  of  that  city ; 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September, 
1859,  and  began  practice  in  Mt.  Gilead ; 
in  1860,  he  removed  to  Charleston ;  while 
living  in  Mt.  Gilead,  he  held  the  position 
of  Second  Assistant  Clerk  of  the  Ohio 
Senate  for  two  years.  In  August,  1862, 
he  entered  the  army  as  Major  of  the  123d 
111.  V.  I.,  serving  till  the  close  of  the  war, 
being  for  two  years  Inspector  General  of 
the  3d  Division  14th  Army  Corps ;  he 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Perryville, 
Ky. ;  Milton,  Tenn. ;  Hoover's  Gap,  Chick- 
amunga.  Mission  Ridge,  Resaca,  Ga. ;  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  Sherman's  "  march  to 
the  sea,"  Bentonville,  N.  C.,  etc. ;  im- 
mediately after  the  last-named  battle,  he  was 
brevetted  Lieutenant  Colonel  for  meritori- 
ous conduct  in  that  engagement.  Return- 
ing to  Charleston,  in  1865,  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  the   law.     At  the  funeral   of 

1 


516 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES ; 


President  Lincoln,  in  New  York  City,  in 
April,  1865,  Maj.  Connolly  was  a  mepa- 
ber  of  the  G  uard  of  Honor,  being  the  only 
Illinois  volunteer  officer  present.  In  1866, 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors,  and,  the  following  year,  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  and  strongly  advo- 
cated the  building  of  the  new  schoolhouse 
in  Charleston ;  he  was  elected  to  the  Il- 
linois Legislature  in  1872,  and  re-elected 
in  1874  ;  he  was  a  member  of  the  Judiciary 
Committee,  and  of  the  Railroad  and  Ware- 
house Committee,  which  reported  in  favor 
of  the  Granger  legislation  of  that  year. 
Maj.  Connolly  is  at  present  IJ.  S.  District 
Attorney  for  the  Southern  District  of  Il- 
linois, to  which  office  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Grant  in  March,  1876.  He  was 
married  Feb.  9,  1863,  to  Miss  Mary  Dunn, 
of  Mt.  Gilead,  Ohio. 

DUNN  &  CONNOLLY,  attorneys  at 
law,  Charleston ;  this  firm  was  established 
in  November,  1878,  and  is  composed  of 
two  young  attorneys,  but  gentlemen  pos- 
sessing the  requisite  qualifications  of  suc- 
cess. Frank  K.  Dunn  was  born  in  Mt. 
Gilead,  Ohio,  Nov.  13,  1854,  being  a  son 
of  Hon.  A.  K.  Dunn,  Judge  of  the  Court 
of  Common  Pleas ;  he  graduated  at  Ken- 
yon  College,  Ohio,  in  1873;  read  law  in 
his  father's  office ;  entered  Harvard  Law 
School  in  1874,  graduating  in  1875;  he 
was  admitted  to  practice  the  same  year, 
and  practiced  with  his  father  until  Novem- 
ber, 1878,  when  he  came  to  Charleston, 
and  formed  the  above  partnership.  Frank 
J.  Connolly  is  a  native  of  Morrow  Co., 
Ohio ;  he  was  born  in  Chesterville,  March 
10,  1851 ;  he  came  to  Charleston  in  1876  ; 
pursued  his  law  studies  in  the  office  of  his 
brother,  Maj.  James  A.  Connolly;  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  July,  1878,  and  formed 
a  partnership  with  F.  K.  Dunn  in  Novem- 
ber the  same  year. 

D.  H.  CALVERT,  dealer  in  drugs  and 
medicines,  Charleston;  is  a  native  of 
Platte  Co.,  Mo. ;  he  was  born  on  the  28th 
of  February  1841  ;  he  was  raised  on  a  farm, 
and  at  about  the  age  of  16  years,  entered 
Pleasant  Ridge  College  in  his  native  town, 
where  he  graduated  in  1861 ;  he  then  read 
law  with  Hon.  E.  H.  Norton,  the  present 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Missouri;  in  1867,  he  went  to  Frankfort, 
Ky.,  and  continued  his  law  studies  with 
Judge  Alvin  Duval,  and,  in  1868,  entered 


the  Law  Department  of  the  University  of 
Louisville,  Ky.,  graduating  in  1869  ;  he 
came  to  Charleston  the  same  year,  and  en- 
tered upon  the  practice  of  his  profession ; 
in  1872,  he  was  elected  City  Attorney ; 
after  practicing  three  years,  he  was  com- 
pelled by  ill  health  to  abandon  the  law 
and  engage  in  other  business ;  he  followed 
merchant  milling  for  some  two  years,  and, 
iu  1876,  engaged  in  his  present  business. 
He  was  married  July  5,  1870,  to  Miss  S. 
B.  Chambers,  a  daughter  of  T.  G.  Cham- 
bers, a  prominent  citizen  of  Charleston, 
and  has  one  child — George  C.  Calvert. 

W.  M.  CHAMBERS,  M.  D.,  physician 
and  surgeon,  Charleston,  was  born  in  Cyn- 
thiana^  Ky.,  April  11,  1814;  he  is  a  son 
of  James  and  Sally  Chambers,  both  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  who  settled  in  Kentucky 
in  1810.  His  father  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812;  in  1850,  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Charleston,  where  his  mother 
died  in  1855,  and  his  father  in  1873.  Dr. 
Chambers  began  the  study  of  medicine 
in  his  native  town  in  1833,  and,  in  1836, 
began  practice  in  Harrison  Co. ;  he  gradu- 
ated in  1843  from  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  Transylvania  University,  Lex- 
ington, Ky.  In  1846,  he  remoyed  to 
Covington,  Ky.,  where  he  practiced 
medicine  until  his  removal  to  Coles  Co.  in 
1855.  In  October,  1861,  he  was  ap- 
pointed, by  President  Lincoln,  Brigade 
Surgeon  in  the  Union  army,  and  served 
in  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  till  July, 
1865;  he  was  twice  brevetted — first,  as 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  then  as  Colonel,  for 
meritorious  services,  for  the  excellence  of 
his  reports  and  his  superior  management 
of  hospitals.  Dr.  Chambers  has  been  Pres- 
ident of  the  Kentucky  State  Medical 
Society,  of  the  Illinois  State  Medical 
Society,  and  of  the  ^Esculapian  Society  of 
the  Wabash  Valley.  He  has  held  important 
positions  in  the  American  Medical  Associ- 
ation, and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Health  Association  of  the  United  States  ; 
he  has  abandoned  the  ordinary  country 
practice,  and  now  confines  himself  to  con- 
sultation, town  and  surgical  practice.  He 
was  married,  first,  in  February,  1838,  to 
Miss  C.  Ann  Rebecca  Porter,  of  Harrison 
Co.,  Ky.  ;  she  died  in  1840,  leaving  one 
son — Charles  S.  Chambers,  of  Princeton, 
Ky.  Dr.  Chambers,  in  1846,  married 
Miss  Mary  Bryan  Fields  Ingels,  of  Ken- 


CHARLESTON  TOWNSHIP. 


517 


tucky,  a  lineal  descendant  of  Daniel  Boone ; 
she  died  Dec.  30,  1876,  leaving  two  chil- 
dren—Mollie  M.  S.  (wife  of  Dr.  C.  A. 
Peyton,  of  Charleston),  and  T.  Gavin 
Smith  Chambers,  now  a  student  in  Asbury 
Institute,  Greencastle,  Ind. 

THOMAS  G.  CHAMBERS,.  Presi- 
dent of  the  First  National  Bank,  Charles- 
ton ;  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county 
and  city  since  1838;  he  is  a  native  of 
Cynthiana,  Harrison  Co.,  Ky.  ;  he  was 
22d  of  January,  1816,  being  a  son  of 
James  and  Sally  Chambers ;  he  worked 
on  a  farm  until  the  age  of  18  years,  when 
he  entered  a  dry  goods  store  as  a  clerk, 
and  continued  at  that  until  he  came  to 
Charleston,  as  above  stated.  He  followed 
clerking  here  for  a  time,  and,  in  1840, 
engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  for 
himself,  which  he  continued,  with  an  inter- 
ruption of  two  years,  until  1866  ;  he  then 
established  the  private  banking-house  of 
T.  G.  Chambers  &  Co.,  and,  in  1868,  be- 
came President  of  the  First  National 
Bank.  Mr.  Chambers  has  served  several 
terms  in  the  City  Council,  but,  with  this 
exception,  has  never  sought  nor  accepted 
public  office  of  any  kind  ;  he  has,  how- 
ever, been  thoroughly  alive  to  the  interests 
of  the  city  and  county ;  he  was  one  of 
the  active  organizers  of  the  Coles  County 
Agricultural  Society  —  now  the  Coles 
County  Board  of  Agriculture  —  and  has 
been  an  officer  of  that  society,  either  as 
Vice  President,  Treasurer  or  Director,  with 
the  exception  of  one  year,  from  its  organ- 
ization in  1853  to  the  present  time.  On 
the  organization  of  the  Coles  County  Old 
Settlers'  Society  in  October,  1878,  he  was 
chosen  President.  Mr.  Chambers  was  mar- 
ried March  12,  1840,  to  Miss  Olevia 
Monroe,  of  Charleston,  and  has  eight  chil- 
dren living  —  Alice  (now  Mrs.  J.  A. 
Parker),  Henrie,  Sarah  Belle  (wife  of  D. 
H.  Calvert),  George  R.,  William  M., 
Maggie,  Nannie  and  Alfred,  all  of  whom 
are  residents  of  Coles  County. 

ALBERT  C  0  M  P  T  0  N,  retired, 
Charleston  ;  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Coles  county ;  was  born  in  Fairfax  Co., 
Va.,  Sept.  24,  1812  ;  in  the  fall  of  1830, 
he  left  home  and  came  to  Vincennes,  Ind., 
thence  to  Terre  Haute,  and  from  the  latter 
place,  in  1833,  to  Charleston,  arriving  on 
the  3d  of  March  ;  he  worked  at  his  trade 
of  a  shoemaker  for   about  two  years,  and 


then  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  the  employ  of 
Baker  &  Norfolk ;  in  1835,  he  was  elected 
Constable  and  served  two  years ;  in  August, 
1838,  he  was  chosen  Sheriff  of  Coles 
County,  which  office  he  held  four  success- 
ive terms  of  two  years  each,  or  eight  years 
in  all ;  on  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
office,  he  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  trade, 
which  he  followed  until  1861,  when,  hav- 
ing accumulated  a  comfortable  competency, 
he  retired  from  active  business  ;  he  has 
also  held  the  offices  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
and  Master  in  Chancery.  He  owns  some 
280  acres  of  land  in  Coles  Co.,  and  two 
business  houses  and  a  dwelling  in  Charles- 
ton. He  was  married  in  January,  1836, 
to  Miss  Catherine  Easton,  daughter  of  the 
late  David  Easton,  of  Charleston  ;  they 
have  five  children  living — Rhoda,  now 
Mrs.  S.  M.  Shepard,  of  Indianapolis,  Ind.  ; 
Nancy,  wife  of  Randall  Alexander,  of 
Charleston  ;  Rufus,  Mary,  wife  of  Felix 
Johnston,  of  Charleston,  and  Allie. 

ISAAC  N.  CRAIG,  retired  farmer; 
P.  0.  Charleston  ;  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Coles  County  ;  was  born  in  Montgomery 
Co.,  Ky.,  Sept.  25,  1810;  his  father 
removed  with  his  family  to  Illinois  in  1828, 
and  purchased  a  farm  in  Clark  Co. ;  Isaac 
N.  remained  at  home  on  the  farm  until 
1831.  On  the  14th  of  April,  1831,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Catherine  Henson,  of 
Edgar  Co.,  111.,  who  died  May  1,  1841, 
leaving  five  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living — La  Fayette,  Elizabeth — Mrs.  Har- 
mon Gregg — and  Harriet,  wife  of  Harvey 
Fowler ;  Mr.  Craig,  after  his  marriage, 
settled  in  Clark  Co.  On  the  breaking-out 
of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  Mr.  Craig 
enlisted  in  the  2d  Brigade,  under  Gen. 
Milton  Alexander,  and  served  through  the 
war.  In  1835,  he  removed  to  Coles  Co., 
where  he  has  been  a  prominent  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  ever  since  ;  Mr.  Craig  began 
life  poor,  and  has  met  with  some  reverses 
of  fortune,  but  has,  nevertheless,  accumu- 
lated a  handsome  property  ;  he  owns  some 
seven  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  county, 
and  a  fine  residence,  with  twenty  acres  of 
land,  in  the  city  of  Charleston,  where  he 
resides ;  he  is  a  Director  and  stockholder 
in  the  Second  National  Bank.  He  married 
his  present  estimable  wife  July  1,  1841  ; 
she  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Bloyer,  of  Coles 
Co. ;  they  have  had  eight  children,  six  of 
whom  are  now  living — Catherine  (wife  of 


518 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


Robt.  McMuUen),  James  W.,  Andrew  J., 
Eliza  E.  (wife  of  Newton  Swango),  Isaac 
B.  and  Thomas  J.;  all  of  Mr.  Craig's 
children  are  living  in  Coles  Co. 

COL.  A.  P.  DUNBAR,  retired,  Charles- 
ton ;  with  one  exception,  the  oldest  living  in- 
habitant of  the  city  ;  was  born  in  Fleming 
Co.,  Ky.,  July  -i,  1810  ;  his  father,  Alexan- 
der Dunbar,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  the 
River  Raisin  and  the  Thames,  and  was  pres- 
ent at  the  famous  Perry's  victory  on  Lake 
Erie.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  after 
receiving  an  English  education  and  read- 
ing law  to  some  extent,  came  to  Clay  Co., 
111.,  in  1828,  at  the  age  of  18  years,  and 
engaged  in  teaching ;  after  two  years,  he 
returned  to  Kentucky,  where  he  completed 
his  law  studies,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  the  spring  of  1831 ;  he  at  once  came 
to  Coles  Co.,  located  at  Charleston,  and 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession,  which 
he  continued  for  forty-six  years ;  he  was 
the  first  lawyer  in  the  counties  of  Coles, 
Cumberland  and  Douglas ;  he  assisted  in 
carrying  the  chain  at  the  second  survey  of 
lots  in  Charleston  in  1831.  On  the  break- 
ing, out  of  the  Black  Hawk  war  in  1832, 
he  received  a  commission  as  Colonel  and 
rendered  valuable  service  in  recruiting  and 
forwarding  the  troops  from  this  vicinity. 
In  1832,  he  was  appomted  Circuit  Clerk 
and  Recorder  to  fill  out  an  unexpired  term  ; 
in  1834,  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  held  that  office  eight  years ;  in 
1836  and  1837,  he  represented  Coles  Co. 
— then  including  Cumberland  and  Douglas 
Cos. — in  the  State  Legislature,  and  occu- 
pied the  same  seat  with  the  lamented 
President  Lincoln,  Hon.  Stephen  A.  Doug- 
las being  also  a  member  of  the  same  House  ; 
he  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature  in 
18-1-4,  serving  two  years;  he  was  ap- 
pointed, in  1870,  Prosecuting  Attorney,  to 
fill  out  the  unexpired  term  of  Gren.  John 
Boyle,  and  has  held  other  offices  of  trust, 
among  which  may  be  mentioned  that  of 
Police  Magistrate  from  1868  to  1874. 
Col.  Dunbar  was  first  married  in  1834  to 
Miss  Ellen  Monroe,  a  native  of  Grlasgow, 
Ky. ;  she  died  in  1835 ;  and  on  Sept. 
27,  1836,  he  married  Mrs.  Susan  F. 
Harrison,  the  widow  of  Matthew  T.  Har- 
rison, of  Kentucky ;  they  have  had  eight 
children — Alexander  Mason  Dunbar  (of 
Charleston),  Mary  Ellen  (now   Mrs.  I.  N. 


Cutler,  residing  in  Missouri),  Imogene 
Caroline  (afterward  wife  of  Bruce  Ander- 
son, and  who  died  in  1870j,  Lucian  Syl- 
vester (of  Charleston),  Albert  Perry  (who 
died  in  1876),  Lucy  Arabella  (now  Mrs. 
Wm.  0.  Peake,  of  Charleston),  Susan 
Virginia  (who  died  when  less  than  2 
years  of  age)  and  Charles  Ulysses,  of 
Charleston.  Col.  Dunbar's  law  library, 
together  with  many  valuable  papers,  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1877,  upon  which  he 
retired  from  practice.  Col.  Dunbar  was 
an  Old  Line  Whig,  and  joined  the  Repub- 
lican party  on  its  organization  in  1856  ; 
he  stumped  the  county  and  vicinity  for  the 
Republican  candidates  at  every  Presidential 
election  since  that  time ;  he  is  a  fluent, 
effective  public  speaker  and  an  able  lawyer. 
JEWELL  DAVIS,  M.  D.,  physician 
and  surgeon,  Charleston ;  was  born  in  Athens 
Co.,Ohio,  Oct.  27,1811  ;  he  was  raised  on  a 
farm,  and  followed  that  calling  until  about 
1838,  when  he  removed  to  Middleport, 
Meigs  Co.,  Ohio,  having  a  few  years  pre- 
viously married  Miss  Cynthia  Jones,  of 
that  place ;  they  have  three  children — 
Mary  V.  (wife  of  E.  L.  Kelly),  Curtis  L., 
Teller  of  the  First  National  Bank,  and 
Reuben  J.,  all  of  whom  are  residents  of 
Coles  Co.  Dr.  Davis  followed  coopering 
and  carriage-making  for  a  while  in  Middle- 
port  ;  owing  to  illness  in  his  family,  he  was 
induced  to  study  medicine,  studying  suc- 
cessively all  the  various  systems  of  practice 
— allopathy,  homeopathy,  eclecticism,  hy- 
dropathy and  chromo-thermalism,  and 
during  his  forty  years'  practice  he  has  con- 
fined himself  to  no  particular  school,  but 
has  seized  upon  any  remedy,  from  whatever 
source,  which  would  accomplish  his  object 
— the  relief  of  the  patient  and  the  cure  of 
disease  ;  his  favorite  system,  however,  is 
the  eclectic ;  Dr.  Davis  came  to  Charleston 
in  1854,  and  began  practice  with  Dr.  A. 
M.  Henry,  now  of  Mattoon,  with  whom 
he  also  engaged  in  the  drug  business ; 
after  a  few  years.  Dr.  Henry  disposed  of 
his  interest  to  Dr.  H.  C.  Barnard ;  he 
afterward  practiced  with  Dr.  H.  R.  Allen, 
now  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  National 
Surgical  Institute  of  Indianapolis,  and 
with  Dr.  J.  B.  Denman  up  to  the  begin- 
ning of  the  war,  since  which  he  has  prac- 
ticed alone ;  Dr.  Davis  is  also  largely  in- 
terested in  bee  culture,  having  about  a 
hundred  colonies,  and  is  the  inventor  of 


CHARLESTON  TOWNSHIP. 


519 


the   queen   nursery  for  propagating  queen 

JACOB  K.  DECKER,  far.  and  stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Charleston  ;  was  born  in 
Knox  Co.,Ind.,  Aug.  7,  1817  ;  his  parents, 
Isaac  and  Margaret  Decker,  were  Vir- 
ginians, and  left  that  State  in  1811,  and 
were  living  in  Fort  Knox,  on  the  Wabash, 
when  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe  was  fought ; 
when  he  was  7  years  old,  his  father  died, 
and  at  about  the  age  of  15,  he  was  appren- 
ticed by  his  guardian  to  a  merchant  in 
Crawford  Co.,  111. ;  in  1836,  he  came  to 
Charleston  and  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business,  with  a  capital  of  S250  ;  about 
two  and  a  half  years  later,  he  went  to 
farming,  which  he  has  continued,  in  con- 
nection with  other  business,  to  the  present 
time;  in  1842,  he  engaged  in  the  dry 
goods  trade,  which  he  followed  until  1855  ; 
he  then  farmed  exclusively  until  1859, 
when  he  resumed  the  dry  goods  business, 
continuing  till  1863,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  engaged  solely  in  forming  and 
stock-raising;  he  owns  a  fine  farm  of  750 
acres  adjoining  the  city  on  the  north,  al- 
though he  resides  in  the  city,  where  he 
owns  a  good  residence  with  ten  acres  of 
land ;  he  also  owns  a  fine  brick  store  on 
the  east  side  of  the  public  square,  occu- 
pied by  S.  Barnes,  besides  which  he  owns 
250  acres  of  land  in  Northern  Iowa.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  Republican.  He  has  served 
one  term  on  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and 
for  over  twenty  years  has  been  Treasurer 
of  the  Coles  County  Board  of  Agriculture. 
He  was  married  Sept.  23,  1839,  to  Miss 
Mary  A.  Morton,  daughter  of  the  late 
Charles  S.  Morton,  of  Charleston ;  they 
have  7  children  living — Charles  V.  (of 
Hutchinson,  Kan.),  Hannah  H.  (wife  of 
Dr.  W.  R.  Patton,  of  Charleston),  Annie 
(now  Mrs.  Silas  Barnes,  of  Charleston), 
Demetrius  J.  (now  a  resident  of  Cali- 
fornia), Ion  B.  (now  Mrs.  T.  H.  Duncan, 
of  Oakland,  111.),  N.  Ella  and  Mary  A. 

GILES  DAVIS,  deceased,  late  of 
Charleston ;  although  not  one  of  the  early 
settlers,  was  yet  a  citizen  and  business  man 
who  enjoyed  in  so  largo  a  measure  the  con- 
fidence of  his  fellow-men  and  was  held  in 
such  universal  and  high  esteem  by  the 
entire  community,  that  it  is  with  pleasure 
that  we  give  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life ; 
he  was  born  in  Union  Co.,  Ind.,  Nov.  7, 
1824;    he    was    the    son    of   Elisha    and 


Elizabeth  (Shafer )  Davis,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Ohio  ;  his  youth  was  spent 
in  the  usual  manner  of  farmers'  sons.  On 
the  1st  of  October,  1845,  when  not  quite 
21  years  of  age,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Louisa  Jinks,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Phoebe  (Winchell)  Jinks,  of  Franklin  Co., 
Ind.  In  1868,  he  removed  with  his  family 
to  Jasper  Co.,  111.,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing;  in  1871,  he  came  to  Coles  Co.,  and, 
until  1873,  kept  a  meat  market  in  Charles- 
ton ;  he  then  located  on  a  farm  in  Seven 
Hickory  Tp.,  where  he  resided  two  years, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  returned  to 
Charleston  and  resumed  business  ;  in  1878, 
just  previous  to  his  death,  he  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business,  which  is  still  con- 
tinued by  his  son,  Warren  R.  Davis.  He 
died  Oct.  19,  1878,  leaving  a  wife  and 
eleven  children — Sarah  E.  (Mrs.  E.  B. 
Wooden,  of  Charleston),  Phoebe  J.  (wife 
of  T.  J.  Hedrick,  of  Rush  Co.,  Kan.), 
Robert  S.  (a  teacher,  of  Rush  Co.,  Kan.), 
Richard  E,  (a  telegraph  operator  in  Litch- 
field, 111.),  Giles  0.  (in  business  in  Charles- 
ton), Warren  R.  (also  in  business  in 
Charleston),  Louisa  J.,  Emily  M.,  Harry 
E.,  Wilber  M.  and  E&e  L.;  their  first-born, 
Samuel  J.,  died  Sept.  3, 1847.  Mr.  Davis 
was  a  highly-respected  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Knights*  of 
Honor. 

HON.  ORLANDO  B.  FICKLIN,  at- 
torney at  law,  Charleston  ;  he  was  born  in 
Kentucky  Dec.  16,  1808,  being  the  son 
of  William  and  Elizabeth  Kenner  (Will- 
iams) Ficklin,  both  of  Virginia.  His 
early  education  was  obtained  in  country 
schools,  in  Kentucky  and  Missouri,  except 
about  one  year,  which  he  spent  at  Cum- 
berland College,  located  at  Princeton, 
Caldwell  Co.,  Ky.,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 
His  parents  having  removed  to  Potosi, 
Washington  Co.,  Mo.,  he  commenced  the 
study  of  law  with  Henry  Shurlds  of  that 
place,  who  was  afterward  elected  to  the 
Circuit  Court  bench,  and  at  a  later  period 
removed  to  St.  Louis  and  eno;ao;ed  in  bank- 
ing  until  his  death  ;  Mr.  Ficklin  spent  the 
winter  of  1829  and  1830  in  the  law  office 
of  Gen.  Robert  Farris,  of  St.  Louis ;  in 
March,  1830,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
at  Bellville,  St.  Clair  Co.,  111.,  having  been 
examined  by  Edward  Cowles,  then  an  old 
and  well-established  lawyer  of  that  place; 


520 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


from  thence  lie  went  to  McLeansboro, 
Hamilton  Co.,  III.,  meeting  there  with 
Chief  Justice  William  Wilson,  who  ad- 
vised him  to  locate  in  Mount  Carmel, 
Wabash  Co.,  111.  ;  Mr.  Ficklin  attended 
the  courts  of  that  circuit  commencing  at 
Carmi,  and  when  the  circuit  closed,  he 
located  at  Mt.  Carmel.  In  1832,  he  went 
to  the  Black  Hawk  war  in  Capt.  Elias 
Jurdon's  Company,  and  at  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  regiments  and  brigades,  was 
appointed  Quartermaster,  and  was  attached 
to  the  brigade  of  Gen.  Milton  R.  Alex- 
ander, then  of  Paris,  111. ;  in  1833,  he 
was  elected  Colonel  of  the  militia  of  Wa- 
bash Co.,  under  the  old  militia  system,  long 
since  exploded.  At  the  election  in  August, 
1834,  Mr.  Ficklin  was  elected  to  the  Lower 
House  of  the  Legislature,  and  was  chosen 
by  that  body  State's  Attorney  for  the 
Wabash  Circuit.  In  1837,  he  removed  to 
Charleston,  Coles  Co.,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided.  At  the  election  on  the  first 
Monday  of  August,  1838,  he  was  elected 
as  Representative  in  the  Legislature  from 
that  county,  and  was  again  elected  to  the 
same  place  in  August,  18-12;  at  the 
August  election  in  1843,  he  was  elected  to 
Congress  from  the  Wabash  district ;  his 
colleagues  were  Robert  Smith,  John  A. 
McClernand,  John  Wentworth,  Joseph  P, 
Hoge,  John  J.  Harding  and  Stephen  A. 
Douglas  ;  he  was  re-elected  to  Congress  in 
August,  1844,  and  again  in  1846,  and 
declining  to  be  a  candidate  at  the  next 
election,  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in 
Charleston  ;  in  1850,  he  was  again  a  can- 
didate for  Congress,  and  was  elected  at  the 
August  election  ;  on  the  expiration  of  his 
term,  March  4,  1853,  he  engaged  again  in 
the  practice  of  law;  in  1856,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  Convention  at 
Cincinnati,  that  nominated  James  Buchan- 
an for  President ;  in  I860,  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  National  Convention,  held  at 
Charleston,  S.  C,  and  was  present  at  the 
disruption  of  that  body,  and  also  attended 
the  adjourned  meeting  at  Baltimore,  where 
Stephen  A.  Douglas  was  nominated ;  in 
1864,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  National 
Convention,  held  at  Chicago,  that  nominated 
Gen.  George  B.  McClellan  for  President ; 
he  represented  the  counties  of  Coles,  Moul- 
trie and  Douglas  in  the  State  Constitutional 
Convention,  in  the  winter  of  1869-70; 
after  which,   he  gave  his  attention  to  the 


practice  of  law,  and  was  not  a  candidate 
for  any  office  in  the  gift  of  the  people  until 
the  fall  of  1878,  when  he  was  elected  to 
the  Illinois  House  of  Representatives. 
While  in  Congress,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  H.  Cokjuitt,  a  daughter  of  Sen- 
ator W.  H.  Colquitt,  of  Georgia,  and  has 
four  children  living. 

FREDERICK  FROMMEL,  Charles- 
ton, of  the  firm  of  Weiss  &  Frommel, 
proprietors  of  the  Charleston  Woolen-Mill ; 
was  born  in  Ravensburg,  Kingdom  of  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany,  Dec.  5,  1825  ;  at  the  . 
age  of  14,  he  was  apprenticed  in  a  woolen- 
factory  to  learn  the  trade,  and  worked  there 
until  he  came  to  this  country  in  1854  ;  he 
spent  several  years  in  Philadelphia,  New 
York  and  Connecticut ;  after  which,  he 
(tame  West  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  traveling  for  two  of  the  prin- 
cipal woolen  houses  in  that  city  until  1869 ; 
he  then  removed  to  Charleston,  and  en- 
gaged with  Henry  Weiss,  proprietor  of  the 
Charleston  Woolen-Mill.  On  the  death 
of  Mr.  Weiss,  in  the  fall  of  1869,  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm  of  Weiss, 
Ginther  &  Co.,  till  1874,  since  which  time 
it  has  been  Weiss  &  Frommel  ;  they  em- 
ploy about  thirty  hands,  and  manufacture 
all  kinds  of  woolen  goods  and  yarns.  Mr. 
Frommel  was  a  member  of  the  City  Coun- 
cil of  Charleston,  from  1874  to  1878. 
He  was  married  May  16,  1860,  to  Miss 
Annie  Stuber,  of  Cincinnati,  and  has  five 
children  living — Emma  K.,  Albert  G., 
Ernst  H.,  Minnie  Ch.  and  Otto  H. 

AARON  FERGUSON,  M.  D.,  deceased, 
late  of  Charleston  ;  was  born  in  Wilkes  Co., 
N.  C,  Dec.  11,  1802;  he  was  a  son  of 
Joel  and  Lydia  (Chambers)  Ferguson,  and 
the  oldest  of  a  family  of  nine  children ; 
when  he  was  quite  youug,  his  parents  emi- 
grated to  Bloomington,  Ind.  ;  he  obtained 
a  collegiate  education  in  the  Bloomington 
College,  after  which,  he  studied  medicine 
under  Dr.  Maxwell,  of  that  place,  and  at- 
tended a  course  of  medical  lectures  in  Cin- 
cinnati;  in  1830,  he  came  to  Charleston 
and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. He  was  married  May  21,  1832, 
to  Miss  Susan  P.  Morton,  daughter  of 
Charles  S.  Morton,  the  original  proprietor 
of  the  city  of  Charleston  ;  she  was  born 
in  Fayette  Co.,  Ky.,  May  31,  1814,  and 
came  to  Coles  Co.  with  her  parents  in 
1829  ;  all  their  children,  three  in  number, 


CHARLESTON  TOWNSHIP. 


521 


are  still  living ;  William  C.  resides  in  St. 
Louis  ;  Irvin  B.,  in  Eockerville,  Dakota 
Territory,  and  Aaronella  L.  is  the  wife  of 
G.  W.  Parker,  of  St.  Louis.  Dr.  Fergu- 
son, not  content  with  previous  attainments, 
afterward  pursued  a  course  in  the  Medical 
Department  of  Transylvania  University, 
Lexington,  Ky.,  where  he  graduated  about 
1837  ;  his  practice  was  an  extensive  one, 
extending  a  distance  of  thirty  miles  in  all 
directions  ;  he  was  a  close  student  all  his 
life,  retiring  in  his  disposition,  seeking  no 
notoriety,  and  accepting  no  public  offices, 
but  devoting  himself  to  study  and  the 
duties  of  his  profession.  He  was,  how- 
ever, an  earnest  Republican,  believing 
firmly  in  the  principles  of  his  party,  and 
ready  to  advocate  them  on  all  suitable  oc- 
casions. For  about  five  years  previous  to 
his  death,  he  was  confined  to  his  room  by 
paralysis;  he  died  April  10,  1876  ;  as  a 
physician,  he  occupied  an  exalted  position, 
and  as  a  citizen  was  held  in  universal  re- 
spect. Mrs.  Ferguson  still  resides  in 
Charleston. 

WM.  E.  GINTHER,  dealer  in  hardware 
and  farm  machinery,  and  general  insur- 
ance agent,  Charleston ;  was  born  in  the 
province  of  Saxony,  Prussia,  May  2,  1834  ; 
his  father  was  a  wagon  and  carriage  manu- 
facturer, and  he  attended  school  and 
worked  in  his  father's  shop  till  he  was 
16  years  old,  when  he  came  to  this 
country,  landing  in  New  York  on  the  4tli 
of  July,  1850 ;  coming  to  Chicago,  he 
worked  on  a  farm  and  on  the  old  Galena 
&  Chicago  R.  R.  for  awhile ;  afterward 
engaged  in  farming  for  himself;  in  1861, 
he  engaged  as  a  traveling  salesman  for  H. 
W.  Austin,  of  Chicago,  his  route  lying- 
through  Central  and  Southern  Illinois,  and 
Missouri ;  in  1864.  he  removed  to  Charles- 
ton, and,  until  1869,  followed  the  hard- 
ware and  lumber  business,  the  firm  beina; 
McGee  &  Ginther ;  he  then  became  a 
partner  in  the  firm  of  Weiss,  Ginther  & 
Co.,  proprietors  of  the  Charleston  Woolen- 
Mill;  in  1874,  he  resumed  the  hardware 
business,  and  in  September,  1877,  started 
in  the  insurance  business  also ;  he  repre- 
sents fifteen  first-class  fire  insurance  com- 
panies, and  three  life  and  accident  com- 
panies. He  represented  a  part  of  Cook 
Co.  in  the  State  Legislature  in  1861  and 
1862,  his  district  comprising  the  West  Di- 
vision of  Chicago  and  the  western  portion 


of  Cook  Co. ;  for  four  years  previously,  he 
had  been  a  member  of  the  Cook  County 
Board  of  Supervisors ;  since  coming  to 
Charleston,  he  has  abstained  from  political 
life,  and  with  the  exception  of  serving  in 
the  City  Council,  has  held  no  public  office. 
He  was  married  in  1853  to  Miss  Cather- 
ine Jacobs,  of  St.  Charles,  111.,  a  native  of 
Bavaria,  Germany;  she  died  in  1858, 
leaving  one  son — Francis  W.,  now  U.  S. 
Postal  Clerk  from  Pittsburgh,  Penn.,  to 
New  York  City ;  Mr.  Ginther  was  mar- 
ried again  in  1859,  to  Miss  Christina 
Schneider,  of  Oak  Park,  111. :  they  have 
five  children — Emma  L.,  Anna,  Clara  A., 
Minnie  C.  and  William  E..  Jr. 

CHARLES  GRAMESLY,  dealer  in 
wines  and  liquors,  Charleston  ;  was  born 
in  Palmyra,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  2, 
1842  ;  he  is  a  son  of  William  S.  and 
Phebe  J.  (Hildreth)  Gramesly ;  his 
father  was  born  in  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Nov.  17,  1809,  and  his  mother  in  Bridge- 
hampton.  Long  Island,  March  5,  1819  ; 
in  l<'-^57,  his  parents  removed  with  their 
family  to  Coles  Co.,  and  settled  in  Charles- 
ton Tp.,  where  his  father  now  resides ; 
his  mother  died  in  January,  1876,  leaving 
two  sons — Charles  and  Henry  ;  on  becom- 
ing of  age,  Mr.  Gramesly  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school,  and  followed  it  during  three 
successive  winters  ;  in  1872,  he  entered  the 
Charleston  post  office  as  deputy,  under 
John  A.  Miles,  and  remained  till  Decem- 
ber, 1873,  when  ho  left  the  office  to  attend 
to  his  duties  as  collector  of  the  township, 
to  which  office  he  had  been  elected  in  the 
spring  of  that  year  ;  in  the  spring  of  1875, 
he  started  his  present  business.  He  was 
married  Aug.  28,  1877,  to  Miss  Katurah 
Hildreth,  a  daughter  of  John  Hildreth,  of 
South  Onondaga,  Onandaga  Co.,  N,  Y. ; 
they  have  one  child — Margaret. 

J.  P.  HARRAH,  attorney  at  law, 
Charleston ;  is  a  native  of  Putnam  Co., 
Ind. ;  he  was  born  near  Greencastle  June 
4,  1848j  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  F.  Harrah ; 
in  1858,  he  removed  with  his  father's  family 
to  Jasper  Co.,  111.,  where  he  remained  on 
the  farm  until  1 867  ;  he  then  engaged  in 
teaching  school  in  Jasper  Co. ;  in  August, 
1868,  he  entered  Westfield  College,  111., 
and  remained  as  a  student  in  that  institu- 
tion two  years ;  returning  home  in  1870, 
he  began  reading  law,  and,  in  the  fall  of 
1871,  went  to  Newton,  the  county  seat  of 


522 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


Jasper  Co.,  as  deputy  in  the  oflBce  of 
tlie  County  Treasurer,  continuing  his  law 
studies  under  the  direction  of  Col.  John 
H.  Halley,  a  prominent  attorney  of  that 
city  ;  in  November,  1872,  he  was  elected 
State's  Attorney  for  Jasper  Co.,  although 
he  was  not  admitted  to  the  bar  until  Octo- 
ber, 1873,  owing  to  a  rule  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  State  requiring  candidates  for 
admission  to  spend  two  years  in  an  attor- 
ney's office  ;  he  continued  to  hold  the  office 
of  State's  Attorney  until  1876  ;  he  also 
served  one  term  as  City  Attorney  ;  he  was 
appointed  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  De- 
cember, 1876,  by  Grov.  Cullom  ;  in  1877, 
he  came  to  Charleston  and  has  since  been 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  this  city. 
He  was  married  Jan.  8,  1873,  to  Miss 
Emma  L.  Gill,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Gill, 
of  Cumberland  Co.,  111. ;  she  died  Oct.  6, 
1878,  leaving  two  children — Edith  A.  and 
Hattie  A. 

ELI  HURON,  dealer  in  books,  station- 
ery, musical  instruments,  toys,  etc.,  Charles- 
ton ;  was  born  in  Hendricks  Co.,  Ind., 
Oct.  14,  1836  ;  up  to  the  breaking-out  of 
the  rebellion  he  remained  on  his  father's 
farm.  In  February,  1862,  he  entered  the 
Union  army  as  a  member  of  Co.  A,  53d 
Ind.  V.  I.,  serving  in  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland ;  he  participated  in  the  siege 
of  Corinth,  and  was  wounded  at  the  second 
battle  of  Corinth,  on  the  5th  of  October, 
1862,  from  which  he  lost  his  right  arm. 
He  spent  the  spring  and  summer  of  1864 
as  a  student  in  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Busi- 
ness College,  Indianapolis,  after  which  he 
went  to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  entered 
the  office  of  the  Indiana  State  Military 
Agency  as  a  clerk  under  Gen.  Hannaman  ; 
here  he  remained  several  months  and  then 
obtained  an  appointment  in  the  War  De 
partment  as  a  clerk  in  the  Quartermaster 
General's  office,  where  he  remained  till 
1869,  when  he  resigned  his  position  and 
came  to  Charleston ;  he  entered  upon  his 
present  business,  starting  at  first  with  a 
small  stock;  his  business  has  continued  to 
increase  until  he  now  has  the  largest  busi- 
ness in  his  line  in  the  city.  He  was  mar- 
ried July  1,  1869,  to  Miss  Annie  Harding, 
of  Charleston,  and  has  one  son — Rolnh  E. 

RICE  P.  HACKETT,  farmer*  and 
stock-raiser ;  P.  O.  Charleston  ;  was  born 
in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Nov.  28,  1838;  he  is  a 
son  of  Levi  Hackett,  who  came  from  Scott 


I  Co.,  Ky.,  and  settled  in  Coles  Co.  in  1835, 
and  now  lives  in  Douglas  Co.,  to  which  he 
removed  in  1861.    Mr.  Hackett  is  the  sec- 
ond of  a  family   of  eight  children,  five    of 
whom  are  living.  He  was  married  Feb.  25, 
1857,  to  Miss  Ann  M.  Waltrip,  of  Hutton 
Tp.,    also  a   native  of  the  county,   and   a 
j  daughter  of  John  Waltrip,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  the  county.     They  have    nine 
children — William  J.,  Eliza  E.,  Noah  M., 
!  Legrand  A.,  Henry  M.,  Ida  J.,  Lula  E., 
Eva  R.  and  Reason  A.    In  August,  1862, 
Mr.  Hackett  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  123d  I.  V. 
I.,  and  served  three  years,  participating  in 
all  the  principal  engagements  of  that  regi- 
ment ;   he  was  severely  wounded    at   the 
battle  of  Milton,  Tenn.,  and  carries  to  this 
day   a  bullet  in   his  hip  as  a  memento   of 
that    engagement ;  he  was    again  slightly 
wounded  during  a  skirmish    while  on    a 
foraging  expedition  below  Murfreesboro ; 
j  he  settled  on  his  present  farm  in    1872, 
!  where    he  owns  205  acres  of   land,    well 
'  improved.     Mr.  Hackett   and   family    are 
members  of  the  Church  of  Gfod,  of  which 
I  he  is  a  Trustee  and  Deacon ;  he  took    an 
:  active  part  in  the  erection  of  their  house  of 
'   worship  in  1876,  donating   a  lot  for  that 
purpose  from  the  corner  of  his  farm. 
ISAIAH  H.  JOHNSTON,    President 
I  of  the  Second  National  Bank,  Charleston  ; 
I  was  born  in  Russell  Co.,  Va.,  April  24, 
I   1827  ;  his  father,  Abner  Johnston,  came 
to    this    county  in   1830,  and  settled   in 
what  is  now  Pleasant  Grove  Tp.,  and  lived 
I  there  until  his  death,  which  occurred   in 
'   1848.      Mr.      Johnston     followed     farm- 
ing   until   he    was    27    years    old,     and 
then   engaged  in    merchandising,  and,   in 
j   1857,  removed  to  Mattoon,  and  continued 
'  in  business  there  till  1860;  he  was   then 
j  elected  Sheriff,  of  Coles  Co.,  and  removed 
j  to    Charleston;   he   served  as  Sheriff  two 
years,  and  afterward   served  out  the  unex- 
pired   term    of    John     H.     O'Hair.     He 
afterward  followed  the  dry  goods  trade  one 
year,    and  during  this    time   was  engaged 
also  in  farming  and  dealing  in  stock.     In 
;   1869,  he  built  the  first  pork-packing  house 
in  the  city,  and  the  same  year,  in  company 
with  T.  A.  Marshall  and  John  W.  True, 
he  established  the  banking  house  of  T.  A. 
Marshall  &  Co.,  which  was  superseded  by 
1  the  Second  National  Bank  two  years  later. 
In  1871,  he, 'with    John    B.    Hill    and 
i  Thomas  Stoddert,  erected  the    Charleston 


CHARLESTON  TOWNSHIP. 


52a 


Pork-Packing  Houses,  and  he  continued 
in  the  packing  business  until  1873,  when 
he  became  President  of  the  Second  Na- 
tional Bank  ;  he  has  served  two  terms  as 
member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  Mr. 
Johnson  was  first  married  Feb.  10,  1848, 
to  Miss  Harriet  JeiFries,  daughter  of  the 
late  Thomas  JeiFries,  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Coles  Co.  ;  she  died  April  14, 
1853,  leaving  two  children — Felix,  now 
in  the  Second  National  Bank,  and  Emily, 
now  wife  of  Charles  E.  Wilson,  of  Charles- 
ton ;  Mr.  Johnston  was  married  again 
Aug.  10,  1855,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Gray, 
of  this  county ;  they  have  three  children 
living — Mattie  E.,  Bertha  and  Hugh. 

JACOB  LINDER,  farmer  and"  stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Charleston.  Among  the 
pioneers  of  Coles  Co.  who  settled  here 
prior  to  the  year  1830,  was  Jonathan  Lin- 
der,  who  was  born  in  West  Virginia  Aug. 
8,  1808.  He  was  the  son  of  a  farmer, 
and  on  becoming  of  age  he  came  West,  ac- 
companied by  his  father's  family  ;  they 
made  the  journey  in  wagons,  and  on  arriv- 
ing in  Coles  Co.,  they  took  up  some  land 
and  purchased  other  land,  and  engaged  in 
farming.  After  a  few  years,  he  revisited 
his  native  State,  performing  the  journey 
there  and  back  on  horse-back.  In  1834  or 
1835,  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Cossell,  a 
daughter  of  Michael  Cossell,  another  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  ;  she  was  born  in  West 
Virginia,  and  came  to  the  county  with  her 
parents  in  1830.  They  continued  to  re- 
side in  Charleston  Tp.  till  their  death. 
Mr.  Linder  died  in  April,  1877,  his  wife 
having  died  in  1872.  They  left  one  son, 
Jacob  Linder,  who  was  born  in  Charleston 
Tp.,  Jan.  6,  1836,  and  who  now  owns  and 
occupies  the  old  homestead  on  Sec.  4, 
consisting  of  207  acres  of  land.  He  also 
owns  sixty-five  acres  nearer  town.  He 
was  married  May  31, 1860,  to  Miss  Rachel 
A.  Mclntire,  of  Seven  Hickory  Tp.,  and 
has  one  child  living — Minnie  E. 

GEN.  G.  M.  MITCHELL,  Postmaster, 
Charleston,  was  born  in  Warren  Co.,  Ky., 
Oct.  5,  1835.  His  father,  Bedford  Mitch- 
ell, came  to  Coles  Co.  in  1851  and  settled 
in  Paradise  Township,  where  he  died  in 
1856.  In  1852,  thesubjectof  this  sketch, 
then  a  lad  of  17,  entered  a  store  in 
Paradise,  as  clerk  for  Cunningham  &  Son, 
where  he  remained  six  ye'ars.  He  then 
followed  merchandising   for  himself  until 


1859,  when  he  was  appointed  Deputy 
Sheriff  under  Maiden  Jones,  and  served 
until  May,   1860.     On   the   1st  of  May, 

1860,  he  married  Miss  Kate  Miles, 
daughter  of  John  Miles,  of  Charleston, 
and  has  seven  children.  Removing  to 
Mattoon,  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
John  Cunningham,  under  the  fii'm  name  of 
Mitchell  &  Cunningham,  and  continued  in 
general  merchandise  business  until  the 
breaking-out    of  the  rebellion.     In    June, 

1861,  he  entered  the  army  as  Captain  of 
Co.  C  1st  I.  V.  C. — the  first  three-years 
regiment  to  leave  the  State.  He  served 
with  that  regiment  till  February,  1862, 
when  he  was  promoted  to  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  of  the  54th  I.  V.  I.  In  October, 
1863,  was  promoted  to  Colonel.  In  1864, 
he  re-enlisted  with  his  regiment  as  a  veter- 
an, and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  was 
brevetted  Brigadier  General ,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service  Nov.  3,  1865, 
having,  served  actively  and  continuously 
for  nearly  five  years  ;  he  participated  in 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  the  battle  of  Par- 
ker's Cross  Roads,  Tenn.,  and  was  with 
Gen.  Steel  in  all  his  campaigns  in  Arkan- 
sas. Returning  from  the  war,  he  was 
elected  Sheriff  of  Coles  Co.,  holding  the 
ofl5ce  two  years.  He  was  appointed  Post- 
master at  Charleston  in  April,  1877. 

JAMES  A.  MITCHELL  (deceased)  ; 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Coles  Co.,  was 
born  in  Washington  Co.,  E.    Tenn.,  Aug. 

27,  1797  ;  he  was  a  son  of  Robert  and 
Elizabeth  (Allison)  Mitchell ;  his  father 
was  a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  emi- 
grated to  Tennessee  in  an  early  day.  He 
passed  his  early  life  on  his  father's  farm 
near  Jonesboro,  Tenn.,  and  after  obtain- 
ing a  thorough  preparatory  education  en- 
tered Washington  College,  in  his  native 
State,  but,  after  a  time,  left  college  and  en- 
gaged in  merchandising.  He  was  married 
May  12, 1818,  to  Miss  Esther  Collom,  of 
his    native    county ;  she   was  born    Oct. 

28,  1799.  He  came  to  Coles  Co. 
in  1833,  and  entered  a  large  quantity  of 
Government  land,  and  engaged  in  farming, 
dealing  in  stock,  etc.  For  a  number  of 
years,  he  resided  in  Charleston,  but  after- 
ward retired  to  a  farm  near  town,  on  which 
he  resided  till  his  death.  He  was  a  promi- 
nent citizen  and  a  prosperous  business  man. 
He  was  for  several  years  School  Commis- 
sioner  of  Coles    Co.     He  died  Oct.    14, 


524 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


1843,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  old  home  in 
Tennessee,  leaving  a  wife  and  nine  chil- 
dren— Robert  A.,  for  twenty  years  Pastor 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Charleston, 
aud  now  of  Kansas,  111.  ;  Jonathan  C.,  now 
a  farmer  in  Missouri ;  John  D.,  a  physi- 
cian of  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  Sarah  E.,  wife 
of  Thomas  Cheeseman,  of  Missouri;  Sam- 
uel, who  died  in  1873  ;  Luther  and  James 
A.,  farmers  in  Coles  Co.,  Alexander  C. 
and  Isaac  B.,  merchants  in  Charleston. 
Ilis  widow,  now  Mrs.  Lumbrick,  still  re- 
sides in  Charleston, 

LUTHER  C.  MITCHELL,  farmer 
and  stock-raiser;  P.O.Charleston;  a  son 
of  James  A.  and  Esther  (Collom)  Mitch- 
ell; was  born  in  Washinfrton  Co.,  Tenn., 
June  2,  1830;  in  1833,  his  father's  fam- 
ily removed  to  Charleston  ;  he  was  raised 
on  the  farm,  and  at  19,  started  for  him- 
self; after  farming  two  years,  he  made 
the  trip  to  California,  where  he  spent 
eight  months  in  minino; ;  going  thence  to 
Australia ;  there  he  remained  seven  years, 
and,  returning  in  1860,  he  resumed  form- 
ing and  dairying;  he  removed  in  1871  to 
his  present  farm  on  Sec.  19,  where  he 
owns  eighty  acres  of  land.  He  was  mar- 
ried March  5,  1861,  to  Miss  H.  A. 
Waddle,  of  Coles  Co. ;  they  have  seven 
children  living — Kittle  B.,  William  A., 
Rhoda  H.,  Ella,  Alice,  James  and  Emily 
E.  Mr.  Mitchell  has  served  six  years  as 
School  Director. 

ALEXANDER  C.  MITCHELL,  deal- 
er in  books,  stationery,  toys,  etc.,  Charles- 
ton ;  is  a  native  of  Coles  Co.,  being  a  son 
of  James  M.  and  Esther  (Collom) 
Mitchell,  a  sketch  of  whom  is  given  above; 
he  was  born  in  Charleston  Dec.  6,  1836; 
until  1860,  he  remained  on  the  farm, 
receiving  a  common  school  education. 
He  was  married  Dec.  27,  1859,  to  Mrs. 
Carrie  Roberts,  of  Charleston.  In  1860, 
he  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business 
in  Charleston,  and  continued  in  that  two 
years ;  the  next  two  years  were  spent  in 
farming,  after  which  he  followed  the  gro- 
cery business  until  1876  ;  he  was  engaged 
for  a  .short  time  in  the  drug  business,  alter 
which  he  entered  upon  his  present  busi- 
ness;  he  has  two  sons — Walter  G.  and 
Wirt  A. 

ISAAC  B.  MITCHELL,  dealer  in 
groceries  and  provisions,  Charleston ;  is 
the  youngest  son  of  James  A.  and  Esther 


Mitchell ;  he  was  born  in  Charleston,  111., 
Jan.  6,  1841  ;  he  remained  on  the  farm 
until  the  age  of  15  years;  the  next 
four  years  he  spent  in  the  Charleston 
Academy,  where  he  prepared  for  the 
Sophomore  class  in  college,  intending  to 
pursue  a  college  course;  but,  in  1861, 
owing  to  circumstances,  he  abandoned  the 
idea  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  April, 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  68th  I.  V.  I., 
for  three  months.  He  continued  farming 
until  1865,  teaching  school  during  the 
winters;  in  1865,  he  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile business  in  Charleston.  He  was  mar- 
ried Dec.  11,  1866,  to  Miss  Florida  A. 
Miles,  a  daughter  of  John  A.  Miles,  of 
Charleston,  and  has  four  children — John 
M.,  Charles  B.,  Richard  R.  and  Paul.  He 
continued  merchandising  until  1867,  and 
then  farmed  for  one  year,  starting  in  his 
present  business  in  1868. 

ALLISON  M.  MITCHELL,  of  the 
firm  of  Ashmore  &  Mitchell,  dealers  in 
boots  and  shoes,  Charleston ;  is  a  native 
of  Coles  Co ;  he  was  born  in  Charleston 
Dec.  29,  1852,  being  the  son  of  Rev. 
Robert  A.  and  Ann  E.  Mitchell;  his 
father  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Tenn., 
and  came  to  Coles  Co.  with  his  parents  in 
1833;  he  received  a  collegiate  education, 
and  after  pursuing  a  theological  course, 
located  in  Charleston  as  Pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  remained 
in  charge  for  twenty  years.  Allison  M. 
Mitchell,  the  son,  was  raised  on  a  farm 
until  he  was  19  years  old,  and  then 
entered  the  grocery  store  of  his  uncle,  I. 
B.  Mitchell,  where  he  remained  for  three 
years,  after*  which  he  spent  about  two 
years  in  the  employ  of  W.  M.  &  E.  A. 
Jenkins;  on  the  1st  of  January,  1878,  in 
company  with  W.  J.  Ashmore,  he  pur- 
chased the  boot  and  shoe  business  of  B. 
M.  Payne,  in  which  he  has  since  con- 
tinued. 

JOHN  A.  McCONNELL,  editor  of  the 
Charleston  Phtindealer,  Charleston  ;  was 
born  in  Cadiz,  Ohio,  Dec.  26,  1826  ;  he 
began,  at  12  years  of  age,  to  learn  his 
father's  business  of  chairmaking ;  his  in- 
clinations were,  however,  toward  literary 
or  professional  pursuits,  but  he  was  pre- 
vented from  carrying  out  his  intentions  in 
that  direction  by  a  weakness  of  the  eyes ; 
at  the  age  of  17,  he  began  teaching  school, 
and  taught   during  the  winters  for  four 


CHARLESTON  TOWNSHIP. 


525 


years;  in  1859,  he  engaged  in  the  grocery- 
business  in  Cadiz,  in  which  he  continued 
until  1871,  when  he  embarked  in  the  tan- 
'  ning  business,  and  followed  this  until  the 
spring  of  1878  ;  he  then  came  to  Charles- 
ton and  assumed  editorial  charge  of  the 
Charleston  Plaindealer,  a  Republican 
newspaper,  the  oldest  in  the  county.  He 
was  married  Jan.  3,  1861,  to  Miss  Mary 
Quest,  of  Cadiz,  Ohio,  a  native  of  Indiana 
Co.,  Penn. 

WM.  M.'McCONNELL,  Charleston, 
of  the  firm  of  M.  A.  McConnell  &  Co.,  pub- 
lishers of  the  Charleston.  Plaindealer^  was 
born  on  the  28th  of  August,  1855,  in 
Cadiz,  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio ;  he  is  a  son  of 
James  McConnell,  of  that  city  ;  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in 
1872  ;  he  at  once  entered  the  office  of  the 
Cadiz  Republican,  to  learn  the  printer's 
trade,  and,  after  completing  his  appren- 
ticeship, remained  in  the  ofl&ce  as  a  jour- 
neyman until  he  came  to  Charleston,  in 
the  spring  of  1878,  as  one  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  Plaindealer. 

WM.  E.  McCRORY,  Cashier  of  the 
First  National  Bank,  Charleston,  is  a  son 
of  James  McCrory,  who  came  from  Harri- 
son Co.,  Ky.,  to  Coles  Co.  in  1837;  was 
for  two  years  engaged  in  business  in 
Charleston,  and  was  for  a  time  Postmaster 
of  this  city ;  he  returned  to  Kentucky  in 
1839,  and  remained  there  until  1850, 
when  he  removed  permanently,  with  his 
family,  to  this  county  ;  he  was  for  eight 
years  County  Clerk,  and  is  now  a  promi- 
nent farmer  in  La  Fayette  Tp.  William  E. 
was  born  in  Cynthiana,  Harrison  Co.,  Ky., 
March  20,  1839;  after  spending  a  year  as 
a  clerk  in  the  County  Clerk's  office,  under 
his  father,  he  became  Cashier,  at  the  age 
of  about  17  years,  of  the  Farmers'  and 
Traders'  Bank,  where  he  remained  until 
1860,  when  that  bank,  in  common  with 
the  other  State  banks — being  based  upon 
Southern  bonds,  went  down,  after  which, 
Marshall  &  McCrory  continued  the 
banking  business  for  about  a  year ;  he 
then  served  for  a  time  as  Deputy  County 
Clerk,  under  Jacob  I.  Brown  ;  then  clerked 
for  a  while  for  R.  M.  &  H.  S.  Parcels, 
after  which  he  resumed  the  banking  busi- 
ness, as  Cashier  for  the  Coles  County  Bank 
of  T.  G.  Chambers  &  Co.,  and,  on  the  con- 
solidation   of  that  bank    with    the    First 


National  Bank,  in  1868,  he  became  Cashier 
of  the  latter  institution,  which  position  he 
still  retains ;  he  served  one  year  as  Town 
Clerk.  He  was  married  March  20,  1860, 
to  Miss  Kate  Parcels,  a  daughter  of  the  late 
John  F.  Parcels,  an  early  and  highly  re- 
spected citizen  of  Charleston  ;  they  have 
one  son  living — Walter  P. 

T.  J.  MARCH,  Sr.,  dealer  in  furni- 
ture, Charleston  ;  was  born  in  Baltimore, 
Md.,  March  22,  1807  ;  he  is  the  only  son 
of  John  and  Eliza  March ;  losing  his  father 
in  early  childhood,  he  was  very  early  in 
life  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  ;  at  the 
age  of  8  years,  he  was  placed  in  a  tailor 
shop,  where  he  was  put  to  ripping  up  old 
clothes,  after  which  he  worked  successively 
for  a  tobacconist  in  stripping  tobacco,  in  a 
chair-factory,  learning  to  bottom  chairs, 
and  in  a  sieve-factory.  In  his  15th  year, 
he  began  learning  the  house-joiner's  trade, 
and  on  becoming  of  age,  went  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  followed  his  trade  up  to 
1835,  two  years  of  which  time  he  spent  in 
the  employ  of  Stephen  Girard,  and  helped 
to  build  the  large  and  elegant  structures 
composing  Girard's  Square.  He  was  mar- 
ried March  22,  1831,  to  Miss  Rosina  D. 
Creighton,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mar- 
garet Creighton,  of  Philadelphia  ;  she  was 
born  in  that  city  November  1,  1810; 
they  have  had  nine  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living — Thomas  J.  (of  Charleston), 
Lizzie  I.  (wife  of  J.  M.  Ashmore,  of 
Charleston),  George  A.  (of  Downey,  Los 
Angeles  Co.,  Cal.),  Robert  A.  (of  Charles- 
ton) and  Rosina  D.  (now  Mrs.  H.  E. 
Brooks,  of  Charleston).  On  the  4th  of 
July,  1835,  Mr.  March  left  Philadelphia 
and  removed  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  in 
March,  1836,  came  to  Coles  Co.  ;  he  put 
up  a  rail  cabin  ten  feet  square  in  what  is 
now  Morgan  Tp.,  and  there  lived  with  his 
family  for  three  months,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Charleston  ;  after  following  his 
trade  of  a  house-joiner  for  a  number  of 
years  ;  he  engaged  in  cabinet-making  and 
the  undertaking  business,  and  for  the  past 
fifteen  years  or  more,  has  been  iu  the  fur- 
niture business.  Mr.  March  built  the  first 
iron  front  store  in  Charleston  on  the  east 
side  of  the  square,  in  1858 ;  besides  this, 
he  has  erected  two  other  substantial  brick 
buildings  and  three  dwellings,  not  to  men- 
tion the  large  number  he  has  built  for 
other  parties ;  his  enterprise  has  been  re- 


526 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES ; 


warded  with  success,  he  having  accumu- 
lated a  comfortable  property,  owning  nine 
buildings  in  the  city,  including  the  fine 
brick  store  in  March's  Block. 

COL.  THOMAS  A.  MARSHALL, 
deceased,  late  of  Charleston  ;  was  a  son  of 
Hon.  Thos  A.  Marshall,  a  prominent  lawyer, 
and  for  more  than  twenty  years  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Appeals  of  Kentucky ;  he 
was  born  in  Frankfort,  Ky.,  Nov.  4,  1817; 
in  early  childhood,  he  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Paris,  Bourbon  Co.,  Ky. ;  his 
opportunities  for  obtaining  an  education 
were  excellent  and  were  appreciated  and 
improved  by  him  ;  he  early  became  a  stu- 
dent in  Transylvania  University,  and,  in 
about  1833,  entered  Kenyon  College,  but 
near  the  close  of  the  Junior  year,  he  left 
College,  and  was  employed  for  a  few 
months  on  the  survey  of  the  Louisville 
&  Lexington  Railroad;  after  reading  law 
and  attending  a  course  of  lectures  in  the 
law  depaitment  of  Transylvania  University, 
in  Lexington,  Ky.,  his  father  being  then 
a  law  professor  in  that  institution,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and,  in  1837,  began 
practice  in  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  where  he  en- 
joyed a  very  successful  law  practice  until 
his  removal  to  Illinois.  He  was  married 
Sept.  4.  1838,  to  Miss  Ellen  I.  Miles, 
daughter  of  Dr.  James  I.  Miles,  of  Frank- 
fort, Ky. ;  in  November,  1839,  he  removed 
to  Coles  Co.,  where  he  had  previously 
purchased  a  tract  of  800  acres  of  land, 
known  as  Dead  Man's  Grove  ;  he  removed 
to  Charleston  two  years  afterward  and  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  his  profession ; 
turning  his  attention  to  politics,  he  became 
a  leading  politician,  and  was  associated 
with  Abraham  Lincoln,  Lyman  Trumbull, 
David  Davis,  John  M.  Palmer,  N.  B. 
Judd  and  others  in  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party  in  1856,  previously  to 
which  time  he  had  been  an  Old  Line  Whig  ; 
in  1847,  he  had  been  a  member  of  the  State 
Constitutional  Convention,  and,  in  1856, 
was  a  member  of  the  Republican  State 
Convention,  and  the  same  year,  at  the 
earnest  personal  solicitation  of  Mr.  Lincoln, 
he  became  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate 
on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  was  elected 
by  a  large  majority.  He  was  subsequently 
in  1860,  elected  to  the  same  office  on  the 
Presidential  ticket  which  elected  Abraham 
Lincoln  as  President  of  the  United  States  ; 
it  should  be  mentioned  that  in  1853  he 


became  Cashier  of  the  Farmers'  and  Trad- 
ers' Bank  in  Charleston  and  continued  as 
such  during  the  existence  of  the  same.  In 
July,  1861,  he  became  Colonel  of  the  1st 
I.  V.  C,  and  served  his  country  gallantly 
and  faithfully  until  the  muster-out  of  his 
regiment  in  the  fall  of  1862.  In  July, 
1863,  he  was  appointed  Superintendent 
of  Indian  Affairs  in  LTtah,  but  shortly 
afterward  resigned  his  position ;  in  1864, 
he  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Vicks- 
burg, Miss.,  holding  that  office  until  July, 
1865  ;  he  was  President  of  the  bank  of  T. 
A.  Marshall  &  Co.  until  its  reorganization 
as  the  Second  National  Bank,  when,  owing 
to  ill  health,  he  retired  to  his  farm,  where 
he  resided  until  his  death  on  the  11th  of 
November,  1873 ;  he  left  a  family  of  six 
children — William  S.  (now  in  business  in 
Denver, Colo.),  Eliza  M.  (Mrs.  J.  W.  True, 
of  Louisa  Co.,  Iowa),  James  M.  (now  a 
Captain  in  the  Quartermaster's  Depart- 
ment of  the  regular  army  and  stationed  in 
Baltimore), Thomas  A.  (of  Denver,  Colo.;, 
Charles  T.  and  John  H. ;  Mrs.  Marshall 
and  the  youngest  two  members  of  her  fam- 
ily reside  in  Charleston. 

JAMES  M.  MILLER,  dealer  in  dry 
goods,  boots  and  shoes,  clothing  and  fur- 
nishing goods,  Charleston  ;  has  been  a  cit- 
izen and  merchant  of  Charleston  for  more 
than  forty  years,  being  the  oldest  merchant 
now  doing  business  in  the  city  ;  he  was 
born  in  Spencer  Co.,  Ky.,  Aug.  29,  1814 ; 
he  is  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Jane  Miller, 
the  former  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  the 
latter  of  Pennsylvania ;  he  was  raised  on 
a  farm  and  followed  the  occupation  of 
fiirming  until  1838,  when  he  came  to 
Charleston  and  engaged  in  general  mer- 
chandising, having  visited  the  State  and 
purchased  land  in  Bond  Co.  two  years  be- 
fore ;  he  has  continued  in  the  mercantile 
business  to  the  present  time,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  year  which  he  spent  in  the 
cattle  business  in  Wisconsin  ;  although 
Mr.  Miller  has  passed  through  several  sea- 
sons of  financial  depression,  and  has  him- 
self suffered  some  reverses  of  fortune,  his 
mercantile  career  has,  upon  the  whole, 
been  a  prosperous  one  ;  he  has  always  paid 
dollar  for  dollar,  and  has  a  comfortable 
competency  remaining  ;  he  has  done  much 
to  improve  the  city,  having  built  several 
stores  and  dwellings,  expending  no  less 
than  $30,000  in  improvements  ;    he   was 


i 


CHARLESTON  TOWNSHIP. 


527 


the  first  of  the  Charleston  merchants  to 
purchase  goods  in  New  York  City,  which 
he  did  for  the  first  time  in  1844.  He  has 
served  two  terms  in  the  City  Council.  He 
was  married  April  7,  1842,  to  Helen  E. 
Walker  of  Charleston,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky ;  she  died  July  24,  1851,  leaving 
one  daughter — Mary  F.  (now  Mrs.  A.  C. 
Stallard,  of  Shelby  Co.,  Ky.).  Mr.  Mil- 
ler was  married  again  Aug.  3,  1852,  to 
Nancy  S.  Harris,  of  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y, 

TARLTON  C.  MILES,  Charleston,  is 
a  native  of  Franklin  Co.,  Ky.  ;  he  was 
born  near  Frankfort,  on  the  1st  of  May, 
1825  ;  he  is  a  son  of  Dr.  James  I.  Miles, 
a  physician  of  that  county  ;  his  early  life 
was  spent  in  the  subscription  schools  in 
his  neighborhood  ;  in  1845,  he  came  to 
Coles  Co.  He  was  married  Oct.  3,  1848, 
to  Miss  Sophia  0.  Van  Deren,  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  Van  Deren,  of  Coles  Co. ;  she 
was  born  in  Cynthiana,  Harrison  Co.,  Ky., 
Jan.  18,  1829,  and  came  to  Illinois  with 
her  parents  in  1835  ;  they  have  six  chil- 
dren living — Isaac  J.,  William  V.,  Ella  M., 
Ida  T.,  May  R.  and  Tarlton  V.  Mr. 
Miles  first  engaged  in  farming  in  La  Fay- 
ette Tp.,  owning  a  large  quantity  of  land 
in  the  county;  in  1855,  he  removed  and 
began  business  as  a  general  merchant,  in 
which  business  he  continued  for  about 
three  years ;  in  1858,  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  Texas,  with  a  view  to  enga- 
ging largely  in  stock-raising,  but  in  1860,  it 
being  apparent  that  a  war  between  the  two 
sections  was  inevitable  and  was  fast  ap- 
proaching, he  returned  North,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business  and  in  run- 
ning a  saw-mill  near  Milton  Station ;  he 
continued  his  farming  and  stock  operations 
until  about  five  years  ago.  Mr.  Miles  is 
now  in  England,  where  he  has  been  since 
September,  1878  ;  owing  to  this,  the  fore- 
going sketch  is  far  from  complete,  on  ac- 
count of  a  lack  of  detailed  information. 
He  has  served  the  public  in  various  offices 
of  trust  and  responsibility,  and  always 
with  entire  satisfaction  to  the  people. 

W.  S.  MINTON,  of  the  firm  of  Min- 
ton,  Alvey  &  Van  Meter,  proprietors  of 
the  City  Mills,  Charlestoo;  was  born  in 
Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  Dec.  10,  1828; 
at  the  age  of  12  years,  he  began  to  work 
in  his  father's  mill,  and  there  became  fa- 
miliar with  every  branch  of  the  milling 
business ;  he  continued  in  that  for  eight 


years,  and.  in  1848,  started  with  his 
father  in  the  dry  goods  business ;  six 
years  later — 1854 — he  came  to  Illinois, 
bringing  with  him  a  thousand  head  of 
sheep,  and  engaged  in  sheep-raising  in 
Vermilion  Co. ;  he  soon  after  removed  to 
Edgar  Co.,  where  he  traded  his  sheep  for 
Western  lands,  and  coming  to  Coles  Co., 
settled  on  a  farm  near  Charleston  ;  after 
farming  five  years,  he  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising iu  Kansas,  Edgar  Co. ;  in  1864, 
he  removed  to  Charleston,  and  with  W.  Gr. 
Wright  and  A.  K.  Spears,  started  in  the 
grocery  trade  ;  since  then,  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  hardware  and  lumber  busi- 
ness, the  grocery  business  and  the  boot  and 
shoe  trade ;  in  1877,  the  firm  of  Minton, 
Alvey  &  Van  Meter  erected  the  City  Mills, 
a  fine  brick  structure,  costing  $15,000, 
containing  four  runs  of  stone,  and  fitted  up 
with  the  latest  improved  machinery  for 
manufacturing  flour  by  the  patent  process. 
Mr.  Minton  was  married  Oct.  14,  1853,  to 
Miss  Matilda  R.  Wright,  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  Wright,  now  of  Charleston,  and 
has  two  children — Clarence  H.  and  Evan- 
geline St.  Clair. 

HON.  JOHN  MONROE,  deceased,  late 
of  Charleston ;  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Barren 
Co.,  Ky.,  Sept.  24,  1811  ;  his  boyhood 
was  passed  in  the  private  schools  of  his 
native  town ;  his  father  dying  when  he 
was  but  a  boy,  he  entered  the  apothecary- 
shop  of  his  uncle.  Dr.  George  Rogers,  a 
physician  of  Glasgow,  and  there  became 
familiar  with  the  compounding  of  medi- 
cines, and  also  studied  medicine  under  his 
uncle's  instruction  ;  he  first  began  prac- 
tice in  Tennessee,  and,  in  November,  1833, 
came  to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  Shelbyville,  soon 
removing  to  Charleston,  and,  a  few  years 
later,  he  engaged  in  business  as  a  dry  goods 
merchant.  Returning  to  Kentucky,  he 
was  married,  April  4, 1840,  to  Mrs.  Martha 
Ferrish,  a  widow  lady  of  Greensburg.  in 
that  State,  and  came  again  to  Charleston; 
they  had  six  childi'en,  two  of  whom  are 
still  living — Mrs.  Stanley  Walker  and 
Lewis  Monroe,  of  Charleston.  His  wife 
died  May  14,  1854,  and,  on  the  6th  of 
November,  1854,  he  married  Miss  Han- 
nah Chambers,  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Sally  Chambers,  of  Cynthiana,  Ky.,  who 
came  to  Coles  Co.  with  her  parents  in  1851 ; 
of  five  children  of  this  marriage,  three  are 


528 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


now  living — Emma  (wife  of  Thomas  T. 
Threlkeld,  of  Charleston),  Virginia  and 
Henrietta.  Dr.  Monroe  continued  in  the 
dry  goods  trade  in  Charleston  until  1858, 
when  he  moved  to  Lafayette  Tp.,  where 
he  owned  a  farm  of  1,700  acres.  He  laid 
out  the  village  of  Stockton,  building  the 
switch  and  a  warehouse  and  store  at  that 
place ;  he  still,  however,  retained  his  in- 
terest in  business  in  Charleston,  and,  in 
1865,  returned  to  that  city.  He  was  an 
enterprising,  successful  business  man, 
genial  in  manner,  and,  although  carrying- 
on  a  variety  of  important  enterprises,  he 
never  allowed  the  cares  of  business  to 
weigh  upon  him ;  he  had  great  faith  in 
human  nature,  of  which  he  was  an  excel- 
lent, judge;  he  trusted  largely  to  others, 
although  he  kept  his  business  well  in  hand, 
and,  happily,  his  confidence  was  never  be- 
trayed ;  he  took  special  pleasure  in  assist- 
ing worthy  young  men  in  business,  and 
numerous  instances  can  be  found  of  men, 
now  prosperous,  who  owe  their  start  in 
life  to  Dr.  Monroe.  He  owned,  at  his 
death,  a  fine  farm  of  800  acres,  besides 
eight  business  houses  and  two  dwellings  in 
Charleston.  He  was  an  active  Democrat, 
but  never  an  office-seeker ;  he  was,  how- 
ever, for  a  number  of  years  one  of  the 
Supervisors  of  the  county,  and  one  of  the 
most  efficient  members  ever  on  that  Board  ; 
he  also  represented  this  county  at  one  time 
in  the  State  Legislature.  He  died  July 
29,  1877.  Mrs.  Monroe  still  resides  in 
Charleston,  surrounded  by  an  interesting 
family  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  an  ample 
fortune. 

LEWIS  MONROE,  Charleston,  of  the 
firm  of  Monroe  &  Co.,  proprietors  of  the 
Coles  County  Mill,  is  a  son  of  the  late  Dr. 
John  Monroe ;  he  was  born  in  Charleston 
May  29,  1846  ;  he  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools,  and,  at  the  age  of 
18,  began  business,  a  partner  in  the  dry 
goods  house  of  Hutchinson,  Monroe  &  Co.; 
he  continued  in  this  business  seven  years, 
when,  his  health  failing,  he  retired  to  a. 
farm  at  Monroe  Station,  in  La  Fayette  Tp. ; 
four  years  later,  he  returned  to  town  and 
resumed  business,  which  he  continued  till 
1877;  in  October,  1878,  he  engaged  in 
running  the  Coles  County  Mill.  For  a 
number  of  years  his  interests  have  been 
divided  between  Charleston  and  La  Fay- 
ette Tp.,  where  he  owns  a  farm  of  800 


acres,  and  keeps  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  head  of  cattle,  besides  other 
stock  ;  he  has  other  real  estate  interests  in 
Charleston  and  Coles  Co.  Mr.  Monroe 
was  married  Nov.  29,  1865,  to  Miss  Lydia 
Chilton,  daughter  of  James  Chilton,  of 
Charleston,  and  has  six  children. 

HON.  H.  A.  NEAL,  attorney  at  law, 
Charleston  ;  is  a  native  of  New  Hampshire ; 
he  was  born  in  Tuftonborough,  Carroll  Co., 
Dec.  13,  1846;  he  was  raised  on  a  farm 
until  lie  was  ten  years  of  age,  and  then 
his  parents  removed  to  Great  Falls,  N.  H.; 
he  attended  the  public  schools  of  that 
city  until  1863,  when  the  family  returned 
to  the  farm ;  in  the  fall  of  1864,  he  en- 
tered the  army  as  a  member  of  Co.  K,  1st 
N.  H.  Heavy  Artillery,  and  served  till  the 
close  of. the  war;  on  his  return,  he  attended 
one  term  in  the  Academy  at  Effingham, 
N.  H.,  and  the  following  winter  taught  a 
country  school ;  in  the  spring  of  1866,  he 
went  to  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and  pursued 
a  commercial  course  of  study  in  Eastman's 
Business  College,  where  he  graduated  in 
September  following ;  he  at  once  came 
West,  and  engaged  in  teaching  in  Coles 
Co. ;  the  next  year,  he  became  Principal  of 
the  Grammar  School  in.  Paris,  111.,  and,  in 
1868,  went  to  Watseka,  Iroquois  Co.,  111., 
where  he  had  charge  of  the  public  schools 
for  three  years  ;  the  winters  of  1871  and 
1872,  he  spent  in  the  law  department  of 
the  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor, 
reading  during  vacations  in  the  office  of 
Wiley  &  Parker,  in  Charleston ;  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  June,  1873,  and 
began  practice  in  Charleston  ;  in  1875,  he 
entered  into  partnership  with  Messrs. 
Wiley  &  Parker,  the  firm  becoming  Wiley, 
Parker  &  Neal ;  in  1876,  Mr.  Parker 
moved  to  St.  Louis,  since  which  time  the 
firm  has  been  Wiley  &  Neal.  He  was 
married  June  17,  1873^  to  Miss  Lizzie 
Jones,  of  Paris,  111. ;  she  died  in  October, 
1874,  leaving  one  child — Orra  E.  In 
1876,  Mr.  Neal  was  elected  on  the  Repub- 
lican ticket  to  the  State  Legislature,  and 
re-elected  to  the  same  office  in  the  fall  of 
1878. 

J.  W.  NEAL,  M.  D.,  physician  and 
surgeon,  Charleston;  was  born  July  22. 
1851,  in  what  is  now  Cumberland  Co.,  111., 
but  then  a  part  of  Coles  Co. ;  his  father. 
William  Neal,  is  a  prominent  and  wealthy 
farmer  and  stock -raiser,  who  came  to  the 


i 


CHARLESTON  TOWNSHIP. 


529' 


State  fifty-five  years  ago,  at  the  age  of  8 
years,  from  Bourbon  Co.,  Ky. ;  Dr.  Neal 
remained  at  home  on  the  farm  till  he  was 
19  years  old,  then  entered  Lee's  Academy, 
in  this  county,  graduating  in  1871,  and  at 
once  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr. 
T.  B.  Dora,  of  Mattoon.  The  winter  of 
1872-73  he  attended  a  course  of  lectures  in 
the  Eclectic  Medical  College,  Cincinnati, 
Ohio ;  in  the  spring  of  1873,  he  began 
practice  with  Dr.  Dora,  and  the  following 
spring  removed  to  Stockton  ;  in  Septem- 
ber, 1874,  he  entered  Bennett  Medical 
College,  Chicago,  graduating  and  receiving 
his  degree  of  M.  D.  in  January,  1875.  On 
the  19th  of  May  following,  he  married 
Miss  Lizzie  McCrory,  daughter  of  James 
McCrory,  of  Stockton,  and  removed  to 
Hutchinson,  Kan.  On  the  17th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1877,  he  was  elected  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  State  Eclectic  Medical  Society, 
at  Topeka;  in  October,  1877,  he  returned 
to  the  Eclectic  Medical  College,  in  Cincin- 
nati, where  he  graduated  Jan.  22,  1878, 
receiving  the  first  honors  of  the  institution, 
being  selected  by  his  class  to  deliver  the 
valedictory  address  ;  he  at  once  located  at 
Charleston,  and  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  his  profession.  They  have  had  two 
children — Gertrude,  born  March  7,  1876, 
and  Fred.  M.,  born  Feb.  18,  1878,  and 
died  March  26,  of  the  same  year. 

JAY  F.  NEAL,  dealer  in  groceries  and 
provisions,  Charleston ;  was  born  in  Tuf- 
tonborough,  Carroll  Co.,  N.  H.,  June  24, 
1835  ;  he  is  a  son  of  Nathaniel  Neal,  a 
farmer  of  that  town  ;  his  early  life  was 
passed  in  farm  labor  among  the  granite 
hills,  but  at  the  age  of  19  years  he 
went  to  Great  Falls,  and  engaged  in  teach- 
ing just  across  the  river  in  New  Berwick 
Me.  ;  he  continued  teaching  during  a  por- 
tion of  the  year  for  twelve  years.  He 
graduated  at  the  New  Hampshire  Confer- 
ence Seminary  at  Tilton,  N.  H.,  in  1859, 
and  entered  the  Sophomore  class  of  the 
Wesleyan  University  in  Middletown,  Conn. 
At  the  end  of  a  year,  however,  his  health 
becoming  impaired,  and  an  opportunity 
presenting  itself  to  engage  in  teaching  in 
the  South,  he  left  college,  and,  going  to 
Bourbon  Co.,  Ky.,  taught  in  the  Millers- 
burg  high  school  until  1861.  He  then 
came  to  Charleston  and  taught  two  years 
in  the  public  schools,  after  which  he  en- 
gaged in  clerking  for  Henry  Weiss  in  the 


hardware  business,  and  afterward  as  book- 
keeper for  the  Charleston  Woolen-Mill, 
engaging  in  his  present  business  in  1870. 
He  was  married  by  the  Rev.  W.  B.  Ander- 
son on  the  25th  of  March,  1863,  to  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Blakeman,  of  Charleston  Tp.,  a 
daughter  of  Even  Blakeman,  now  of  Os- 
wego Co.,  N.  Y.  They  have  one  child — 
Mary  E. 

JACKSON  M.  OLIVER,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  ;  P.  0.  Charleston  ;  was  born 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Charleston  Tp., 
June  16,  1851.  He  is  a  son  of  George 
and  Fannie  (Lumbrick)  Oliver ;  his  father 
was  a  native  of  North  Carolina ;  born  in 
Rogkingham  Co.,  in  that  State,  June  16, 
1819;  his  parents  afterward  removed  to 
Putnam  Co.,  Ind. ;  there  he  lived  until 
1840,  and  then  came  to  Coles  Co.,  where, 
on  the  28th  of  August,  1840,  he  married 
Miss  Fannie  Lumbrick,  a  daughter  of 
James  Lumbrick,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  the  county  ;  she  was  born  in  Rocking- 
ham Co.,  N.  C,  April  7,  1820,  and  came 
to  Coles  Co.  when  about  11  years  of 
age.  Of  eleven  children  of  this  marriage, 
seven  are  still  living,  viz. — James  A.,  of 
Charleston  Tp. ;  Samuel  A.,  of  Texas ; 
George  M.,  of  Morgan  Tp. ;  Jackson  M., 
of  Charleston  Tp.;  Rosanah,  wife  of  J.  W. 
Padget,  of  Ashmore  Tp.;  Mary,  wife  of 
Franklin  Alexander,  of  Hutton  Tp.;  and 
Stephen  A.,  of  Charleston.  Mr.  Oliver 
died  March  6,  1870  ;  Mrs.  Oliver  resides 
in  Charleston.  Jackson  M.  Oliver  was 
raised  on  the  farm,  and  was  married  Sept. 
20,  1874,  to  Miss  Biddie  J.  Jones,  a 
daughter  of  William  Jones,  of  Cumberland 
Co.,  111.  ;  she  was  born  in  that  county 
Sept.  3,  1856  ;  they  have  one  child  living 
— MoUie  E. ;  one  child,  Marion  H.,  died 
Aug.  20,  1878.  Mr.  Oliver  is  at  present 
Collector  of  Charleston  Tp.,  to  which  office 
he  was  elected  in  the  spring  of   1878. 

JUDGE  A.  M.  PETERSON,  attorney 
at  law,  Charleston ;  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land Co.,  Penn.,  Jan.  15,  1825  ;  leaving 
there  in  1845,  he  went  to  Canton,  Ohio, 
and  began  the  study  of  medicine,  attend- 
ing a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Cleveland 
Medical  College.  He  came  to  IlUnois  in 
1849,  and  began  practice  as  a  physician  in 
Edgar  Co.,  and  the  following  year  removed 
to  Newton,  Jasper  Co.,  111.  On  the  18th 
of  April,  the  same  year,  he  married  Miss 
Nancy  Whalen,   of  Edgar  Co.,  a  native  of 


530 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES; 


Nelson  Co.,  Ky.  The  practice  of  medicine 
proving  distasteful  to  him,  and  having  a 
natural  preference  for  the  law,  in  1858,  he 
abandoned  the  former  and  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  the  latter  profession,  which  he 
continued  till  May,  1861.  He  then  en- 
tered the  Union  army,  as  Captain  of  Co. 
K,  21st  I.  Y.  I.,  of  which  Gen.  Grant  was 
then  Colonel ;  he  served  until  November, 
18G2,  when,  owing  to  ill  health,  he  re- 
signed. In  the  spring  of  1863  he  located 
in  Charleston,  and  resumed  the  practice  of 
the  law.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
City  Council  in  the  spring  of  1864,  and 
again  in  the  spring  of  1866;  the 
same  year  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Charles- 
ton, but  the  duties  of  the  office  being  un- 
congenial, he  soon  afterward  resigned  In 
1869,  he  was  elected  County  Judge,  and 
held  that  office  four  years,  since  which 
time  he  has  confined  his  attention  to  the 
practice  of  his  profession. 

W.  R.  PATTON,  M.  D.,  physician, 
and  surgeon,  Charleston  ;  is  a  native  of 
Illinois ;  he  was  born  in  Palestine, 
Crawford  Co.,  Oct.  14,  1836  ;  he  is  a  son 
of  Dr.  E.  L.  Patton,  a  prominent  physi- 
cian of  Palestine,  who  came  from  Wash- 
ington Co.,  East  Tenn.,  to  Crawford  Co., 
about  the  year  1833,  and  practiced  medi- 
cine there  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  December,  1864.  Dr.  Patton  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  at 
Hanover  College,  Ind.,  and,  in  1858,  began 
the  study  of  medicine  in  his  father's  office. 
In  1860,  he  entered  Rush  Medical  College, 
Chicago;  graduating  in  the  spring  of  1862. 
He  practiced  two  years  in  Palestine,  and, 
in  the  winter  of  1864,  came  to  Charleston, 
where  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  ever  since ;  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Esculapian  Society  of  the 
Wabash  Valley.  He  was  married  May  4, 
1864,  to  Miss  Hannah  Decker,  a  daughter 
of  Jacob  K.  Decker,  a  well-known  citizen 
and  early  settler  of  Charleston  ;  they  have 
two  children — Fredrick  Lieth  and  Jacob 
Allen.  Dr  Patton  served  two  years  on 
the  Board  of  Aldermen,  and  is  the  present 
Mayor  of  Charleston,  to  which  office  he 
was  elected  in  1877. 

ALEXAND"ER  PERKINS,  dealer  in 
groceries,  Charleston  ;  is  an  early  settler  of 
the  city,  having  emigrated  from  Marion  Co., 
Ind.,  in  September,  1836  ;  he  was  born  near 
Newcastle,  Henry  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  22,  1814 ; 


when  quite  young  he  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  Marion  Co.,  Ind. ;  he  was  raised 
to  agricultural  pursuits  ;  he  was  married 
Oct.  8,  1835,  to  Miss  Jane  Griffith,  of 
New  Bethel,  Marion  Co.,  Ind.,  and,  in  1836, 
removed  to  Charleston ;  they  had  five  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  living — Amanda, 
wife  of  Daniel  Curd,  and  Margaret  L., 
now  Mrs.  John  James,  both  residing  in 
Charleston ;  two  sons,  William  G.  and 
Daniel  A.,  lost  their  lives  during  the  late 
war.  On  arriving  in  Charleston,  Mr.  Per- 
kins engaged  in  manufacturing  brick,  aft- 
erward followed  the  clothing  business  for  a 
year,  and  then  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness, which  he  still  continues  ;  his  wife  died 
July  22, 1851,  and  on  the  5th  of  February, 
1852,  he  married  Miss  B.  F.  Curd,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Curd,  late  of  Charleston  ; 
they  have  five  children — Kate,  wife  of  W. 
W.  Bishop,  of  Kansas,  Edgai-  Co.,  Richard 
S.,  Daniel,  Joseph  and  Minnie.  Mr. 
Perkins  has  served  as  Street  Commissioner, 
and  for  several  terms  om  the  Board  of  Al- 
dermen, and  was  a  portion  of  the  time 
President  of  the  Board. 

A.  H.  PREVO,  farmer  and  stock-raiser  ; 
P.  0.  Charleston  ;  was  born  in  Randolph 
Co.,  N.  C,  Jan.  5,  1833;  he  is  the  only 
son  of  Alson  H.  and  Pheriba  (Phelps) 
Prevo,  both  natives  of  that  State,  the 
former  of  whom  died  when  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  a  child,  and  the  latter  of 
whom  now  resides  with  her  son,  at  the  age 
of  70  years.  At  the  age  of  18  years  he  left 
the  farm,  and  obtained  employment  in  one 
of  the  lumber  mills  in  the  vicinity.  In 
1854,  he  came  West  as  far  as  Fountain  Co  , 
Ind.,  and  there  engaged  in  teaching  school. 
He  was  married  Oct.  23,  1854,  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  Richmond,  the  only  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Sophia  J.  (Keller)  Richmond, 
of  that  county  ;  they  have  two  children — 
Jennie  and  Alson  H.  Mrs.  Richmond, 
now  66  years  of  age,  is  a  member  of  her 
daughter's  family.  Removing  to  Coles  Co. 
in  1856,  Mr.  Prevo  hired  out  to  drive 
oxen  at  $20  a  month,  and  board  himself, 
and  after  following  that  for  two  years,  he 
worked  in  the  mill  for  two  years  more, 
when,  having  accumulated  a  sufficient  sum, 
he  purqliased  the  mill  in  which  he  was  em- 
ployed, which  he  ran  for  a  number  of 
years.  In  1867,  he  removed  to  Charle-ton, 
and  fitted  up  the  Charleston  Stave- Factory, 
with  a   new  engine,   and    continued   that 


CHARLESTON  TOWNSHIP. 


531 


business  one  year  ;  the  next  year,  he  built 
the  Prevo  &  Spence  Elevator,  into  which 
he  removed  the  engine  and  machinery  of 
the  stave-factory ;  after  continuing  the 
grain  business  one  year,  he  engaged  in  the 
stock  business,  shipping  horses  and  mules 
to  the  Southern  States,  which  he  followed 
three  winters.  In  1869,  he  purchased  a 
mill  a  few  miles  south  of  Charleston,  which 
lie  ran  for  three  years  ;  then,  after  looking 
after  the  interests  of  his  farm  for  a  year,  he, 
in  1873,  purchased  the  mill  which  he  still 
continues  to  own,  and  which  he  ran  up  to 
1877  ;  he  then  retired  to  his  farm  on  Sec. 
18,  where  he  makes  a  specialty  of  fine 
stock,  keeping  from  one  hundred  to  two 
hundred  Poland-China  hogs,  and  from  fif- 
teen to  twenty  horses  ;  he  owns  325  acres 
in  his  home  farm  and  120  acres  in  Hutton 
Tp.,  all  but  40  acres  of  which  he  im- 
proved himself,  cutting  off  and  sawing  the 
timber  in  his  mills.  Mr.  Prevo  served  three 
years  as  School  Director  of  his  district, 
previous  to  his  removal  to  Charleston  in 
1867,  and  while  a  resident  of  that  city, 
served  four  years  on  the  Board  of  Alder- 
men, two  of  which  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Water  Works  Board ;  he  served  one  year 
on  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  three 
years  on  the  Board  of  Education ;  he  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Second  Na- 
tional Bank,  and  for  two  years  a  Director 
in  that  institution. 

S.  E.  RAY,  dealer  in  dry  and  fancy 
goods,  boots  and  shoes,  etc.,  Charleston  ; 
was  born  near  Montpelier,  Vt.,  Aug.  5, 
1833  ;  in  early  childhood,  he  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Geauga  Co.  (now  Lake), 
Ohio  ;  there,  his  father  resided  until  his 
death,  and  his  mother  still  resides  there  ; 
at  about  the  age  of  20  years,  Mr.  Ray 
■went  to  La  Fayette,  Ind.,  and  engaged  as  a 
traveling  salesman  for  Luce  Brothers  in 
the  stationery  business;  and,  after  remain- 
ing with  them  four  years,  went  to  Chicago, 
and  for  about  six  years  traveled  for  the 
well-known  stationery  house  of  Culver, 
Page,  Hoyne  &  Co.,  establishing  the  Mem- 
phis branch  of  that  house,  under  the  name 
of  C.  H.  Chamberlain  &  Co.,  which  con- 
tinued until  after  the  breaking-out  of  the 
war ;  in  1862,  he  returned  to  Chicago, 
and  the  following  year  came  to  Charleston 
and  engaged  in  the  livery  business  ;  in 
1875,  he  disposed  of  his  business,  and  en- 
g.iged    in    merchandising.     Mr.  Ray   was 


married  March  31,  1863,  to  Miss  Josephine 
Bunnell,  of  Charleston ;  she  died  Sept. 
18,  1867,  leaving  one  child — Henrietta, 
since  deceased.  He  was  married  again 
Dec.  10,  1867,  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  J.  Will- 
hoit,  of  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  and  has  one  child 
— Samuel  A.  Mr.  Ray  is  President  of 
the  Board  of  Education  of  Charleston,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  member  for  the  past 
two  years,  and  has  served  two  terms  on  the 
Board  of  Aldermen. 

WILLIAM  RICKETTS,  land  agent 
and  conveyancer,  Charleston  ;  was  born  in 
Alleghany  Co.,  Md.,  March  3,  1813 ;  his 
father,  Joshua  Ricketts  was  of  an  old  Mary- 
land family  in  Colonial  days  ;  his  mother 
was  Sarah  Taylor,  a  daughter  of  John  Tay- 
lor, of  Connecticut,  who  was  a  soldier  of 
the  Revolution,  and  was  wounded  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Bunker  Hill  and  afterward  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Brandy  wine  ;  Mr.  Ricketts'  parents 
removed,  in  1813,  to  Zanesville,  Ohio  ;  he 
is  the  seventh  in  age  of  a  family  of  thir- 
teen ;  he  was  raised  on  a  farm.  He  was 
first  married  Sept.  11,  1834,  in  Putnam, 
Ohio,  to  Miss  Ellen  Alexander  of  that 
place,  who  died  Sept.  8,  1850,  leaving  five 
children — John  A.,  Ann  (wife  of  T.  E. 
Wood),  Andrew  A.,  Joshua T.  and  William 
G. ;  they  are  all  residents  of  Charleston 
except  Andrew  A.,  who  is  a  traveling 
agent  for  the  Chicago  &  Paducah  Railroad 
Co. ;  and  resides  in  Windsor,  Shelby  Co.,  111. 
Mr.  Ricketts  was  married  again  Sept.  11, 
1851,  to  Miss  Susan  Falls  of  Zanesville, 
Ohio  ;  they  have  four  children  living — 
Charles  L.,  Emma  (now  Mrs.  Henley 
Anderson,  of  Charleston),  Ella  and  Edward 
W.  In  April,  1854,  Mr.  Ricketts  removed 
with  his  family  to  Charleston,  and  engaged 
with  his  brother  Joshua  Ricketts  in  the 
marble  business,  in  which  he  continued 
until  about  the  breaking-out  of  the  late 
w^r,  when  he  opened  an  office  as  U.  S. 
Claim  Agent,  which  he  has  continued  in 
connection  with  a  general  real  estate  and 
conveyancing  business  to  the  present  time. 
He  is  at  present  Township  School  Treasurer, 
to  which  he  was  elected  in  1874  ;  he  was 
appointed  U.  S.  Commissioner  some  twelve 
years  ago,  and  still  acts  in  that  capacity. 

A.  F.  SHAW,  Police  Magistrate, 
Charleston  ;  is  a  native  of  Illinois  ;  he  was 
born  in  Paris,  Edgar  Co.,  Feb.  10,  1824; 
he  is  a  son  of  Smith  and  Elizabeth  Shaw  ; 
his  father  was  born   in   North   Carolina ; 

2 


532 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


was  raised  in  South  Carolina,  and  when  a 
young  man,  emigrated  to  Tennessee,  and 
from  there  to  Kentucky  ;  he  was  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  Missouri,  from  which  State 
he  was  several  times  driven  by  the  In- 
dians ;  he  afterward  came  to  Illinois,  long 
prior  to  its  admission  as  a  State,  and 
finally,  in  1822,  settled  in  Paris,  where  he 
died  about  sixteen  years  later  ;  Mr.  Shaw 
learned  the  saddler's  trade  at  the  age  of 
15,  and  followed  it  till  the  breaking- outof 
the  Mexican  war ;  he  then  volunteered  in 
Col.  Baker's  4th  I.  V.  I.,  and  was  elected 
2d  Lieutenant  of  Co.  H ;  he  marched 
with  Gen.  Taylor's  army  through  Mexico, 
from  Matamoras  to  Tampico,  and  afterward 
parucipated  in  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz  and 
the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo ;  returning  at 
the  end  of  a  year's  service,  he  engaged  in 
business  in  Paris.  In  1850,  he  crossed  the 
plains  to  California,  and  engaged  in  min- 
ing ;  on  his  return,  three  years  later,  he 
went  to  Carthage,  Hancock  Co.,  111.,  where 
he  carried  en  the  saddlery  business  till 
1856.  He  was  married  in  May,  1854,  to 
Miss  Lucy  A.  Bunnell,  a  daughter  of 
William  Bunnell,  of  Charleston  ;  in  1856, 
he  removed  to  Charleston,  and  after  a  short 
time  returned  to  Paris,  where  he  resided 
till  1869,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  Charleston  ;  he  kept  the  Union 
House  till  1874,  when  he  was  chosen 
Police  Magistrate.  He  has  three  children 
living — Franklin  F.,  Oro  E.,  and  Bessie 
N. 

L.  L.  SILVERTHORN,  M.  D.,  phy- 
sician and  surgeon,  Charleston ;  was  born 
in  Stroudsburg,  Monroe,  Co.,  Penn.,  Oct. 
21,  1830;  his  early  life  was  passed  upon 
a  farm ;  he  was  the  youngest  of  a  family 
of  twelve  children,  and  his  father  being  in 
moderate  circumstances,  he  was  thrown 
upon  his  own  resources,  and  obtained  only 
such  an  education  as  the  common  schools 
afibrded ;  in  1850,  he  began  teaching 
school,  which  he  continued  at  intervals  for 
three  years;  in  1852,  he  entered  upon  the 
study  of  medicine,  in  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis.; 
in  1854,  he  came  to  Charleston  and  con- 
tinued his  studies  under  the  instruction  of 
Dr.  T.  B.  Trower;  in  September,  1855,  he 
went  to  Philadelphia,  and  attended  a 
course  of  lectures  in  the  Jeiferson  Medical 
College,  in  that  city  ;  returning  to  Charles- 
ton, he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
which    he    has  continued    for  twenty-two 


years ;  he  is  a  member  of  the  ^Esculapiatt 
Society  of  the  Wabash  Valley,  of  which 
he  has  been  Vice  President,  and  also  of 
the  American  Medical  Association.  He 
was  married  October  8,  1856,  to  Miss 
Amerial  Trower,  a  daughter  of  the  late 
Dr.  T.  B.  Trower,  of  Charleston,  and  has 
two  children— John  T.  and  Clara  M. 

RICHARD  STODDERT,  far.,  stock- 
dealer  and  merchant,  Charleston ;  was 
born  in  Grayson  Co.,  Ky.,  March  28, 
1812;  his  early  life  was  passed  on  his 
father's  farm,  and  when  quite  young,  he 
was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  tanner's  trade; 
about  the  year  1831,  he  went  to  Madison- 
ville,  Hopkins  Co.,  Ky.,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1838,  when  he  came  to 
Charleston  ;  he  engaged  in  the  tanning 
business  with  his  brother,  Thomas  Stod- 
dert,  the  firm  being  R.  &  T.  Stoddert,  the 
partnership  continuing  for  about  thirty  years 
in  tanning,  merchandising,  farming  and 
dealing  in  stock  ;  they  had  at  one  time 
about  800  acres  of  land  in  the  county ;  in 
1870,  Mr.  Stoddert  began  the  hardware 
and  lumber  business  with  W.  S.  Minton, 
who  afterward  disposed  of  his  interest  to 
George  Steigman ;  since  1876,  the  firm 
has  been  R.  Stoddert  &  Sons ;  Mr.  Stod- 
dert still  continues  his  farming  and  stock 
operations,  having  a  farm  of  nearly  five 
hundred  acres  in  Charleston  and  Hickory 
Tps.  His  first  county  office  was  that  of 
Treasurer  of  Coles  Co.,  to  which  he  was 
elected  in  1839,  serving  two  terms,  after 
which  he  was  for  two  years  SheriflP  of  the 
county  ;  he  has  served  as  Commissioner  of 
Highways,  School  Trustee  and  two  terms 
on  the  Board  of  Supervisors;  in  1873,  he 
was  elected  County  Cleik,  and  held  that 
office  four  years.  He  was  first  married 
Dec.  25,  1844,  to  Miss  Catharine  Rizor,  of 
Charleston  ;  she  died  in  February,  1872. 
leaving  five  children — Benjamin  (who  was 
born  in  Charleston  Feb.  4,  1846,  and  is 
now  in  the  hardware  and  lumber  business 
with  his  father),  Harry  (who  was  born 
Dec.  8,  1847 ;  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  at  Westfield  College,  111  ;  mar- 
ried Nov.  12,  1873,  to  Miss  Zulima  Pin- 
atel,  daughter  of  Charles  Pinatel,  of 
Charleston,  and  has  two  children — Charles 
Richard  and  Catharine ;  he  is  of  the 
firm  of  R.  Stoddert  &  Sons),  Thomas  (a 
law  student  in  Charleston),  Frank  and 
Fremont.     Mr.   Stoddert  was    married    a 


CHARLESTON   TOWNSHIP. 


533 


second  time,  April  27,  1875,  to  Mrs.  Q. 
H.  Robinson,  oF  Madisonville,  Ky. 

THOMAS  STODDERT,  merchant, 
farmer  and  stock-dealer,  Charleston;  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Coles  Co.  was  the 
Stoddert  family,  consisting  of  the  mother, 
Mrs.  Mary  Stoddert,  and  nine  children, 
who  came  from  Grayson  Co.,  Ky.,  at  dif- 
ferent times  from  1836  to  1838;  they  are 
descended  from  the  old  Massachusetts 
family  of  Stodderts,  their  grandfather, 
Benjamin  Stoddert,  being  a  Major  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  was  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Brandywine ;  he  was  after- 
ward the  second  Secretary  of  the  United 
States  Navy  ;  <xen.  Ewell,  of  the  Confed- 
erate army  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion, 
was  a  cousin;  their  father,  Benjamin  Stod- 
dert, removed  to  Kentucky  about  1810, 
and  died  about  1833  ;  of  the  nine  children 
who  came  to  Coles  Co.,  as  above  stated, 
Richard  and  Thomas  reside  in  Charleston ; 
Benjamin,  William  and  Campbell  are  de- 
ceased ;  Sarah  is  living  in  Covington,  Ind.; 
Harriet  lives  in  Charleston,  the  wife  of  C. 
R.  Briggs;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  A. 
M.  Henry,  of  Mattoon,  Susan  (Mrs. 
Glover)  resides  in  Ottawa,  Kan.,  and  the 
youngest,  Artimisia,  died  in  Charleston  ; 
their  *uiother  died  in  Charleston  some  ten 
years  ago  ;  Thomas  Stoddert  was  born  in 
Grayson  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  28, 1815  ;  he  was 
the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  Coles  Co. ; 
he  came  in  1836,  and  engaged  in  tanning, 
continuing  in  that  business  till  1851 ;  in 
1849,  he  drove  an  ox-team  across  the  plains 
to  California,  returning  the  following  year, 
and  engaging  in  merchandising;  in  1854,  he 
went  into  stock-raising  and  farming,  which 
he  continued  till  1875  ;  he  then  resumed 
mercantile  business,  the  firm  being  T.  Stod- 
dert &  Son  ;  he  is  now  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock  business,  in  connection  with  his 
merchandising,  owning  a  farm  of  363  acres 
adjoining  the  city  ;  he  also  owns  consider- 
able town  property  ;  in  1871,  he,  with 
John  B.  Hill  and  I.  H.  Johnson,  built  the 
Charleston  Pork-Packing  Houses.  Mr. 
Stoddert  was  married  Dec.  25,  1850,  to 
Miss  Melissa  Olmstead,  of  Coles  Co.,  and 
has  three  children  living — William  (now 
in  business  with  his  father),  Mary  and 
Thomas. 

ARTHUR  C.  SHRIVER,  of  the  firm 
of  A.  C.  Shriver  &  Sons,  dealers  in  stoves, 
tinware     and      house-furnishing      goods. 


Charleston  ;  was  born  in  Fleming  Co., 
Ky.,  Jan.  30,  1813  ;  when  he  was  about 
10  years  old,  his  parents  removed  to  Adams 
Co.,  Ohio ;  at  the  age  of  18,  he  went  to 
Hillsboro,  in  Highland  Co.,  Ohio,  to  learn 
the  tinner's  trade  ;  after  which,  he  worked 
as  a  journeyman  in  Ohio  and  Kentucky 
for  a  number  of  years;  in  1836,  he  began 
business  for  himself  in  Augusta,  Ky.,  re- 
moving a  few  years  later  to  Felicity,  Cler- 
mont Co.,  Ohio,  and  there  carried  on  the 
stove  and  tinware  business  for  nearly  twenty 
years  with  the  exception  of  a  short  time 
when  he  was  in  the  same  business  in  Cin- 
cinnati ;  in  1858,  he  removed  to  Charles- 
ton, and  engaged  in  business,  Dr.  Byrd 
Monroe  being  his  first  Western  partner ; 
since  then,  many  changes  have  occurred, 
but  Mr.  Shriver  has  remained  the  leader 
in  his  line  of  business  during  all  the 
changes  of  the  past  twenty  years;  the 
firm  now  consists  of  himself  and  two  sons 
— George  A.  Shriver  and  Charles  W. 
Shriver ;  they  do  the  largest  business  in 
their  line  of  any  house  in  the  smaller  towns 
of  Illinois,  carrying  a  well  selected  stock 
of  stoves,  tinware,  queensware,  glassware, 
silverware  and  cutlery  ;  they  keep  every- 
thing of  the  kind  that  any  one  could  want, 
are  polite  to  their  customers,  and  make  it 
a  point  to  sell  lower  than  any  one  else. 
Mr.  Shriver  was  married  May  4,  1837,  to 
Miss  Nancy  MafFett,  who  was  born  Jan. 
17,  1815.  We  give  the  following  sketch 
of  their  children  :  William  F.  Shriver 
was  born  Nov.  14,  1839,  and  married  June 
10,  1862,  to  Miss  Mary  F.  Hanks,  a  niece 
of  President  Lincoln,  Mrs.  Lincoln  giving 
her  her  own  name  of  Mary  ;  they  have 
two  sons ;  Ann  Eliza  Shriver  was  born 
Feb.  11,  1842,  and  died  May  31,  1843; 
Albena  Shriver  was  born  July  11,  1845, 
and  married  0.  B.  Murray,  a  navy  banker 
and  claim  agent  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  Jan. 
30,  1865  ;  he  died  in  Chicago  Aug.  10, 
1870,  leaving  one  daughter  Alice,  born  in 
Baltimore,  Md. ;  Mrs.  Murray  married  R. 
B.  Anderson,  of  Charleston,  in  1873,  and 
moved  to  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  in  1876 ; 
George  A.  Shriver  was  born  in  Felicity, 
Ohio,  Dec.  10,  1847,  and  married  Miss 
Julia  Hamlin,  in  1871;  he  learned  the 
tinner's  trade  when  quite  young,  and  as  a 
workman  and  salesman  is  very  successful'; 
he  is  book-keeper  of  the  firm  of  A.  C. 
Shriver  &  Sons,  of  which  ho  is  a  member ; 


534 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


Charles  W.  Shriver  was  born  in  Felicity, 
Ohio,  Oct.  18,  1851 ;  he  isa  member  of 
the  firm,  is  an  expert  in  his  business,  and 
honorable  in  his  dealings ;  he  was  mar- 
ried in  September,  1876,  to  Miss  Ida  V. 
Ramsey,  of  lMcConnellsville,Ohio;  they  have 
one  son,  Arthur  C,  born  March  31,  1878; 
Callie  Shriver  was  born  April  6,  1854 ; 
was  married  Jan.  31,  1872,  to  Joseph 
Landers,  of  Charleston  ;  they  have  had 
one  daughter  Katie,  who  died  about  a  year 
ago,  at  3  years  of  age. 

GEORGE  STEIGMAN,  Charleston,  of 
the  firm  of  Steigman,  Wilson  &  Co.,  pro- 
prietor of  the  Charleston  Pork-Packing 
Houses  ;  was  born  in  Dimboch,  County  of 
Weinsberg,  Kingdom  of  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  Aug.  5,  1827  ;  he  was  raised 
on  a  farm,  and,  in  1853,  came  to  the 
United  States,  spent  one  year  in  Meadville, 
Crawford  Co.,  Fenn.,  and  coming  thence 
to  Owen  Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  followed 
farming  on?  year  ;  in  1855,  he  came  to 
Charleston  and  engaged  in  farming,  which 
he  continued  eight  years ;  he  then  kept  a 
meat-market  until  1871,  when  he  revisited 
his  native  country, spending  eight  months; 
returning,  he  followed  the  hardware  and 
lumber  business  four  years ;  in  August, 
1878,  he  became  one  of  the  proprietors  of 
the  Charleston  Pork-Packing  Houses,  a  full 
description  of  which  will  be  found  in  the 
historical  part  of  this  work.  Mr.  -teigman 
has  been  prosperous  in  business,  and  is  one 
of  the  solid  men  of  the  community,  own- 
ing two  farms  in  the  county  besides  his 
property  in  town ;  he  has  served  three 
terms  as  a  member  of  the  City  Council, 
and  has  been  City  Treasurer  for  the  past 
three  years.  He  was  married  Feb.  26, 
1854,  to  Miss  Rosina  Ernst,  of  Wurtem- 
berg, Germany  ;  they  have  had  one  child 
— John  C,  born  Dec.  3,  1854,  and  died 
March  22,  185G. 

R.  A.  TRAVRR,  of  the  firm  of  Traver 
&  Nixon,  manufacturers  of  and  dealers  in 
brooms,  brushes,  etc.,  Charleston;  was 
born  in  Schenectady  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  19, 
1837  ;  he  was  raised  on  a  farm ;  in  1856, 
he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  where,  for  two  years,  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  book-keeper  for  A.  W.  Hen- 
drickson  &  Co.,  coal-dealers;  in  1858,  he 
went  to  Harrison  Co.,  W.  Va.,  where  he  was 
ensrased  in  farming  and  carpentering  till 
1867  ;  he  then  came  to  Clark  Co.,  111.,  and 


engaged  in  the  broom  business,  but  soon 
afterward  removed  to  Charleston,  where  he 
established  the  Charleston  Broom-Factory, 
and  has  been  an  enterprising  citizen  of 
the  city  ever  since  ;  he  is  at  present  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Aldermen.  His  part- 
ner in  the  business,  M.  C.  Nixon,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Harrison  Co.,  W.  Va.,  his  father 
being  one  of  the  most  prominent  farmers 
in  that  part  of  the  State  ;  at  the  age  of  18, 
he  went  to  Pittsburgh,  Penn.,  where  he 
received  a  thorough  business  education  in 
the  Iron  City  Business  College ;  he  then 
spent  a  few  years  in  traveling  in  the  West, 
and,  in  1874,  came  to  Charleston  and  en- 
tered into  partnership  with  Mr.  Traver. 
When  Mr.  Traver  came  to  Charleston, 
there  were  but  about  fifteen  acres  of  broom- 
corn  cultivated  in  Coles  Co.;  its  culture  is 
now  one  of  the  chief  sources  of  wealth,  es- 
pecially in  the  northern  part  of  the  county ; 
there  are  thousands  of  acres  cultivated  an- 
nually, and  the  amount  is  constantly  in- 
creasing ;  this  firm  alone  has  raised,  dur- 
ing the  past  year,  500  acres.  The  im- 
portance of  this  enterprise  to  the  city  of 
Charleston  will  appear  when  it  is  considered 
that  they  employ  in  their  factory  about 
seventy  men  and  boys,  who,  were  it  not 
for  this,  would  be  obliged  to  seek  employ- 
ment elsewhere ;  they  do  a  business  of 
$60,000  per  annum,  manufacturing  30,000 
dozen  brooms  yearly,  besides  a  large  quan- 
tity of  brushes  and  toy  brooms  ;  they  pay 
out  yearly  to  their  employes  fully  $15,000  ; 
they  keep  three  salesmen  on  the  road, 
including  Mr.  Nixon,  and  their  trade  ex- 
tends to  all  parts  of  the  country,  the  most 
of  it  being  in  the  Southern  States,  New 
Orleans  being  their  heaviest  shipping 
point,  their  next  heaviest  trade  being  in 
Georgia  and  Texas ;  the  extent  of  their 
trade  can  be  estimated  from  the  fact  that, 
during  the  past  fall  they  were  1,000  dozen 
behind  their  orders,  notwithstanding  they 
were  turning  out  at  the  time  a  100  dozen 
brooms  a  day  :  they  are  the  owners  of  the 
Charleston  Elevator  and  Broom  Ware- 
house, and  also  own  a  broom-corn  com- 
press for  rebaling  the  corn  for  shipment, 
being,  probably,  the  only  machine  of  its 
kind  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Traver  is 
the  author  of  "  Traver's  Broom-Corn  Cult- 
urist  and  Broom-Makers'  Manual,"  the 
only  work  on  the  subject  in  the  country, 
a  well-written  pamphlet,  giving  directions 


CHARLESTON  TOWNSHIP. 


535 


for  the  raising,  cutting,  cui'ing  and  pre- 
paring of  broom-corn  for  market,  etc. ;  they 
are  also  dealers  in  broom  machines,  of  which 
they  sliip  large  numbers  to  the  Western 
States  and  Territories. 

DANIEL  H.  TREMBLE,  Deputy 
County  Treasurer,  Charleston ;  was  born 
in  Harrison  Co.,  Ind.,  Aug.  28,  1829  ;  the 
following  year,  his  father,  Hiram  M. 
Tremble,  came  with  his  family  to  this 
county,  and,  after  spending  a  short  time 
in  what  is  now  Mattoon  Tp.,  went  to 
Shelby  Co.,  and  there  resided  until  1833, 
when  he  returned  to  Coles  Co.,  and  is  now 
a  prominent  farmer  in  Mattoon  Tp.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  started  for  himself 
in  1851,  as  a  teacher ;  he  taught  school 
two  winters;  in  1852,  he  engaged  in 
farming,  and,  after  gathering  his  first  crop, 
came  to  Charleston,  where  he  worked 
three  months  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
which  he  had  learned  of  his  father,  who 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade ;  after  this,  he 
spent  six  months  in  an  academy  in  George- 
town, Vermilion  Co.,  111.;  the  following 
spring,  his  father  took  a  contract  to  grade 
twenty  miles  of  the  Illinois  Central  R.  R., 
and  Daniel  H.  assisted  him  in  the  work ; 
in  1854,  he  engaged  in  merchandising  in 
Paradise,  and,  in  1856,  removed  to  Mat- 
t<^0Ti  and  continued  in  trade  there  two 
years,  when  he  sold  out  and  engaged  as  a 
clerk  ;  in  1862,  he  was  elected  Constable, 
and,  in  the  spring  of  1863,  Collector  of 
his  township  ;  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year, 
he  was  elected  Treasurer  of  Coles  Co.,  and 
held  that  office  three  terms  in  succession  ; 
after  the  expiration  of  his  last  term,  he 
served  four  years  as  Deputy  County  Clerk. 
In  1872,  he  purchased  a  farm  of  175  acres, 
about  two  miles  from  the  city,  on  which 
he  now  resides.  He  was  appointed  Deputy 
County  Treasurer  in  December,  1877.  He 
was  married  Aug.  24,  1854,  to  Miss  Cath- 
arine H.  Hunt,  of  Paradise,  a  native  of 
Wayne  Co.,  Ind.;  they  have  eight  children 
living — John  F.,  Thomas  P.,  Daniel  U., 
Carrie  S.,  Eugene  H.,  Manning  H.,  Sam- 
uel W.  and  Pompey  M. 

THOMAS  B.  TROWER,  M.  D.,  de- 
ceased, late  of  Charleston  ;  was  born  in 
Albemarle  Co.,  Va.,  Nov.  15,  1807,  his 
parents  removing  to  Kentucky  a  few  years 
later  ;  his  father  died  in  1816,  leaving  a 
wife  and  nine  children  ;  he  began  the  study 
of  medicine  when    he  was  19  years   old. 


spending  three  years  under  the  instruction 
of  Drs.  Beamiss  and  Merryfield,  of  Bloom- 
field,  Ky.,  teaching  school  a  portion  of  the 
time  to  obtain  means  to  defray  his  expenses  ; 
he  came  to  Illinois  in  1830,  and  px-acticed 
medicine  sixyears  in  Shelbyville  ;  in  1836, 
he  removed  to  Charleston  and  engaged  in 
merchandising,  which  business  he  aban- 
doned after  three  years  and  resumed 
the  practice  of  his  profession  ;  his 
practice  was  a  large  and  lucrative 
one,  extending  over  a  wide  scope  of 
country,  embracing  all  of  Coles  Co..  and 
a  portion  of  surrounding  counties,  and  his 
acquaintance  with  the  pioneers  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  State  was  correspondingly  ex- 
tensive ;  his  standing  among  physicians  was 
very  high,  indeed,  and  his  opinions  in  their 
councils  most  thoroughly  respected  ;  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Eberleau  Medical 
Society,  of  the  ^sculapian  Society  of  the 
Wabash  Valley,  and  of  the  State  Medical 
Society ;  not  only  was  he  preaninent  as  a 
physician,  but  was  possessed  of  business 
abilities  of  the  highest  order,  and  by  his 
financial  skill  and  industry  amassed  a  large 
fortune;  he  was  President  of  the  Moultrie 
County  Bank,  of  Sullivan,  111.,  and  Vice 
President  of  the  First  National  Bank,  of 
Charleston  ;  while  living  in  Shelbyville,  he 
represented  his  county  for  three  years  in 
the  State  Legislature.  He  was  also  a  del- 
egate to  the  Constitutional  Convention  in 
1847.  He  was  married  Dec.  22,  1831,  to 
Miss  Polly  Ann  Cutler,  daughter  of  Judge 
Jacob  Cutler;  she  came  with  her  parents 
to  Illinois  in  1828,  lived  awhile  in  Edgar 
Co.,  removing  thence  to  Shelbyville,  where 
she  met,  and  married  Dr.  Trower ;  they 
had  five  childi-en,  four  of  whom  are  living 
— Amerial  (wife  of  Dr.  L.  L.  Silverthorn, 
of  Charleston),  Sinia  Antonia  (Mrs.  Rich- 
ard Norfolk,  of  Charleston),  Sallie  (wife  of 
Daniel  Sayer,  a  prominent  merchant,  of 
Chicago)  and  Xavier  B.  (a  banker  in  Sul- 
livan, 111.,  one  son,  John  V.,  editor  of  the 
Fort  Madison  (Iowa)  Democrat,  died  in 
Dallas,  Tex.,  Nov.  18,  1875 ;  Dr.  Trower 
died  April  15,  1878,  and  was  buried  in 
Mound  Cemetery,  Charleston. 

SAMUEL  VAN  METER,  M.  D., 
physician  and  surgeon,  Charleston ;  was 
born  in  Grayson  Co.,  Ky.,  Nov.  8, 
1824;  he  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Catharine  (Keller)  Van  Meter,  the  for- 
mer    of     whom     died     in     1827  ;     his 


536 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


mother  then  removed  with  her  family 
to  IlHnois,  settlini:-  in  Coles  Co. ;  he  re- 
ceived snch  education  as  the  common 
schools  in  those  pioneer  days  afforded  ;  at 
the  age  of  15  years,  he  was  apprenticed  to 
the  tanner's  trade,  but  before  completing 
his  apprenticeship  he  purchased  his  time 
of  his  employer,  and  was  in  turn  bound  to 
Dr.  T.  B.  Trower,  and  entered  upon  the 
more  congenial  employment  of  studying 
medicine ;  he  remained  under  Dr.  Trow- 
er's  instruction  five  years  ;  in  1849,  he 
made  the  overland  trip  to  California,  the 
journey  occupying  five  months,  during 
which  time  he  had  an  extensive  practice 
as  a  physician  among  the  emigrants  cross- 
ing the  plains;  he  remained  eighteen  months 
in  California  and  then  returned  to  Charles- 
ton and  practiced  medicine  three  years  with 
Dr.  Trower,  after  which  he  began  practice 
by  himself;  in  1857,  he  founded  the  Illi- 
nois Infirmary  in  Charleston,  the  fame  of 
which  extended  to  all  parts  of  the  country, 
patients  coming  from  the  Pacific  Coast,  and 
from  England  and  other  countries  beyond 
the  sea  ;  his  partner  in  this  institution  for 
a  number  of  years  was  Dr.  H.  R.  Allen, 
now  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  National 
Surgical  Institute  at  Indianapolis  ;  as  an 
illustration  of  the  success  of  the  Infirmary, 
we  may  mention  that  the  gross  receipts 
during  the  year  1868  were  $186,000,  and 
the  expenditure  for  the  one  item  of  postage 
stamps  alone  averaged  $1,400  per  month; 
it  continued  to  enjoy  a  high  reputation 
and  uninterrupted  success  until  1877, 
when  the  doctor,  worn  out  with  his  con- 
stant and  arduous  labors,  closed  the  insti- 
tution and  retired  from  the  active  practice 
of  his  profession.  He  was  married  Oct. 
8,  1845,  to  Fannie  E.  Hutchison,  of 
Greensburg,  Ky. ;  of  three  children  of  this 
marriage,  two  are  now  living  in  Charles- 
ton— Katie  (wife  of  C.  C.  Rogers)  and 
John  (one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  City 
Mills)  ;  their  oldest  daughter,  Fannie  R, 
wife  of  J.  W.  Ogden,  of  Chicago,  died 
in  1870. 

DANIEL  A.  VAN  SICKLE,  proprietor 
of  the  Charleston  Hotel,  Charleston ;  was 
born  in  Trenton,  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  20, 
1833,  being  the  oldest  .son  of  J.  C.  and  Be- 
linda (Craig)  Van  Sickle  ;  his  father  was 
born  in  Trenton,  Ohio,  May  31,  1811,  and 
his  mother  at  Ball's  Ferry,  on  the  Miami 
River,  in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  17,  1815. 


The  family  consisted  of  nine  children,  as 
follows — Daniel  A.  Jasper,  born  Jan.  3, 
1836,  and  died  Nov.  12,  1868;  Sally  A., 
born  March  19,  1838  ;  Caroline,  born  June 
20,  1841,  and  died  Feb.  26,  1866  ;  John 
Wesley,  born  March  18,  1843 ;  George 
W.,  born  Aug.  17,  1846;  Newton,  born 
Dec.  23,  1848,  died  Aug.  24,  1850  ;  Craig, 
born  Feb.  23,  1851,  died  March  15,  1853, 
and  Cliarles  P.,  born  July  10,  1853.  At 
the  age  of  17  years,  Mr.  Van  Sickle  be- 
gan with  Schenck  &  Denice,  of  Franklin, 
Warren  Co.,  Ohio,  to  learn  the  horseshoe- 
ing business,  and  followed  that  trade  alto- 
gether about  fourteen  years.  In  1854,  his 
father  removed  with  the  family  to  Coles 
Co.,  and  about  ten  years  ago,  he  removed 
to  Girard,  Macoupin  Co.,  111.,  where  he 
died  Sept.  25,  1876.  His  mother  still  re- 
sides in  Girard.  During  his  residence  in 
Charleston,  he  has  been  engaged  six  years 
as  a  clerk  in  the  wholesale  and  retail 
grocery  house  of  Wright,  Minton  &  Co.; 
has  served  as  City  Marshal,  Street  Superin- 
tendent and  Township  Collector,  and  has 
traveled  five  years  selling  groceries  from 
Indianapolis.  He  was  married  Aug.  27, 
1857,  to  Miss  Belinda  Wehr,  a  daughter 
of  Nathan  and  Harriet  (Flenner)  Wehr ; 
she  was  born  Aug.  28,  1839,  near  Hamil- 
ton, Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Coles 
Co.  in  1853  ;  they  have  one  daughter — 
Louisa  Bell,  born  Aug.  16,  1858.  April 
1,  1878,  Mr.  Van  Sickle  became  proprie- 
tor of  the  Charleston  Hotel.  Whether 
shoeing  a  horse  or  selling  groceries,  his 
aim  has  always  been  to  excel,  and  on  as- 
suming charge  of  this  house,  he  determined 
to  keep  such  a  house  as  should  deserve  the 
patronage  of  the  public  and  should  earn 
the  title  of  a  strictly  first-class  hotel.  His 
experience  as  a  traveling  man  enables  him 
to  understand  and  appreciate  the  wants  of 
the  traveling  public.  How  well  he  has 
succeeded  is  shown  by  the  large  and  con- 
stantly-increasing patronage  of  the  hotel. 
Genial  in  manner  and  accommodating  in 
disposition,  he  makes  every  one  feel  at  home 
at  once,  and  in  the  variety  and  quality  of 
its  fare,  and  in  attention  to  the  comforte  of 
its  guests,  the  Charleston  Hotel  is  not  ex- 
celled by  any  house  between  Indianapolis 
and  St.  Louis. 

ISAAC  VAIL,  proprietor  of  livery,  feed 
and  sale  stable,  Charleston  ;  was  born  in 
Dutchess    Co.,    N.    Y.,   Nov.   29,    1833; 


CHARLESTON  TOWNSHIP. 


537 


in  1839,  his  father  removed  with  his 
family  to  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y..  and  after 
residing  there  ten  years,  to  Erie  Co.,  Penn., 
thence  the  next  year  to  Steuben  Co.,  Ind., 
and,  in  1851,  to  Coles  Co.;  his  father  located 
800  acres  of  Government  land  in  Hickory 
Tp.,  four  miles  north  of  Charleston,  at  a  cost 
of  $700.  Three  years  later  he  removed  to 
Livingston  Co.,  where  he  is  a  prominent 
farmer.  Mr.  Vail  left  home  in  1852, 
driving  an  ox-team  across  the  plains  to 
Oregon,  and  spent  three  years  in  that 
State  and  California.  He  returned  in  1855, 
and,  the  following  year,  erected  a  mill  in 
Livingston  Co.,  which  he  ran  till  the 
breaking-out  of  the  rebellion.  In  August, 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  129th  I.  V.  I.,  as 
Sergeant  in  Co.  E  ;  he  was  with  Sherman 
from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  and  on  the 
famous  march  to  the  sea,  and  up  through 
the  Carolinas  and  Virginia  to  Washington, 
participating  in  all  the  battles  of  his  regi- 
ment. He  returned  in  1865,  and  the 
same  year  located  in  Charleston,  and  ran  a 
planing-mill  for  two  years.  He  then  sold 
out  and  went  to  farming,  and,  in  1868, 
built  his  livery-stable,  and  engaged  in  his 
present  business.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Aldermen  which,  in  1875, 
put  in  the  Charleston  Water  Works  at  a  cost 
of  less  than  $40,000,  said  to  be  the  cheap- 
est works  in  the  State.  He  was  married 
in  1852  to  Miss  Rebecca  Fisher  of  Coles 
Co.,  and  has  six  children — William  I.  (now 
of  San  Francisco),  Frank,  Ida,  Fred,  Eva 
and  May. 

THOMAS  JEFFERSON  WILSON 
was  born  in.  Barren  Co.,  Ky.,  on  Nov.  22, 
1825,  and  moved  to  Greensburg,  Green 
Co.,  Ky.,  in  1847,  where,  on  June  8, 
1848,  he  was  married  to  Lucy  Ann 
Hutchason ;  he  was  a  wagon-maker  by 
trade ;  Lucy  Ann  Hutchason  was  born  in 
Greensburg,  Ky.,  on  June  27,  1826  ;  in 
April,  1857,  Mr.  Wilson  removed  with  his 
family  to  Charleston,  111.,  where  he  went 
into  the  employ  of  L.  R.  &  B.  M. 
Hutchason,  his  brothers-in-law,  who  were 
in    the    dry  goods    trade.     On    Jan.    12, 

1859,  his    wife    died  in    Charleston.     In 

1860,  he  began  business  for  himself,  by 
buying  the  stock  of  dry  goods  owned  by 
Jos.  Peyton,  in  Charleston,  and  he  removed 
his  stock  of  goods,  in  1861,  to  Ashmore ; 
there,  by  his  methods  of  fair  dealing  and 
strict  integrity  in  business,  he  soon  estab- 


lished a  flourishing  trade,  and  became 
extensively  known  over  the  eastern  portion 
of  the  county  ;  he  died  in  Ashmore  on 
Oct.  12,  1865,  and  lies  buried  by  the 
side  of  his  wife,  in  the  old  cemetery  near 
Charleston.  He  and  his  wife  were  both 
members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  he 
was  an  Elder  in  the  same  while  a  resident 
of  Charleston ;  both  their  lives  were  those 
of  the  most  exemplary  Christians,  and  they 
were  respected,  trusted  and  beloved  where- 
ever  they  were  known. 

CHARLES  EDWARD  WILSON,  son 
of  above ;  was  born  in  Greensburg,  Green 
Co.,  Ky.,  on  May  1,  1849;  when  his 
father  died  in  1865,  he,  being  the  only 
child  and  only  remaining  one  of  the  family, 
went  to  Charleston  and  lived  with  rela- 
tives, finishing  a  common-school  education 
during  the  following  winter  ;  in  the  spring 
of  1867,  he  went  to  Omaha,  Neb.,  and 
remained  one  year ;  returning  then  to 
Charleston,  he  became  a  salesman  in  the 
queensware  store  of  V.  Craig,  and  after- 
ward book-keeper  for  George  Tucker,  who 
was  a  manufacturer  of  pressed  brick ;  in  the 
spring  of  1871,  he  was  elected  to  the  office 
of  City  Clerk  of  the  city  of  Charleston,  for 
one  year,  and  was  appointed  by  the  City 
Council  in  the  spring  of  1872,  to  the 
same  position  for  another  year ;  in  the  fall 
of  1871,  he  was  employed  at  the  infirmary 
of  Dr.  S.  Van  Meter  ;  ultimately  became  a 
partner  in  the  firm,  and  retired  from  the 
same  on  Sept.  1st,  1876.  On  Nov. 
4,  1873,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Emily 
Johnston,  daughter  of  I.  H.  Johnston, 
of  Charleston ;  she  was  born  in  Coles 
Co.,  on  June  15,  1851  ;  three  chil- 
dren are  the  result  of  this  marriage,  all 
daughters,  as  follows  :  Olive,  born  Sept.  3, 
1874;  Clotilde,  born  Dec.  23,  1876,  and 
Emily,  born  Dec.  4,  1878.  In  November, 
1873,  he  was  elected  by  the  stockholders 
of  the  Coles  County  Board  of  Agriculture, 
Secretary  of  said  Board,  for  one  year.  In 
November,  1876,  he  was  elected  Director 
of  said  Boird,  which  position  he  still  holds ; 
in  March,  1876,  he  was  made  a  Director 
of  the  Second  National  Bank  of  Charles- 
ton, in  which  position  he  still  remains ; 
from  September,  1876,  until  June.  1877, 
being  engaged  in  no  special  business,  he  . 
read  law  at  the  office  of  Wiley  &  Neal,  in 
Charleston;  on  June  25,  1877,  the  firm  of 
Chambers,  Johnston  &  Co.,  pork-packers. 


538 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


was  organized  for  the  purpose  of  packing 
pork  during  that  summer  and  the  fall  fol- 
lowing;  Mr.  Wilson  became  a  member  of 
that  firm,  and  was  its  secretary  and  book- 
keeper;  on  Sept.  30,  1878,  he  became 
associated  with  I.  H.  Johnston  and  George 
Steigman,  under  the  firm  name  of  Steig- 
man,  Wilson  &  Co.,  in  the  business  of 
pork-packing;  and  they  have,  at  Charles- 
ton, the  only  packing-house  in  Illinois, 
outside  of  Chicago,  adapted  for  both 
winter  and  summer  packing. 

SAMUEL  WRIGHT,  Charleston  ;  was 
born  in  Delaware  Co.,  Penn.,  Feb.  29, 
1808  ;  when  he  was  9  years  of  age,  he 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Washington 
Co.,  in  the  same  State,  where  he  learned 
the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  builder,  and 
afterward  taught  school  for  seven  years. 
He  was  married  Aug.  20,  1829,  to  Miss 
Ruth  Gordon,  of  Washington  Co.,  Penn., 
and  has  four  children  living — W^illiam  G. 
(of  Charleston),  Maria  B.  (wife  of  Dr.  A. 
K.  Spears,  of  Charleston),  Matilda  R. 
(Mrs.  W.  S.  Minton,  of  Charleston),  and 
Samuel  H.  (Corresponding  Secretary  of 
the  National  Surgical  Institute,  of  Indian- 
apolis, Ind.)  ;  the  last  named  served 
three  years  in  the  last  war ;  was  promoted 
to  Major  of  the  31st  Mo.  V.  I.,  and  after 
his  return,  was  for  four  years  Adjutant 
General  of  the  State  of  Missouri ;  in  1835, 
Mr.  Wright  removed  to  Ripley  Co.,  Ohio, 
returnmg  in  1846  to  Pennsylvania ;  in 
1856,  he  came  to  Charleston,  and  followed 
his  trade  here  till  1860  ;  he  was  then  elect- 
ed Justice  of  the  Peace  for  four  years, 
and  again  elected  in  1864:  since  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term  of  oflace  in  1868,  he 
has  been  employed  as  a  clerk  in  the  store 
of  his  son,  W^  G.  Wright,  in  Charleston. 

WILLIAM  G.  WRIGHT,  of  the  firm 
of  Wright,  Hodgen  &  Co.,  wholesale  and 
retail  dealers  in  groceries  and  provisions, 
Charleston  ;  was  born  in  Washington  Co., 
Penn.,  July  25,  1832  ;  he  was  brought 
up  to  farming  and  his  father's  trade,  of  a 
carpenter ';  he  received  an  English  educa- 
tion, and  at  the  age  of  18,  began  teach- 
ing school,  which  he  continued  three  win- 
ters;  in  the  spring  of  1854,  he  came  to 
Hitesville,  Coles  Co.,  and  on  the  24th  of  Au- 
gust, the  same  year,  he  married  Miss  Sarah 
Bane,  whom  he  had  known  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  who  had  removed  with  her  par- 
ents to  Coles  Co.  the  year  before  ;    they 


have  six  children — Mary  Ida,  Lulu  May, 
Harry  W^arren,  Florence  and  Nellie.  In 
1856,  he  removed  to  Charleston  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  till  the  fall  of  1859,  when 
he  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  T. 
Hulman,  with  whom  he  continued  until 
the  fldl  of  1864;  he  then,  with  W.  S. 
Minton  and  A.  K.  Spears,  purchased  the 
stock  of  Mr.  Hulman,  and  engaged  in 
merchandising,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Wright,  Minton  &  Co.  till  1870,  then  till 
1872  as  W.  G.  Wright  &  Co. ;  Mr.  Min- 
ton returning  in  1872,  the  firm  became 
W.  S.  Minton  &  Co.,  and  so  continued  till 
1876,  since  when,  it  has  been  Wright, 
Hodgen  &  Co.  ;  in  1868,  W^-ight,  Minton 
&  Co.  built  the  brick  store  which  forms  a 
portion  of  March's  Block,  and  is  now  oc- 
cupied by  R.  Stoddert  &  Sons ;  they  were 
also  for  two  years  owners  of  the  mill  known 
as  the  Tinkey  Mill  in  Charleston,  and  for 
two  years  were  engaged  in  the  house-fur- 
nishing business,  in  addition  to  their  gro- 
cery trade. 

GODFREY  WEBER,  deceased,  late  of 
Charleston ;  was  born  in  Oberslingen, 
Kingdom  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  Dec. 
24,  1820  :  his  father  was  a  vineyardist,  and 
his  early  years  were  passed  among  the 
vine-clad  hills  and  sunny  slopes  of  his  na- 
tive land.  He  was  married  in  August, 
1848,  to  Miss  Frances  Muller,  who  was 
born  in  Wisgoldingen,  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, May  27,  1824 ;  they  immediately 
emigrated  to  America,  and  settled  near 
Louisville,  Ky.,  and  engaged  in  gardening 
and  wine-growing ;  two  years  later,  he  re- 
moved to  Clark  Co.,  111.,  and  located  on  a 
farm  near  Westfield,  to  which  town  he  aft- 
erward removed,  and  worked  in  the 
Westfield  Mill  for  eleven  years;  in  1866, 
he  removed  to  Charleston,  and  engaged  in 
the  bakery  and  confectionery  business,  in 
which  he  continued  till  his  death,  which 
occurred  Sept.  7,  1877  ;  he  left  a  wife, 
who  still  resides  in  Charleston,  and  ten 
children — William  (a  farmer  in  Hutton 
Tp.),  Kate  (wife  of  John  Hederich,  of 
Charleston),  Frederick  C.  (of  Hutton  Tp.), 
Louisa  (Mrs.  Schaun,  of  Charleston), 
Daniel,  John  and  George  (of  Charleston), 
Emma  E.  (wife  of  William  Louden,  oi 
Westfield,  111.),  Matilda  F.  and  Charles. 

DANIEL  WEBER,  of  the  firm  of 
Weber  Brothers,  bakers  and  confection- 
ers, Charleston,  is  a  son  of  Godfrey  and 


MATTOON  TOWNSHIP. 


539 


Frances  (Muller)  Weber;  he  was  born  in 
Westfield,  111.,  May  31,  1854,  and  came 
with  his  parents  to  Charleston  in  1866  ; 
he  spent  a  part  of  his  time  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Button  Tp.,  and  a  portion  in  the 
store  in  Charleston,  and  on  the  death  of 
his  father,  in  1877,  he,  with  his  brother 
John,  succeeded  to  the  business.  He  was 
married  April  29,  1878,  to  Miss  Rosa 
Riegger,  of  Bloom ington.  111. 

JOHN  WEBER,  the  junior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Weber  Brothers,  was  also  born 
in  Westfield,  Clark  Co.,  HI.,  April  19, 
1856,  and  came  with  the  other  members 
of  the  family  to  Charleston,  at  the  age  of 
10  years. 

GUNTHER  WEISS,  of  the  firm  of 
Weiss  &  Frommel,  proprietors  of  the 
Charleston  Woolen-Mill,  Charleston  ;  was 
born  in  Leutenberg,  Sharzburg,  Rudol- 
stadt,  Germany,  July  6,  1823;  he  at- 
tended school  till  the  age  of  14,  and  was 


then  apprenticed  to  learn  the  weaver's 
trade;  in  1845,  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  landing  in  Galveston,  Texas ;  on 
the  breaking-out  of  the  war  with  Mexico,^ 
he  volunteered  in  the  1st  Tex.  V.  I.,  and 
served  under  Gen.  Taylor ;  in  the  spring 
of  1848,  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  where 
he  remained  until  1852,  when  he  went  to 
Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  and  began  business  as 
a  grocery  and  provision  merchant,  which 
he  continued  for  twenty-two  years ;  in 
1874,  he  came  to  Charleston,  and  assumed 
an  active  part  in  the  management  of  the 
Charleston  Woolen-Mill,  in  which  he  bad 
been  a  partner  since  1869.  Mr.  Weiss 
was  married  Nov.  17,  1853,  to  Miss  Carrie 
Newhart,  of  Cincinnati,  a  native  of  Bava- 
ria, Germany  ;  they  have  eight  children — 
Otto  P.,  Emma  (wife  of  Alfred  C.  Fick- 
lin,  of  Charleston),  Louise,  Aurora,  Hel- 
ena, Adolph  G.,  Carrie  and  Maria. 


MATTOON    TOWNSHIP. 


M.  ALSHULER,  staple  and  fancy  dry 
goods,  Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, A.  D.  1836  ;  his  early  life  was  spent 
in  school ;  having  acquired  a  good  educa- 
tion, in  February,  1852,  he  immigrated  to 
America,  «ind  first  located  in  Danville,  111., 
where  he  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  general  dry 
goods  store.  In  1854,  he  went  to  Chicago, 
and  was  employed  in  a  jewelry  and  fancy 
store,  on  Lake  street ;  he  next  located  with 
the  firm  of  P]dsall  &  Co.,  in  Terre  Haute, 
Ind.,  and  remained  with  that  firm  seven 
years  ;  with  another  firm  he  remained  three 
years  longer,  and,  in  1865,  came  to  Mattoon ; 
here  the  dry  goods  firm  of  Alshuler,  Aaron 
&  Co.  was  formed,  and  continued  one  year  ; 
the  firm  of  C.  &  M.  Alshuler  was  next 
formed,  and  existed  eleven  years.  In  the 
spring  of  1876,  the  firm  of  C.  &.  M.  Al- 
shuler was  dissolved,  and  that  of  M. 
Alshuler  &  Co.  formed.  To  Mr.  Alshuler 
must  be  accorded,  and  justly,  too,  the 
honor  of  opening  up  the  first  exclusively 
dry  goods  establishment  in  the  city  ;  prior 
to  his  example,  merchandising  in  Mattoon 
had  been  conducted  on  the  plan  of  "ye 
olden  times,"  when  each  carried  in  stoek 
a  line  of  dry  goods,  groceries,  queeusware. 


& 


drugs,  hardware,  etc.,  etc. ;  under  hi 
healthful  example,  business  soon  became 
classified;  by  strict  attention  to  business, 
fair  dealing,  and  the  establishment  of  a 
"  one  price  "  system,  strictly  adhered  to, 
he  has  succeeded  in  building-  up  a  large 
and  remunerative  business,  and  now  oper- 
ates the  largest  and  most  prosperous  dry 
goods  establishment  in  the  city.  He  was 
married  Sept.  13,  1871,  to  Fannie  Frank, 
a  native  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio ;  have  two 
children — Cora  and  Damon  T. 

J.  L.  AUBERT,  County  Surveyor, 
Mattoon ;  was  born  in  Licking  Co.,  Ohio, 
Nov.  3,  1830  ;  his  father  was  a  tiller  of  the 
soil,  and  his  early  life  was  that  of  a  farmer's 
son  ;  at  the  age  of  18,  he  began  work  at 
the  carpenter's  trade,  and  worked  under 
instruction  three  years.  In  1854,  became 
West  and  settled  in  Moultrie  Co.,  111., 
where  he  purchased  land,  farmed  some, 
but  for  the  most  part  followed  his  trade. 
In  July,  1865,  he  located  in  Lebanon,  St. 
Clair  Co.  ;  here  he  remained  three  years, 
during  which  time  he  contracted  and  built 
the  public  school  buildings  and  the  M.  E. 
Church.  In  1868,  he  lived  a  short  time 
in  Shelbyville,  and  removed  from  there  to- 


5-10 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  : 


Jacksonville,  111.,  where  he  was  engaged  on 
the  Court  House,  the  East  Centenary 
Church,  and  on  improvements  to  the 
Christian  Church ;  he  began  the  study 
of  surveying  many  years  ago,  un- 
der the  direction  of  J.  R.  Anderson, 
his  brother-in-law,  formerly  County  Sur- 
veyor in  Ohio,  and  later  of  Moultrie  Co., 
111.  Mr.  Aubert  was  elected  Surveyor  of 
Coles  Co.  in  November,  1875.  He  was 
married  in  1858  to  Minerva  R.  Morgan, 
a  native  of  Licking  Co.,  Ohio. 

J.  I.  AYER,  book  and  music  store, 
Mattoon;  was  born  in  Medford,  Mass., 
Feb.  3,  1854.  In  1866,  the  family  moved 
to  Elizabeth,  N.  J.;  in  addition  to  his 
common-school  education,  he  enjoyed  the 
advantages  of  a  boarding-school  at  Naaa- 
reth,  Penn. ;  this  school  was  of  a  military 
character,  and  he  here  pursued  a  course  in 
civil  engineering  ;  at  the  age  of  15  years 
he  entered  the  firm  of  Roberts  &  Co. 
(dealers  in  books  and  stationery),  at  Eliza- 
beth, N.  J.,  to  take  charge  of  his  father's 
interest,  he  being  a  member  of  the  firm. 
In  the  fall  of  1870,  he  came  West  to  Illi- 
nois, and  settled  in  Mattoon,  and  en- 
gaged in  engineering  on  the  Decatur, 
Mattoon  &  Sullivan  and  the  Grayville  & 
Mattoon  Railroads  ;  he  was  thus  employed 
about  three  years;  in  1874,  he  was  em- 
ployed as  book-keeper  in  the  Essex  House, 
and  remained  till  March,  1878;  in  Novem- 
ber, 1877,  he  purchased  his  present  business, 
and  since  March,  1878,  has  given  it  his 
personal  supervision.  He  was  married  in 
August,  1876,  to  Mary  L.  Cleveland,  a  na- 
tive of  Melrose,  Mass. ;  has  one  daughter — 
Mary  L.,  born  Aug.  20,  1878.  Mr.  Ayer 
is  a  relative  of  the  world-renowned  Dr.  J. 
C.  Ayer,  of  Lowell,  Mass. 

V.  R.  BRIDGES,  M.  D.,  physician  and 
surgeon,  Mattoon;  was  born  in  Rocking- 
ham Co.,  Va.,  June  4,  1832  ;  his  father 
settled  in  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  near  Chillicothe, 
in  1836;  in  1841,  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Newton,  Jasper  Co.;  he  was  en- 
gaged in  contracting  on  public  works,  both 
in  Ohio  and  Illinois.  Dr.  Bridges  acquired 
a  good  academic  education,  mainly  through 
his  own  exertions,  and  at  the  age  of  14, 
began  life  for  himself  At  the  age 
of  17,  he  taught  his  first  school ;  in 
1851,  he  was  employed  in  the  drug  store  of 
Dr.  H.  H.  Hayes,  at  Lawrenceville,  111., 
and  began  the  study    of  medicine  under 


him.  He  next  came  to  Marshall,  and 
completed  his  studies  under  Drs.  Payne 
and  Duncan.  In  the  spring  of  1854,  he 
located  in  Salisbury,  Coles  Co.,  and  began 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1860,  he 
came  to  Mattoon,  his  present  residence. 
He  entered  the  U.  S.  service  as  Assistant 
Surgeon  of  the  62d  Regiment,  I.  V.  I ;  in 
1863,  he  was  promoted  to  be  Surgeon  of 
the  126th  Regiment,  and  was  mustered  out 
in  1865,  after  the  close  of  the  war ;  soon 
after  his  discharge  from  the  service,  he  was 
appointed  Examining  Surgeon  for  the  Pen- 
sion Bureau — a  position  he  still  holds.  In 
1876,  he  attended  Rush  Medical  College, 
from  which  he  graduated  Feb.  27, 1877. 
He  was  married  Jan.  8,  1856,  to  Mary 
E.  Boyd,  a  native  of  Indiana ;  four  chil- 
dren have  been  the  fruits  of  the  union — 
Flora  J.  and  Charles  INI.,  living,  Edward 
L.  and  Emma,  deceased.  Has  been  a 
member  of  the  City  Council  a  number  of 
terms,  and  was  President  of  the  Board  two 
terms. 

WM.  BURGESS,  manufacturer  and 
dealer  in  boots  and  shoes,  Mattoon ;  was 
born  in  North  Molton,  Devonshire,  Eng., 
Oct.  12,  1827  ;  he  emigrated  to  America 
in  May,  1849  ;  for  two  years  after  coming, 
he  followed  his  trade  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.; 
he  subsequently  lived  at  various  points  in 
New  York,  Cortland,  Elmira,  Tioga 
Point,  Bath,  Corwin,  Addison,  etc.  In 
the  spring  of  1855,  he  returned  to  En- 
s-land remaining  one  vear.  In  1856,  he 
returned  to  America,  stopping  for  a  season 
in  New  York ;  thence  to  Pennsylvania ; 
thence  back  to  New  York.  In  June,  1857, 
he  went  to  Canada,  remained  but  a  short 
time,  and  next  went  to  Michigan  ;  thence 
to  La  Fayette,  Ind.,  from  there  to  Coving- 
ton, Ind.;  thence  to  Decatur,  111.  During 
these  years  he  followed  his  trade.  In  May, 
1860,  he  came  to  Mattoon  and  opened  up 
his  present  store.  He  is  the  oldest  estab- 
lished boot  and  shoe  merchant  in  the  city. 
He  was  married  in  November,  1862,  to  Ag- 
nesEvans,  a  native  of  England  ;  three  child- 
ren have  been  born  to  them — Mary  E.,  Em- 
ily F.,  living  ;  Jennie,  deceased  ;  they  have 
also  an  adopted  son — Richard.  Owns  forty 
acres  in  Mattoon  Tp. ;  also  two  business 
houses  and  a  residence  in  the  city.  Is  at 
present  a  member  of  the  City  Council. 

J.  J.  BE  ALL,  student  at  law,  Mattoon  ; 
was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,    Ohio,  Nov.  26, 


MATTOON  TOWNSHIP. 


541 


1843  ;  his  father  came  with  his  family  to 
Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1852,  and  settled  in 
Wayne  Co.  Here  he  engaged  in  farming. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  passed  his  lite 
upon  the  farm  and  obtained  his  education  at 
tlie  common  schools.  In  February,  1862,  he 
left  home,  and  began  the  trade  of  saddle  and 
harness  maker  ;  he  worked  under  instruc- 
tion three  years;  he  then  worked  as  jour- 
neyman at  his  trade  till  1870  ;  in  Decem- 
ber, 1870,  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff 
of  Coles  Co.,  under  A.  M.  Brown,  Sheriff. 
This  position  heheld  two  yeara.  In  1873, 
he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 
Mattoon  Tp.,  and  served  tour  years.  In 
May,  1877,  he  began  work  again  at  his 
trade,  and  Jan.  28,  1878,  entered  the 
office  of  Craig  &  Craig  as  clerk  and  student. 
He  was  married  Dec.  26,  1867,  to  Ellen 
McGuire,  a  native  of  Ireland.  Has  three 
children— James  R.,  Julian  E.  and  Louisa 
A.  Owns  real  estate  in  the  city.  In  1874, 
he  was  chosen  Assistant  Supervisor  of 
Mattoon  Tp.;  in  January,  1878,  he  was 
appointed  and  commissioned  by  Gov.  Cul- 
lom  a  Notary  Public  for  Coles  Co.  for  four 
years. 

J.  B.  BENEFIBL,  proprietor  Boss 
Meat  Market,  Mattoon ;  was  born  in 
Oaktown,  Knox  Co.,  Ind.,  April  22, 
1847  ;  his  father  was  a  physician  and 
a  man  of  far  more  than  ordinary 
ability ;  J.  B.  passed  his  early  life  in 
attendance  upon  school;  in  1861,  his 
father  came  with  his  family  to  Mattoon, 
111. ;  here  he  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
his  profession  and  succeeded  in  build- 
ing up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice; 
young  Benefiel  entered  the  graded  schools 
of  the  city,  designing  to  complete  the 
course,  preparatory  to  entering  the  law 
department  of  Michigan  University  ;  his 
father  having  become  involved  in  profes- 
sional difficulty  in  1867,  precipitately  fled 
the  country,  abandoning  his  family,  and 
under  an  assumed  name  has  lived  in  Craig, 
Mo.,  ever  since ;  very  recently  he  has  been 
discovered,  and  has  partially  made  restitu- 
tion to  his  family  for  past  neglect ;  on  the 
desertion  of  his  father,  the  cares  of  the 
family  devolved  upon  the  hands  of  J.  B., 
the  eldest  of  the  children  ;  abandoning  his 
studies,  he  applied  himself  to  the  support 
of  his  mother  and  the  younger  members 
of  the  family ;  in  August,  1867,  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Merchants'  Union 


Express  Co.,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1868' 
that  of  the  American  Express  Co  ;  he  was 
thus  employed  about  three  years  ;  in  1871, 
he  entered  the  employ  of  J.  T.  Southern 
in  buying  and  shipping  grain  and  in 
the  sale  of  agricultural  implements  ;  in  the 
fall  of  1873,  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  soap  in  company  with  J.  P. 
Clark  ;  in  1875,  he  began  his  present 
business,  and  has  since  continued  it.  He 
was  married  Jan.  21,  1874,  to  Ellen  F. 
Aldridge,  a  native  of  Arkansas  ;  has  had 
one  child— Roy  M.,  born  Nov.  26,  1874, 
died  Feb.  15,  1877.  Owns  real  estate  in 
the  city. 

HON.  HORACE  S.  CLARK,  attorney 
at  law,  Mattoon ;  was  born  in  Huntsburg, 
Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  12,  1840;  his 
father  emigrated  to  Ohio  from  Vermont 
at  an  early  day ;  at  the  age  of  1 5  years, 
with  a  fliir  education,  he  left  the  old  home- 
stead and  came  West  to  Chicago,  where  he 
sought  employment  and  labored  a  short 
time  ;  he  soon  left  the  city  and  going  to 
Kane  Co.,  engaged  in  farm  work  during 
the  summer  and  attended  school  during 
the  winter  season,  paying  his  way  by  man- 
ual labor  before  and  after  school-hours  ;  in 
the  spring  of  1856,  he  reached  Iowa  City, 
and  made  his  home  with  an  older  brother 
while  pursuing  a  student  life  in  Iowa  State 
University  ;  here  he  soon  became  a  leader 
among  his  fellow-students  as  an  orator  and 
debater ;  during  vacations,  he  engaged  in 
teaching  school,  and  in  the  law  office  of 
Justice  William  E.  Miller  ;  read  with  at- 
tention and  profit  the  works  of  Blackstone 
and  various  other  treatises  on  law  during: 
the  first  year  of  his  residence  in  Iowa 
City  ;  he  returned  to  Kane  Co.,  purchased 
ten  cows,  shipped  them  by  rail  to  the  city, 
and  from  the  proceeds  of  the  milk,  pailed 
by  his  own  hands,  defrayed  his  current 
expenses;  in  the  spring  of  1858,  with  a 
capital  of  $200,  he  speculated  in  fruit- 
trees,  but  failed  to  secure  profitable  returns ; 
subsequently  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  and, 
purchasing  various  books,  traveled  over  the 
country  in  order  to  dispose  of  them  to 
advantage  and  profit ;  later  we  find  him 
again  in  Ohio,  resuming  his  studies  in  the 
legal  firm  of  Smith  &  Page,  in  Circleville. 
He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  E,  73d 
Ohio  V.  I. ;  was  afterward  Orderly  Ser- 
geant, Second  and  First  Lieutenant,  in 
which  last  position   he  often   commanded 


542 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES; 


his  company  ;  July  3, 1863,  he  was  severly 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg ; 
later,  he  was  oftered  Lieutenant-Colonelcy 
by  Gov.  Todd,  of  Ohio,  but  not  being  able 
to  take  the  field,  declined  the  appointment. 
He  next  removed  to  Nashville,  Tenn.; 
when  in  business  pursuits  he  met  with 
deserved  success ;  in  1865,  he  came  to 
Mattoon,  111.;  in  1868,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar ;  has  held  the  oflBce  of  City 
Police  Magistrate,  and  was  chosen  Judge 
of  the  Common  Pleas  Court,  filling  out 
an  unexpired  term  ;  though  comparatively 
a  young  man,  he  is  recognized  as  a  very 
skillful  and  successful  practitioner. 

JAMES  W.  CRAIG,  attorney  at  law, 
Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Morgan  Tp.,  Coles 
Co.,  111.,  June  29,  1844;  his  early  life  was 
that  of  a  farmer's  son  ;  his  education  was 
obtained  in  the  common  schools  ;  in  1864, 
he  began  the  study  of  law  with  Col.  O.  B. 
Ficklin,  of  Charleston  ;  in  the  fall  of  1865, 
he  matriculated  in  the  law  department  of 
the  Michigan  University,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  March,  1867  ;  in  April,  fol- 
lowing, he  was  admitted  to  the  State  and 
Federal  Courts ;  he  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Charleston,  forming  a  co- 
partnership with  Col.  Ficklin  ;  in  May, 
1868,  he  located  in  Mattoon,  retaining  his 
partnership  with  Col.  Ficklin  two  years ;  in 

1872,  he  was  chosen  State's  Attorney  for 
Coles  Co.,  and  retained  the  office  until 
1876;  the  firm  of  Craig  &  Craig  was 
formed  in  1877.  He  was  married  in  June, 
1868,  to  Mary  Chilton,  a  native  of  Scott 
Co.,  111. ;  has  two  children — Edward  C.  and 
Lizzie  I.  Owns  eighty  acres  near  the  city, 
real  estate  in  Mattoon  and  near  Charleston. 

ISAAC  B.  CRAIG,  attorney  at  law, 
Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  April 
28,  1854  ;  he  was  brought  up  upon  the 
farm,  and  his  early  experiences  were  those 
of  a  farmer's  son ;  with  a  good  education 
acquired  at  the  common  schools,  he  began 
the   study    of  his    profession   in    March, 

1873,  with  his  brother  and  0.  B.  Ficklin; 
in  the  foil  of  1873,  he  entered  the  law  de- 
partment of  the  Michigan  University;  he 
graduated  in  the  spring  ot  1875,  and,  in 
June,  1875,  was  admitted  to  practice  at 
Mt.  Vernon,  111. ;  he  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Charleston  ;  in  1877,  he 
came  to  Mattoon,  and  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  his  brother,  and  has  since  been 
engaged  in  the  practice  here. 


S.  A.  CAMPBELL,  surgeon  dentist; 
Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Mercer  Co.,  Penn., 
Aug.  16,  1848;  his  father  came  with  his 
family  in  October,  1854,  to  Mercer  Co.,  111., 
and  there  settled  on  a  farm ;  six  days  after 
coming,  he  sickened  and  died  ;  at  the  age 
of  11  years.  Dr.  Campbell  went  into  the 
office  of  Dr.  E.  B.  Hamill,  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  at  12,  began  the  study  of  den- 
tistry ;  here  he  remained  under  instruction 
about  two  and  a  half  years  ;  he  then  en- 
tered the  Baltimore  Dental  College,  the 
oldest  dental  institution  in  the  world  ;  in 
1868,  having  completed  the  course  he  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  D.  D.  S. ;  he  next 
located  in  Philadelphia,  and  entered  upon 
the  practice  of  his  profession ;  in  May, 
1870,  be  removed  to  Mattoon,  111. ;  he  is 
the  oldest  established  dentist  in  the  city,  if 
not  in  the  county.  He  was  married  in 
November,  1874,  to  Nellie  FalHn,  a  native 
of  Bracken  Co.,  Ky.;  has  one  daughter — 
Laura  Bertha;  he  has  a  large  practice,  and 
is  recognized  as  a  skilled  workman  in  his 
profession. 

REV.  FATHER  CROWE,  Pastor  of 
the  Catholic  Church,  Mattoon ;  was  born 
in  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  19,  1851  ;  his 
early  life  was  passed  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  city;  here  he  completed  a 
full  course  of  instruction,  passing  regularly 
through  the  high  school  and  normal  de- 
partment;  at  about  the  age  of  18  years, 
he  engaged  in  the  profession  of  teaching, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Faculty  in  the 
College  at  Tutopolis,  and,  at  a  later  date, 
in  that  at  Ruma,  111.  ;  having  for  some 
time  directed  his  thoughts  in  the  channel 
of  the  legal  profession,  and,  at  a  later  date, 
to  that  of  the  medical  profession,  finally, 
in  1873,  he  entered  the  Grand  Seminary, 
at  Montreal,  Canada,  where  for  four  years 
he  pursued  a  course  in  theology ;  he  was 
ordained  to  the  ministry  Dec.  22,  1877  ; 
he  then  took  chai'ge  of  a  church  at  Flora, 
111.,  for  a  short  time,  and,  in  March,  1878, 
came  to  Mattoon,  his  present  residence; 
by  virtue  of  his  position,  he  is  President 
of  the  schools  connected  with  the  Church, 
conducted  by  the  Ursuline  Sisters,  from 
Springfield. 

E.  T.  CURRENS,  farmer  and  fruit- 
grower ;  P.  0.  Mattoon ;  was  born  in 
Bracken  Co.,  Ky.,  in  1816;  his  father 
was  a  farmer  and  tanner,  and  for  fifty-five 
years  conducted  the  two  interests  jointly, 


MATTOON  TOWNSHIP. 


513 


at  Germantown,  Ky.  ;  E.  T.'s  early  life 
was  spent  upon  his  father's  farm  and  in 
iearnina;  the  tanning  business  ;  he  entered 
Augusta  College,  Ky.,  in  1832,  and  gradu- 
ated therefrom  in  1836  ;  he  then  engaged 
in  mercantile  life  and  farming  till  1854, 
when  he  moved  to  Iowa  and  established 
the  Kentucky  settlement  in  Marshall  Co.; 
in  1861,  he  returned  to  Maysville,  Ky., 
and  engaged  in  the  hardware  trade,  in  the 
firm  of  Carrens  &  Owens;  in  1864,  he 
came  to  Mattoon,  111.,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  Mr.  Currens  has  thrice  plighted 
himself  at  the  nuptial  altar  ;  his  first  mar- 
riage occurred  in  1839,  his  second  in  1849, 
and  his  last  in  1859,  each  time  choosing 
for  his  helpmeet  one  of  Kentucky's  fair 
daughters.  His  life  has  been  one  of 
marked  activity  ;  he-  has  been  an  enter- 
prising and  liberal  business  man,  and  has 
always  taken  an  active  and  leading  part  in 
introducing  and  rearing  fine  stock,  in 
agricultural  and  horticultural  exhibitions  ; 
he  was  the  first  merchant  to  build  a  to- 
bacco warehouse  outside  of  the  river  towns, 
and  to  buy,  price  and  ship  the  farmers' 
crops  of  Mason  and  Bracken  Cos.  ;  he 
founded  the  Union  Agricultural  Company 
of  these  counties,  and  gave  his  woodlands 
for  their  first  exhibitions,  in  1854-55  ;  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
and  Treasurer  of  the  Company  so  long  as 
he  remained  a  citizen  of  the  State  ;  he  was 
also  a  member  of  the  Mason  and  Bracken 
Importing  Co.,  and  few  men  exerted  more 
influence  in  the  introduction  of  fine  stock, 
machinery,  or  in  the  general  improvement 
of  his  part  of  the  State  ;  he  organized  the 
Marshall  County,  Iowa,  Fair  Co.,  and  was 
President  of  that  and  the  Central  Iowa 
Fair  Co.,  at  the  College  Farm,  up  to  the 
commencement  of  the  war;  both  societies 
he  left  in  great  prosperity,  and  they  are  to- 
day leading  associations  for  that  great 
State  ;  during  his  administration,  interest- 
ing exhibitions  were  held  at  the  college 
farms  at  Newton,  Marshalltown  and 
Des  Moines  City,  at  each  of  which  he 
took  many  premiums  with  individual  ani- 
mals and  his  fine  herd  of  short-horns.  Mr. 
Currens  has  taken  an  active  interest  in 
horticulture,  fruit  growing  and  gardening 
since  he  has  been  a  citizen  of  Mattoon ; 
to  his  influence  and  activity  Mattoon  owes 
the  existence  of  her  Horticultural  Society, 
and  most  of  her  advancement  in  the  mat- 


ter of  ornamental  shade-trees,  fine  fruits, 
berries,  etc.;  as  a  clever  and  enterprising 
citizen,  he  stands  second  to  no  man  in  his 
community. 

J.  D.  CASSELL,  proprietor  Cassell's 
Restaurant,  Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery Co.,  Penn.,  A.  T>.  1827 ;  until  he 
was  17  or  18  years  of  age,  he  passed  his 
life  upon  the  farm,  deriving  his  education 
mostly  from  the  common  schools  ;  in  1854, 
he  came  West  to  Jennings  Co.,  Ind.,  where 
he  remained  one  year ;  he  then  went  to 
Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  and  was  a  student  in 
Wabash  College  a  short  time  ;  he  next  en- 
gaged in  the  merchant  tailoring  business 
there  for  two  or  three  jears ;  leaving 
Crawfordsville,  he  next  located  in  South 
Bend,  remaining  one  year  ;  in  the  fall  of 
1859,  he  moved  to  New  Carlisle,  Ind.,  and 
engaged  in  teaching  school ;  here  he  re- 
mained three  and  one-half  years,  most  of 
the  time  engaged  as  a  Professor  in  the 
Collegiate  Institute  ;  in  the  spring  of  1863, 
he  moved  to  Rolling  Prairie,  taught  one 
year,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1864,  engaged  in 
the  grocery  trade  ;  in  the  spring  of  1866, 
he  was  appointed  and  commissioned  Post- 
master, which  position  he  held  eight  years  ; 
in  the  fall  of  1874,  he  came  to  Mattoon 
and  engaged  in  his  present  occupation. 
He  was  first  married  in  1858,  to  Elizabeth 
Prance,  a  native  of  Ohio ;    she    died  in 

1868.  His  second  marriage  occurred  in 

1869,  to  Nancy  J.  Bolster  of  New  York 
State;  she  died  in  1870;  he  has  four 
children — Annie  B.,  Lydia  E.,  Mary  C., 
Benjamin  F. 

JAMBS  T.  CUNNINGHAM,  de- 
ceased, Mattoon;  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  whose  portrait  appears  in  this 
work,  was  born  in  Grayson  Co.,  Ky.,  July 
11,  1802  ;  his  early  life  was  spent  on  the 
farm,  and  his  education  limited  to  a  few 
mouths'  attendance  upon  the  public  or 
subscription  schools  of  his  native  State ; 
from  a  very  early  period  in  life,  the  sup- 
port of  the  family  mainly  devolved  upon 
him;  in  the  fall  of  1830,  he  came  West  to 
Illinois  with  his  mother-in-law,  Mrs. 
Yocum  and  her  family,  and  settled  in  what 
is  now  Paradise  Tp.,  Coles  Co.  He  is 
mentioned  in  that  township  as  being 
among  the  early  settlers;  when  he  came 
West  he  was  possessed  of  but  little  means, 
but  here  he  found  a  wide  field  for  specula- 
tion ;  he  was  uniformly  successful   in  his 


544 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


various  undertakings,  and  his  gains,  though 
great,  were  always  honorably  gotten ;  he 
fcorned  to  do  a  mean  act,  and,  though  at 
his  death,  he  left  a  large  competency  to 
his  family,  no  one  could  justly  say  that  one 
farthing  had  been  gained  by  trickery  or 
dishonest  means.  He  took  a  deep  and 
abiding  interest  in  whatever  tended  to  ad- 
vance the  interests  of  his  State.  Being  a 
man  of  good  native  ability,  he  was  at  an 
early  day  chosen  by  his  fellow-citizens  of 
Ct)les  Co.  as  their  representative ;  he  served 
eight  years  in  succession  in  the  Lower 
House  while  the  capital  of  the  State  was 
at  Vandalia.  His  marriage  to  Elizabeth 
C.  Yocum  occurred  Sept.  15,  1825;  she 
died  Sept.  3,  1849  ;  for  almost  a  quarter 
of  a  century,  she  was  to  him  a  faithful 
helpmeet ;  he  was  married  a  second  time, 
Feb.  3,  1853,  to  Mrs.  Sarah  E.Hendricks; 
from  first  wedlock  five  children  were  born 
— John,  William,  James,  Mary  J.,  James 
H.  ;  of  these  William  and  James  are 
dead ;  from  the  second  marriage  two 
daughters  were  given  him — Nancy  T. 
(deceased)  and  Elizabeth  C.  (now  wife  of 
Elder  W.  T.  Mason).  At  his  death, 
which  occurred  June  26,  1863.  he  left  an 
estate  valued  (after  the  liquidation  of  all 
debts)  at  8300,000.  This  legacy  he  left 
to  his  family  as  the  reward  of  a  faithful, 
industrious,  honest,  upright  life — a  life  of 
strict  sobriety,  and  full  of  earnest,  manly 
effort. 

J.  W.  DORA,  M.  D.,  physician  and 
surgeon,  Mattoon  ;  was  born  near  Augusta, 
Bracken  Co.,  Ky.,  May  5,  1827  ;  he 
enjoyed  the  advantages  of  select  schools, 
and  attended  Augusta  College  a  short  time 
before  its  suspension  ;  in  1847,  he  went  to 
Cincinnati,  and  became  a  student  in  Bart- 
lett's  Commercial  College,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1848 ;  he  then 
devoted  himself  to  book-keeping  for  the 
firm  of  J.  0.  Prather  &  Co.,  about  a  year; 
in  the  winter  of  1849,  he  began  the  study 
of  medicine,  under  Dr.  George  R.  Todd,  of 
Cynthiana,  Ky.,  a  brother  of  Mrs.  A. 
Lincoln ;  during  the  winter  of  1850  and 
1851,  he  attended  the  Ohio  Medical  Col- 
lege, at  Cincinnati,  and  the  following 
spring,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, at  Buena  Vista,  Ky. ;  the  winter 
of  1851  and  1852,  he  was  again  a  student 
in  the  College,  and  graduated  in  the  spring 
following,  when  he  again  returned  to  his 


practice;  in  August,  1855,  he  came  West 
to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Mattoon  ;  during 
the  winter  of  1855  and  1856,  he  attended 
a  course  of  lectures  in  the  Eclectic  Medical 
College,  at  Cincinnati ;  returning  home  he 
remained  here  in  the  practice  until  October, 
1863,  when  he  moved  to  Chicago ;  during 
his  residence  of  two  years  in  Chicago,  he 
received  a  degree  from  the  Rush  Medical 
College;  in  April,  1865,  he  returned  to 
Mattoon,  and  has  since  resided  here.  He 
was  married  in  the  spring  of  1850,  to 
Martha  E.Smith,  a  native  of  Harrison  Co., 
Ky. ;  she  died  March  27,  1872 ;  Nov.  1.0, 
1875,  he  was  married  to  S.  A.  McQuown,  a 
native  of  Kentucky ;  has  four  children  from 
first  wedlock — Leoma  C.  (wife  of  F.  D. 
Dole),  Helen  M.,  John  W.,  Maggie  E. 
He  was  first  Mayor  of  the  city,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  member  of  the  City 
Council ;  also  held  the  office  of  City 
Treasurer  a  number  of  terms. 

WILLIAM  DOZIER,  architect  and 
builder,  Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Muskingum 
Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  12,  1836 ;  his  grand- 
father came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  as 
early  as  1810,  and  settled  in  Muskingum 
Co.,  when  that  section  of  country  was  a 
wilderness  ;  his  father  was  then  a  lad  of  some 
8  or  9  summers ;  through  want  of  oppor- 
tunity, the  education  of  his  father  was  not 
extended  beyond  spelling,  he  never  having 
read  a  day  in  school ;  he  was  a  man,  how- 
ever, of  good  native  ability,  and,  through 
his  own  exertions,  obtained  a  fair  educa- 
tion ;  he  served  nine  years  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace;  he  lost  his  life  April  5,  1852,  by 
drowning,  William's  early  life  was  passed 
upon  the  farm,  and  he  secured  a  good 
education  in  the  common  schools ;  after 
the  death  of  his  father,  he  took  charge  of 
bis  mother's  interest,  and  that  of  eight 
younger  members  of  the  family,  remaining 
at  home  till  his  majority  ;  at  the  age  of  18 
years,  he  began  teaching,  and  taught  four 
winters,  farming  or  following  the  trade  of 
carpenter  during  the  remainder  of  the 
year;  in  1858,  he  came  West  to  Illinois, 
to  prospect  the  country,  and  on  the  1st  day 
of  April,  landed  in  what  is  now  the  city  of 
Mattoon,  then  a  village  of  some  300  inhab- 
itants ;  here  he  engaged  in  working  at  his 
trade ;  subsequently  went  te  Cumberland 
Co.,  but  soon  returned  to  Mattoon  ;  in  the 
fall  of  1859,  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and 
Oct.    11,    1859,    was    married    to    Maria 


MATTOON  TOWNSHIP. 


545 


McCaslin.  of  Morgan  Co.,  Ohio ;  here  he 
remained  till  August,  1861,  when  he  again 
set  his  face  westward,  moving,  in  a  two- 
horse  wagon,  his  goods  and  eifects ;  he 
came  again  to  Mattoon;  in  1865,  he  moved 
to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  and  during  his  resi- 
dence of  three  and  a  half  years,  built  six 
residences  for  himself,  and  also  engaged  in 
merchandising,  a  short  time;  in  1869,  he 
returned  to  Mattoon ;  since  his  residence 
he  has  built  ten  residences,  six  of  which 
he  now  owns  ;  he  also  owns  twenty  acres  in 
Okaw  Tp.,  and  four  acres  at  his  residence 
near  the  city  limits.  Has  had  two  chil- 
dren— Wallace,  living  ;  Cadmer,  dead.  In 
1875,  in  company  with  his  wife  he  visited 
England,  Scotland  and  France,  and  con- 
tributed some  interesting  articles  to  the 
city  papers  on  the  manners  and  customs  of 
the  people,  and  on  sight-seeing  in  London, 
Edinburgh  and  other  noted  nlaces. 

W.  B.  DUNLAP,  Cashier  First  Na- 
tional Bank,  Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire  in  1840  ;  he  received  a  good, 
common-school  education,  and  was  fitted 
for  college,  but  did  not  enter  upon  a  college 
course.  In  1861,  he  came  West  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  in  Mattoon,  where  he  was 
employed  as  book-keeper  and  clerk  for  the 
firm  of  Francis  &  Shaw.  Jan.  1,  1863, 
he  entered  the  banking  house  of  Pilkington 
&  Co.,  as  Cashier;  May  1,  1865,  at 
which  time  the  First  National  Bank  was 
organized,  he  was  chosen  to  the  position  of 
Teller  ;  this  he  held  until  1868,  when  he 
was  chosen  Cashier;  June  1,  1874,  he 
resigned  his  office  and  organized  the  Mat- 
toon National  Bank,  of  which  he  was  Presi- 
dent till  November,  1877,  at  which  time 
he  resigned  the  position  to  devote  his  atten- 
tion to  his  real  estate  transactions.  April 
1,  1878,  he  was  tendered  the  position  of 
Cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  a  second 
time,  and  in  May  following  that  of  Presi- 
dent ;  this,  after  mature  deliberation,  he 
declined,  but  consented  to  fill  the  office  of 
(/ashier.  The  management  of  the  bank, 
however,  is  almost  wholly  intrusted  to  his 
care.  He  was  married  in  1866,  to  Mary 
K.  Woods,  a  native  of  Illinois.  Has  two 
children — Estelle  and  Katie.  Owns  120 
acres  and  a  large  amount  of  real  estate  in 
the  city.  In  addition  to  his  banking 
duties,  he  transacts  a  real  estate  business 
to  the  amount  of  from  $60,000  to  $70,000 
per  annum. 


J.  K.  DONNELL,  wholesale  grocer,^ 
Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Tyrone  Co.,  Ireland, 
Oct.  14,  1835.  At  the  age  of  13,  he 
entered  the  employ  of  John  and  James 
Graham,  as  clerk  in  their  grocery  establish- 
ment, in  the  town  of  Strabane  ;  here  he 
served  an  indentured  apprenticeship  for 
three  years  and  four  months,  at  which  time 
he  received  a  certificate  of  qualification  as 
a  practical  business  man.  The  family  soon 
after  came  to  America  and  settled  in 
Philadelphia,  where  he  was  employed  in 
various  firms  in  the  capacity  of  clerk.  In 
1857,  he  began  business  for  himself  in  the 
retail  grocery  trade  ;  this  he  conducted  ten 
years.  In  1867,  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
began  the  retail  trade  in  Mattoon  ;  for  the 
first  four  years  he  conducted  a  jobbing 
trade  in  connection  with  the  retail  depart- 
ment;  in  the  fall  of  1861,  he  leased  his 
present  place  of  business  to  operate  exclu- 
sively a  jobbing  trade  ;  this  he  continued 
five  years;  in  the  fall  of  1866,  he  leased  an 
additional  room,  and  again  connected  the 
retail  trade  with  his  business  ;  October, 
1878,  he  abandoned  the  retail  department 
and  entered  upon  the  wholesale  business 
exclusively.  .His  is  the  pioneer  wholesale 
establishment,  being  the  first  and  only 
exclusively  wholesale  house  in  the  city.  In 
addition  to  his  fine  and  growing  business, 
ranging  from  $130,000  to  $150,000  per 
annum,  he  own?  a  fine  fruit  farm  of  twenty 
acres  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the 
city,  a  number  of  residences  and  eighty- 
four  acres  in  Cumberland  Co.,  well  im- 
proved. All  this  he  has  accumulated  by 
honest  industry  and  good  management^ 
and  while  ill-timed  adventure  and  unwise 
speculation  has  engulfed  many  in  finan- 
cial ruin,  he  feels  grateful  that  his  every 
obligation  has  been  met,  dollar  for  dollar ; 
and  yet  with  his  armor  on,  he  boasts  not 
as  he  may  who  has  l^id  it  aside. 

J.  F.  DRISH,  dealer  in  general  hard- 
ware and  agricultural  implements,  Mat- 
toon ;  was  bornin  Leesburg,  Loudoun  Co., 
Va.,  May  8,  1833 ;  his  father  came  west 
to  Illinois  in  1836  or  1837,  and  first  set- 
tled in  Whitehall,  Greene  Co.,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession — 
that  of  a  physician  and  surgeon  ;  at  the 
age  of  19,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  left 
home  and  crossed  the  plains  to  California ; 
here  he  engaged  in  speculating  and  con- 
tracting; in  1854,  he  returned  by  way  of 


546 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and  New  York 
City ;  he  next  settled  in  Carlinville,  and 
engaged  in  the  dry  goods  and  grocery  trade 
till  1861.  At  the  outbreaking  of  the 
civil  war,  he  entered  in  the  U.  S.  service 
in  the  32d  I.  V.  I.,  as  Adjutant  of 
the  regiment;  in  April,  1862,  he  came 
home  and  assisted  in  raising  and  organiz- 
ing the  1 2 2d  I.  V.  I.,  and  again  entered  the 
service  as  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  regi- 
ment ;  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  service 
in  1865,  having  been  actively  engaged 
with  the  regiment  during  its  entire  term 
of  service.  In  1865,  he  settled  in  Mat- 
toon  and  engaged  in  his  present  occupa- 
tion. He  was  married,  in  1856,  to 
Rosella  C.  Keller,  a  native  of  Illinois  ; 
they  have  two  daughters — L.  M.  and 
Frankie.  He  has  held  the  office  of  Super- 
visor two  terms,  and  was  Chairman  of  the 
Board  during  his  last  term  ;  he  was  chosen 
Mayor  of  the  city  in  1867,  serving  out  a 
portion  of  the  first  Mayoralty  under  the 
new  city  charter ;  he  h;is  held  the  office 
of  President  one  term,  and  that  of  Secre- 
tary one  term,  of  the  Board  of  Education. 
He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Forts 
Henry,  Donelson,  Pittsburg  Landing, 
Parker's  Cross  Roads,  Nashville,  and  many 
others  ;  he  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder 
on  the  9th  day  of  April,  1865,  in  the 
assault  on  Fort  Blakely,  at  Mobile ;  this 
battle  was  fought  after  the  war  was  virt- 
ually at  an  end. 

R.  L.  EWINGr,  retail  grocer,  Mattoon; 
was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Dec.  28,  1842; 
his  father,  William  Ewing,  familiarly 
known  as  'Squire  Ewing,  came  from  Ken- 
tucky and  settled  upon  the  South  Kicka- 
poo,  within  the  present  limits  of  Coles  Co., 
in  the  spring  of  1 829  ;  here  he  engaged  in 
farming,  and  here  the  boyhood  and  early 
manhood  of  R.  L.  was  passed  upon  the 
farm;  his  father  died  in  1866;  he  re- 
mained at  home  and  had  charge  of  the 
farm  until  1873  ;  he  then  purchased  the 
homestead,  and,  the  following  year,  sold  out 
and  came  to  Mattoon  ;  here  he  entered  the 
employ  of  D.  D.  James,  as  clerk  in  his 
grain  office,  and,  the  following  year,  was  in 
like  employment  for  Hinkle  &  Kahn ; 
Nov.  1,  1876,  he  began  his  present  busi- 
ness, with  Thos.  McCormiok  as  partner, 
under  the  firm  name  of  McCormick  & 
Ewing.  He  was  married  Dec.  31,  1863, 
to  Sarah  S.  McDonald,  a  native  of  Illinois ; 


they  have  one  child  living — John  W.,  and 
an  infant  son  dead.  He  owns  eighty 
acres  of  the  old  homestead ;  is  at  present 
a  member  of  the  City  Council. 

MATTHIAS  EVERHARTY,  propri- 
etor West  Broadway  Meat  Market,  Mat- 
toon ;  was  born  near  Coblenz,  Prussia, 
June  28,  1833  ;  when  he  was  but  4  years 
old,  his  parents  emigrated  to  America, 
landing  in  Cincinnati  July  4,  1837;  here 
they  settled,  and  his  father  was  one  of  the 
earliest  German  gardeners  that  began  the 
raising  of  vegetables  for  the  Cincinnati 
market ;  much  of  the  land  that  he  then  cul- 
tivated in  "  garden  sass  "  is  now  occupied 
with  solid  rows  of  substantial  brick  build- 
ings. In  1849,  young  Everharty  went  to 
his  trade — that  of  a  butcher — at  which  he 
served  as  an  apprentice  three  years ;  he 
followed  the  business  in  Cincinnati  till 
1861,  at  which  date  he  went  out  as 
butcher  to  the  first  German  regiment,  the 
9th  Ohio  v.  I.,  and  was  with  various 
divisions  of  the  army  till  1863  ;  on  his 
return  from  the  army,  he  remained  a 
short  time  in  Cincinnati,  and,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1863,  he  came  to  Mattoon  and  en- 
gaged in  operating  his  present  business. 
He  was  married,  in  1854,  to  Elizabeth 
Horn,  a  native  of  France  ;  they  have  four 
children — Catharine,  John  J.,  Annie  L. 
and  Maggie.  He  owns  real  estate  in  the 
city — a  residence,  five  acres  of  land  and 
business  property. 

R.  M.  GRAY,  attorney  at  law,  Mat- 
toon; was  born  in  Pleasant  Grove  Tp., 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  Dec.  27,  1848  ;  his  father. 
James  C,  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
this  section ;  his  early  life  was  that  of  a 
farmer's  sou ;  in  addition  to  his  common 
school  education,  at  the  age  of  19,  he  en- 
tered Westfield  College,  Clark  Co.,  111., 
and  remained  one  year  ;  he  next  attended 
an  academy  in  his  native  township,  two 
years,  under  the  supervision  of  Prof.  T.  J. 
Lee;  in  the  fall  of  1870,  he  entered  the 
law  department  of  Michigan  University, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  March,  1S73  ; 
he  then  entered  the  office  of  Maj.  James 
A.  Connolly,  in  Charleston,  111.,  and  re- 
mained till  the  spring  of  1875  ;  he  then 
came  to  Mattoon  and  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  in  connection 
with  H.  W.  Magee ;  soon  after  locating,  he 
was  appointed  City  Attoraoy,  and  held  the 
office  one  year;  in  1877,  he  formed   a  co- 


MATTOON  TOWNSHIP. 


547 


partnership  with  Charles  Bennett,  which 
lasted  one  year;  in  1876,  he  was  elected 
State's  Attorney  for   Coles  Co.,  which  po- 
sition he   now  holds ;  since   the  spring  of 
1878,  he  has  been  practicing  his  profession 
alone,  and  though  comparatively  young  in 
the  work,  has  already  shown  himself  "  a 
workman  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed.  " 
0.  W.  GOGIN,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Qincinnati,  Ohio,  in 
1820  ;  his  father  came  from  New   Jersey 
and  settled  in  Cincinnati  in     1800  ;    the 
family  was  six  months   making  the  jour- 
ney, coming  by  teams  to  Pittsburgh,  Penn., 
and  thence  floating  down   the  Ohio  in   a 
keelboat  to  the  point  of  destination  ;  here 
the     family    remained    some    twenty-odd 
years;  in  the  spring  of  1841,  his  father 
came  West,  and  settled  in   Crawford  Co., 
111.,  where  he  began  the  labor  of  opening  up 
a  farm    in    the   woods ;    0.  W.  was    the 
youngest  of  the  family,   and  remained   at 
home  till   the  death  of  his   parents  ;  they 
lived  to  enjoy   the  companionship  of  each 
other  through    a  half-century    of  wedded 
life,  and  were  Consistent  members  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  for  the  same  length  of  time. 
^Squire  Gogin   moved   to    Mattoon  in  the 
fall  of  18(3:^  ;   here  he  engaged    for  some 
years   in  milling  and  in  the  fruit-growing 
business.     He  was  married    in    1842,    to 
Eliza  Eurle,    a  native  of  Virginia ;  have 
four  children— A.    Dorr,  Emma,  Eola  and 
Nellie.   Has  held  the  oflBce  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  transacts  much  business  in  the 
settlement  of  estates. 

FRANK  GARTHWAIT,  auction  and 
commission  merchant,  Mattoon  ;  was  born 
in  Terre  Haute,  lad.,  Oct.  18,  1838  ;  his 
father  was  a  wholesale  and  retail  grocery- 
man,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
city ;  Frank  obtained  his  education  at  the 
city  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  15,  began 
the  life  of  a  printer's  devil  in  the  Courier 
office  ;  here  he  remained  three  years  under  ! 
charge  of  J.  Canard,  editor  and  proprietor 
of  the  paper  ;  he  next  engaged  in  travel- 
ing and  selling  clocks  for  three  years,  and 
subsequently  engaged  in  the  sale  of  notions 
till  1861  ;  he  enlisted  in  the  United  States 
service  in  the  fill  of  1861,  in  Co.  G,  43d 
Ind.  V.  I.  ;  in  this  he  served  three 
years ;  he  then  raised  a  company,  and 
served  till  the  close  of  the  war  in  the 
149th  E,egt. ;  in  this  he  went  out  as  First 
Lieutenant,  and  was  promoted  to  the  Cap- 


taincy ;  on  his  return,  he  engaged  in  the 
grocery  trade  in  Terre  Haute ;  in  the 
spring  of  1871,  he  located  in  Springfield, 
and  engaged  in  selling  lightning-rods ;  in 
October,  1871,  he  came  to  Mattoon,  and 
engaged  in  the  sale  of  pumps  and  light- 
ning-rods;  in  the  spring  of  1872,  he  op- 
erated a  marble- shop  ;  in  January,  1874, 
he  began  his  present  line  of  business.  He 
was  married  in  1865,  to  Ella  Saunders, 
a  native  of  Indiana  ;  she  died  in  1872 ;  his 
second  marriage,  to  Mrs.  Laura  Morgan,  a 
native  of  Illinois,  occurred  in  1874 ;  two 
children  were  born  from  first  wedlock — 
Nettie,  living,  and  Nellie,  dead;  one  from 
second  marriage — Daisy.  He  was  chosen 
Mayor  of  the  city  in  the  spring  of  1877  ; 
owns  real  estate  in  the  city. 

J.  M.  GIBBS,  livery   and   sale   stable, 
Mattoon  ;    was  born  near  the  South  Kick- 
apoo,  in  Coles  Co.,   Ill,   Jan.   28,    1841 ; 
his  grandfather,  Elijah  Gibbs,  was  one  of 
the  early  pioneers  of  this  section,  having 
come  from  Virginia,  in  an  early  day,   to 
Ohio,  and  thence  to  Illinois ;    his  father. 
Homer  Gibbs,  was  here_almost  as  early  as 
the  formation  of  the  county ;   his    father 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade ;    J.    M.   passed 
his  early  life  on  the  farm,  near  Sullivan, 
Moultrie  Co.;  his  education  was  obtained 
in  the  common  schools ;  at  the  age  of  20 
years,  he  began  life  for  himself;    in  1861, 
he  began  trading  in  horses  and  mules,  and 
for  three  or  four  years,    during  the  war, 
shipped  to  St.   Louis  stock  purchased  for 
the  cavalry  and  artillery  services  ;  after  the 
close  of  the  war,  he  engaged  in  shipping 
stock  to   the   southern    markets  of   New 
Orleans  and  Natchez ;  this   he   continues 
to  the  present  time;    during  the  summer, 
he  ships  to  Boston,  Mass.,  though  he  has 
always  bought  and  shipped  in  connection 
with  I.  N.   Gibbs,   his   twin  brother,   yet 
they  have  never  been  in  partnership.     He 
was  married  Jan.  7,  1864,  to  Sallie  Brid- 
well,  a  native  of  Louisville,  Ky.;   has  five 
children — J.  Emery,  Carrie,  Lewis,   Mar- 
tin W.  and  Isaac  N. 

ABRAM  HASBROUCK,  City  Mayor, 
and  dealer  in  hardware  and  agricultual  im- 
plements, Mattoon ;  was  born  in  Ulster 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1825  ;  his  early  life  was 
passed  upon  the  farm,  and  his  education, 
such  as  was  derived  from  the  common 
schools  ;  he  remained  on  the  homestead  uu- 
about  25  years  of  age ;  in  1854,  he  came 

3 


548 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


West  and  first  settled  in  Michigan  ;  here 
he  engaged  in  operating  a  hotel ;  in  1857, 
he  moved  to  Milwaukee,  and  conducted 
the  "  Walker  House  "  two  years  ;  the  win- 
ter of  1859  he  spent  in  Chicago,  not  act- 
ively engaged  in  business;  in  1860,  he  lo- 
cated in  Mattoon,  and  opened  his  present 
business  ;  his  is  the  pioneer  hardware  es- 
tablishment of  the  city ;  he  was  chosen 
Mayor  of  the  city  in  the  spring  of  1878, 
and  is  deservedly  popular  as  a  city  ofiicial 
and  business  man.  He  was  married  in 
1855  to  Louisa  G.  Smith,  a  native  of 
Vermont;  has  one  daughter — Helen  S. 
Owns  140  acres  in  Coles  Co.,  some  fine 
business  property  in  the  city,  and  an  eligi- 
ble city  residence. 

J.  F.  HUGHES,  attorney  at  law,  Mat- 
toon  ;  was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan. 
17,  1839  ;  his  early  life  was  that  of  a  farm- 
er's son  ;  in  addition  to  his  common- 
school  education,  he  enjoyed  the  advan- 
tages of  the  Academy  at  Fredricksburg 
and  Smithville,  in  his  native  county. 
April  19,  1861,  he  entered  the  U.  S.  serv- 
ice as  a  member  of  the  16th  Ohio  V.  I., 
and  served  three  months  in  West  Virginia  ; 
in  July,  1862,  he  re- enlisted  in  the  102d 
Regiment  for  three  years;  was  1st  Ser- 
geant of  Co.  F.  In  October,  1865,  he  en- 
tered the  Law  Department  of  Michigan 
University,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
the  spring  of  1867 ;  he  next  associated 
himself  with  A.  P.  Green,  and  was  en- 
gaged with  him  fifteen  mouths  in  editing 
and  publishing  the  Okaw  Republican,  at 
Sullivan  ;  in  1869,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  Mattoon,  in  partnership  with  W.  J. 
Henry,  of  Shelby ville;  in  1872,  the  firm 
of  Henry  &  Hughes  was  dissolved,  aud  in 
1873,  that  of  Steele  &  Hughes  formed ; 
this  was  dissolved  by  the  death  of  Mr. 
Steele,  in  July,  1877.  He  was  married 
Sept.  17,  1874,  to  Julia  Chrisman,  a  na- 
tive of  Jasper  Co.,  111.;  has  two  children 
— Columbia  and  Arlington.  Owns  S5,000 
worth  of  real  estate. 

J.  W.  HANNA,  book  and  music  store, 
Mattoon ;  was  born  in  Freeport,  Harrison 
Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  2,  1848  ;  he  derived  his 
education  from  the  common  schools,  and, 
at  the  age  of  13  years,  began  clerking  in 
his  father's  general  merchandising  estab- 
lishment at  Deersville,  Ohio;  July  4, 1866, 
he  came  West,   stopping   a  short  time  at 


Preston,  Minn.,  and,  in  September  follow- 
ing, came  to  Mattoon,  where  he  attended 
school  rix  months  ;  he  then  entered  the 
employ  of  Finley  &  Richardson  as  clerk 
in  their  book  store;  in  October,  1869,  he 
and  his  brother  James  R.,  bought  out  the 
firm,  and  in  May,  1871,  sold  out  to  a  Mr. 
Decker;  J.  W.  then  formed  a  partnership 
with  Geo.  P.  McDougal  and  opened  a  new" 
store;  in  1872,  McDougal  retired,  and  the 
firm  became  that  of  Thieleus  &  Hanna  ; 
in  October,  1877,  he  sold  out  to  Thieleus, 
and,  Nov.  20  following,  purchased  his 
present  business.  He  was  married,  July 
25,  to  Mary  E.  Henderson,  a  native  of 
Marion  Co.,  Ohio ;  four  children  have 
blessed  their  union — Gertrude,  Ethel, 
William,  living,  Charles,  deceased. 

JOHN  HUNT,  meat-market,  Mattoon; 
was  born  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  6, 
1837  ;  his  father  came  West  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Jasper  Co.  in  1845;  his  early 
life  was  that  of  a  farmer's  boy,  and  his  ad- 
vantages for  securing  an  education  some- 
what limited;  most  of  his  education  he 
obtained  in  the  schools  of  Xenia,  Ohio, 
and  as  a  student  of  Antioch  College,  after 
he  had  attained  to  manhood  ;  he  left  home 
at  the  age  of  18  years,  and  engaged  in 
teaching  school  some  four  years ;  in  1860, 
he  purchased  a  farm  in  Coles  Co.,  and  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits  for  ten  years  ; 
in  1870,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  J. 
L.  Scntt,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hunt  & 
Scott,  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade  in 
Mattoon;  in  the  spring  of  1875,  he  re- 
tired from  the  firm,  and  for  two  years  was 
engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  horses  and 
mules  to  the  Southern  market ;  in  1876,  he 
engaged  in  his  present  business.  He  was 
married  in  1858  to  Eliza  J.  Gowin,  a 
native  of  North  Carolina ;  has  two  chil- 
dren— Alva  and  Orris.  Has  held  the  ofiice 
of  Assessor  for  the  past  four  years,  and  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education 
on  the  East  Side. 

IRA  JA]MES,  wholesale  dealer  in  coal 
oil,  Mattoon ;  was  born  in  Dearborn  (now 
Ohio)  Co.,  Ind.,  May  24, 1826  ;  Jiis  father 
was  a  cotton  and  woolen  manufacturer  ;  at 
the  age  of  17,  he  left  home  and  engaged  in 
boating  on  the  Ohio  and  Mi-ssissippi 
Rivers  for  a  period  of  about  ten  years ;  he 
commanded  during  the  time  seven  steam- 
boats ;  his  first  boating  was  in  the  packet 
trade  from  Rising  Sun  to  Cincinnati ;  aft- 


MATTOON  TOWNSHIP. 


549 


erward    he  entered    the   trade  from   New 
Orleans  and  Cincinnati;  in  1853,  he  went 
to  California   and   spent  three  years  ;  en- 
gaged a  portion  of  the  time  in  milling  and 
the  remainder  in   mining;  in  1856,  he  re- 
turned to  Rising  Sun,  Ind. ;  he  next  made 
a  tour  through    the    Southern    States  of 
Arkansas,  Louisiana  and    Mississippi,  set- 
ting up  machinery — cotton-screws,  cotton- 
gins  and  steam   machinery ;  in  November, 
1857,  he  located  in  Mattoon  Tp.,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  three  years  ;  in  18G0,he 
moved   to    Mattoon,   and,    in    1861,    was 
■  chosen  Police  Magistrate  and  served  one 
year ;  he    next    engaged    in    buying   and 
shipping  hay,  and,  in  1865,  began  dealing 
in    grain ;  in    1873,  he  retired    from    the 
grain  trade  and  went  to  Southern  Colorado, 
where  he  discovered  the  mines  and  laid 
out  the    town    of  Rosita  ;  here  he   spent 
most  of  two  years ;  in  1875,  he  returned 
to  Mattoon,  and,  in  connection  with  J.  D. 
Herkimer,  purchased  the  gas  works,  which 
he  has  since  operated.     He   was  married 
in  1859  to  Cynthia  A.  Hendricks,  a  native 
of  Illinois;  she  died  Feb.    15,  1872;  his 
second    marriage    to  Jennie    H.   Crow,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  was   celebrated    Aug.   18, 
1875;  from    first  wedlock    he    has    three 
sons — John    Q.,    Frank    P.,    Justin    C.  ; 
from    second,  two  children — Harline  and 
an  infant  daughter.     Owns   two-thirds    of 
the  gas  works  and  240  acres  in  Coles  Co:; 
he  does  a  large  business  in  the  wholesale 
oil  trade,  and  is  President  of  the  Mattoon 
Gas- Light  &  Coke  Co. 

IRA  B.  JACKSON,  insurance  agent, 
Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Madison,  Jefferson 
Co.,  Ind.,  Oct.  31,  1851  ;  in  1855,  his 
father  removed  with  his  family  to  Illinois, 
and  settled  in  Sangamon  Co.,  near  Spring- 
field ;  his  early  life  was  that  of  a  farmer's 
boy ;  he  acquired  a  good  common-school 
education  ;  at  the  age  of  1 8,  he  engaged  in 
the  business  of  photograph  artist,  which 
he  followed  two  years ;  in  1872,  he  com- 
pleted a  business  course  in  the  Commercial 
College,  at  Terre  Haute,  Ind.  ;  in  1874, 
he  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade  with  Fallin 
Bros.,  under  the  firm  name  of  Fallin  Bros. 
&  Jackson;  in  1876,  he  retired  from  the 
firm  and  engaged  in  the  fire  insurance 
business;  he  at  present  represents  one  ac- 
cident and  sixteen  leading  fire  insurance 
companies  in  Coles  and  Effingham  Cos., 
aggregating  in   assets  over  $30,000,000  ; 


he  also  represents  the  Great  Western  Dis- 
patch Co.  He  was  married  May  26, 1874, 
to  Laura  I.  Carter,  a  native  of  Indiana ; 
has  one  child — Georgia.  He  is  at  pres- 
ent serving  his  second  term  of  office  as 
City  and  also  Township  Clerk. 

THEO.  JONTE,  dealer  in  harness  and 
saddles,  Mattoon;  was  born  in  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  April  4,  1839;  his  father  was  a 
wholesale  confectioner  ;  he  received  a  good 
common-school  education,  and,  at  the  age 
of  16  years,  left  home  and  came  West,  set- 
tling in  Quincy,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in 
working  at  his  trade ;  in  the  fall  of  1861,  he 
engaged  in  laboring  for  the  U.  S.  Govern- 
ment in  the  making  of  cavalry  equipments  ; 
the  fall  of  1862,  he  came  to  Paris,  Edgar 
Co.,  and  engaged  in  business  with  Wm. 
Legy ;  they  operated  a  shop  in  Paris,  and 
one  in  Grand  View  at  the  same  time  ;  Mr. 
Jonte  had  charge  of  the  latter  ;  in  the  fall 
of  1864,  he  removed  to  Mattoon,  and 
opened  up  his  present  business  ;  his  is  the 
only  first-class  establishment  in  the  city. 
He  was  married  in  1865  to  Anna  Stone- 
burner,  a  native  of  Grand  View,  111.  ;  has 
one  child — Alberta.  Owns  considerable 
real  estate  in  the  city.  In  1876,  he  was 
chosen  City  Mayor  ;  is  at  present  Assistant 
Supervisor  of  Mattoon  Tp. ;  also  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Education,  West  Side. 

P.  A.  KEMPER,  M.  D.,  physician  and 
surgeon,  Mattoon  ;  was  born  in   Culpeper 
Co.,  Va.,  Aug.  3],  1832;  his  early  educa- 
tion was  under  the  direct  supervision  of  his 
mother,  who   was   a  well-qualified  school- 
mistress;  his  father  was  an  artisan  by  pro- 
fession, of  whom  he  was  bereft  at  the  early 
age  of  8  years;  when   about   16   years  of 
age,  he  left  home  and  came  to  Paris,  Edgar 
Co.,  111.;  in  the  fall  of  1855,  he  began  the 
study    of  his    profession   with   Dr.  D.  0. 
McCord,  remaining  in  his  office  two  and  a 
half  years;  during  the  winter  of  1857  and 
1858,  he  attended  Rush  Medical   College, 
and,  at  a  later  date,  received   his  degree; 
He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Pleasant  Grove  Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  March  3, 
1858;  here  he  remained  until  1876,  ex- 
cepting  an   absence    of  two  years  in   the 
army.      In  1861,  he  raised  a   company  for 
the  5th  Regiment,  and  was  chosen  Captain 
of  the  same  ;  his  position   he  resigned  for 
that  of  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  regiment ; 
when  the  final  organization  occurred,  how- 
ever, through  the  treachery  of  professed 


550 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


friends,  he  failed  in  receiving  the  appoint- 
ment ;  notwithstanding  the  unjust  treat- 
noent  to  himself  and  Col.  UpdegrafF,  the 
commanding  oflB.cer,  he  elected  to  remain 
with  his  boys,  as  a  private  in  the  ranks, 
rather  than  return  home;  in  Juno,  18()2, 
he  was  captured  at  Pocahontas,  Ark.,  and 
remained  a  prisoner  of  war  some  three 
months;  he  was  next  stmt  on  parole  to  St. 
Louis,  and  then  exchanged  and  appointed 
to  duty  in  the  hospital  with  the  rank  and 
pay  of  Assistant  Surgeon ;  in  October, 
1863,  he  was  appointed  and  commissioned 
Surgeon  of  the  3d  Regiment,  which  po- 
sition he  resigned  after  six  months ;  in 
March,  1876,  he  located  in  Mattoon,  his 
present  residence.  He  was  married  in 
December,  1863,  to  Mary  J.  Glenn,  a  na- 
tive of  Illinois ;  has  had  five  children — 
Joseph  E.,  John  M.,  George  H.,  living; 
Benjamin  G.,  Charles  W.,  dead.  At 
present  holds  the  office  of  City  Physician. 

G.  T.  KILNER,  druggist,  Mattoon  ; 
was  born  in  Manchester,  Eng.,  Nov.  18, 
1820  ;  at  the  age  of  15  years,  he  was  left 
an  orphan,  and,  in  1836,  emigrated  to 
America,  and  first  settled  in  Waterbury, 
Conn.;  here  he  engaged  in  the  sale  of  drugs 
six  years ;  he  then  moved  to  Newburgh, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  same 
business ;  in  the  spring  of  1860,  he  came 
West  and  located  in  Mattoon,  opened  up 
his  business  here  ;  his  is  the  first  drug 
store  established  in  the  city ;  he  took  a 
partial  course  in  medicine  and  practiced 
some  years  in  connection  with  the  drug 
business.  He  was  married  in  January. 
1845,  to  Sarah  Kilner,  a  native  of  En- 
gland. Has  four  children — Albert,  Wal- 
ter, Eddie  and  Annie.  Owns  eighty  acres 
adjoining  the  city  corporation  ;  has  been  a 
member  of  the  City  Council  three  terms. 

KAHN  BROS.,  dealers  in  clothing, 
Mattoon.  Mark  Kahn,  senior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Kahn  Bros.,  was  born  in 
Wurtemberg,  Germany,  Nov.  7,  18-1:1  ; 
he  emigrated  to  America  in  1856,  and 
first  settled  in  Marshall  Co.,  111.,  and  en- 
gaged in  peddling  dry  goods  and  clothing 
for  eighteen  months  ;  during  the  summers 
of  1858,  1859  and  1860,  he  worked  on  a 
farm  in  Shelby  Co.,  and  during  the  winter 
season  was  employed  in  a  store ;  in 
the  fall  of  1860,  in  connection  with  a 
Mr.  -Steiner  and  his  brother  Moses,  he 
began    the   business  of  merchandising  in 


Mattoon,  under  the  firm  name  of  Steiner  & 
Kahn  ;  in  1863,  Mr.  Steiner  retired  from 
the  firm,  and  his  brother  Lewis  became  a 
member;  the  firm  name  was  then  changed 
to  Kahn  Bros.  ;  Lewis  died  in  the  fall  of 
1867  ;  in  1871 ,  his  brother  Felix  became  a 
partner  ;  his  brother  Moses  was  lost  in  the 
ill-fated  Schiller,  May  7,  1875,  on  her 
passage  from  America  to  Germany. 
From  1863  to  1869,  the  firm  also  operated 
a  clothing  house  in  Charleston,  Coles  Co., 
and  from  1869  to  1874,  conducted  the 
lumber  trade  in  Mattoon  in  connection 
with  the  merchandising  business.  He  was 
married  in  March,  1875,  to  Minnie  Steiner, 
a  native  of  Illinois  ;  she  died  in  February, 
1876.  Has  one  son — Lewis.  In  June, 
1878,  he  was  chosen  President  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Mattoon,  which  position 
he  now  holds.  Owns  1,140  acres  of  land, 
valued  at  §40,000. 

P.  B.  LINN,  dealer  in  groceries,  provis- 
ions and  queensware,  Mattoon.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111. 
Nov.  18,  1850  ;  his  father  was  one  of 
the  early  pioneers  of  the  county  ;  his  early 
life  wafe  spent  upon  the  farm  ;  in  addition 
to  his  common-school  education,  he  attend- 
ed Lee's  Academy  two  years  ;  in  1871,  he 
completed  a  business  course  in  Bryant  & 
Stratton's  Commercial  College  at  Cincin- 
nati ;  the  same  year,  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  J.  B.  Hill  &  Co.,  at  Charleston,  as 
clerk;  in  1873,  he  began  clerking  for 
Frank  Kern,  in  Effingham,  and,  in  1874, 
he  came  to  Mattoon,  where  he  served 
Hinkle  &  Buck  in  their  dry  goods  estab- 
lishment eighteen  mouths  ;  he  next  labored 
in  the  same  capacity  for  Robert  Mosley  & 
Son  for  the  same  length  of  time.  Nov. 
28,  1877,  he  began  business  for  himself 
He  was  married  May  8,  1878,  to  Lizzie 
R.  Coddington,  a  native  of  Indiana.  He 
lost  his  father  at  the  age  of  12  years,  and 
since  that  time  has  paddled  his  own  canoe 
along  life's  voyage. 

ELISHA  LINDER,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Mattoon;  was  born  in  Hardin  Co.,  Ky., 
Aug.  16,  1807;  his  early  life  was  passed 
upon  the  farm,  and  his  education  was  such 
as  the  schools  of  those  days  afforded  ;  when 
less  than  seven  years  of  age,  he  lost  his 
father,  and  being  the  oldest  of  the  family, 
he  soon  became  the  head ;  his  father  was 
a  man  of  energy  and  thrift,  and  left  the 
family  well  provided  for;  in    1829,  young 


MATTOON  TOWNSHIP, 


551 


Linder  came  West,  to  Illinois,  and  pros- 
pected the  county  ;  remainin<^  two  months, 
he  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  in  January, 
1831,  came  again  to  Illinois;  in  October 
following,  he  moved  his  mother  and  fam- 
ily— a  brother  and  two  sisters — and  located 
near  where  he  now  resides ;  on  arriving  at 
what  was  to  be  their  future  home,  they 
possessed,  in  actual  cash,  $2.50,  just 
enough  to  purchase  half  a  barrel  of  salt ; 
he  bought  a  few  head  of  horses,  cattle  and 
a  flock  of  sheep  ;  he  was  first  to  introduce 
sheep  into  this  section  of  country  ;  his  first 
purchase  was  forty  acres,  slightly  im- 
proved ;  he  has  owned  at  one  time  2,000 
acres  of  land,  and  at  present  owns  about 
1,200  acres  ;  in  almost  every  undertaking, 
he  has  been  very  successful.  He  was 
married  in  April,  1839,  to  Rebecca  Saw- 
yer, a  native  of  Kentucky ;  her  father, 
John  Sawyer,  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  this  seciion  ;  from  this  union,  fourteen 
children  have  been  born — three  sons  and 
eleven  daughters  :  of  these,  three  sons  and 
eight  daughters  are  still  living.  Mr.  Lin- 
der has  held  the  office  of  Township  Super- 
visor three  or  four  terms. 

TIFFIN  P.  LOGAN,  land  and  loan 
agent,  Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Trimble  Co., 
Ky..  March  28,  1844;  his  fiither  was  a 
man  of  prominence,  a  cousin  to  President 
Harrison,  and  was  honored  by  the  Demo- 
cratic party  with  a  seat  in  the  Kentucky 
Legislature  during  the  sessions  of  1844- 
45  ;  in  the  spring  of  1858,  removed  with 
his  family  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Wind- 
sor, Shelby  Co. ;  here  he  occupied  the  of- 
fice of  Justice  of  the  Peace  eleven  years 
in  succession ;  here  Tiffin  P.  began  life  for 
himself ;  he  lived  with  his  brother-in-law 
till  he  attained  the  age  of  15  years ;  at  this 
age  he  could  neither  read  nor  write ;  leav- 
ing his  taskmaster,  he  determined  to  lend 
his  energies  to  the  acquiring  of  an  edu- 
cation ;  by  the  performance  of  various  com- 
missions he  paid  his  board,  tuition,  and 
other  necessary  expenses,  and  at  the  ex- 
piration of  three  years,  had  acquired  a  good 
elementary  education,  and  had  $8  ahead  ; 
March  8,  1864,  he  located  where  Ottawa, 
Kan.,  now  is,  then  occupied  by  eleven 
tribes  of  Indians ;  with  these,  he  lived 
some  six  weeks,  sole  representative  of  the 
Caucasian  race ;  here,  with  a  capital  of 
$41,  he  began  the  manufacture  of  shingles, 
and  in  nine  months  accumulated  $1,200; 


owing  to  ill  health,  he  closed  out  his  busi- 
ness, and  engaged  in  clerking  for  Holt  & 
Evans,  the  first  white  men  operating  a 
store  in  Ottawa ;  in  March,  1865,  he  loca- 
ted in  Kansas  City,  and  operated  a  grocery 
store  two  years ;  during  the  winter  of 
1866-67,  he  took  a  business  course  in 
Spaulding's  Commercial  College,  in  Kansas 
City;  he  next  went  to  Lyon  Co.,  Kan., 
and  engaged  in  the  dairy  business  one 
year;  in  the  spring  of  1868,  he  went  to 
Sedalia,  Mo.,  and  there  engaged  in  the 
milk  and  dairy  business  six  years ;  at  this 
he  cleared  about  $2,000  per  annum,  but 
lost  most  of  it  in  1874,  operating  in 
cattle  ;  in  1875,  he  returned  to  Illinois,  and 
engaged  in  handling  and  sliipping  stock  ;  in 
December,  1875,  he  engaged  in  the  lumber 
and  grain  trade  at  Bethany,  111.  ;  this  he 
followed  till  March,  1878,  when  he  opened 
a  land  ofiice  in  Mattoon,  to  which  he  has 
recently  added  the  loan  agency.  He  was 
married  Oct.  17,  1876,  to  Sue  M.  Smutz,  a 
native  of  Lima,  Ohio  ;  has  one  child — 
Edna  P.  Owns  real  estate  in  Bethany,  111.  ; 
in  honor  of  his  early  citizenship,  Logan 
street,  of  Ottawa,  Kan.,  was  named  for 
him. 

COL.  ROBERT  H.  McFADDEN, 
Pension  Attorney  and  Police  Magistrate, 
Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  in 
1833  ;  his  father  was  a  cabinet-maker  by 
trade,  and  at  the  age  of  13  years,  he  be- 
gan the  trade,  working  five  years  under 
instructions  ;  at  18,  he  began  life  for  him- 
self, following  his  trade  about  fifteen  years  ; 
in  1850,  he  came  to  Shelby  Co.,  111.,  and 
remained  three  years  ;  in  1853,  he  came  to 
Coles  Co.,  and  located  in  the  village  of 
Paradise ;  in  the  summer  of  1855,  he 
came  to  Mattoon  ;  he  built  the  first  dwell- 
ing in  the  city  limits,  on  what  is  now 
known  as  Charleston  avenue,  between  East 
First  and  Union  streets.  He  was  married 
Sept.  28,  1855,  to  Sarah  A.  Norvell,  by 
Elder  Isaac  Hart ;  theirs  was  the  first  wed- 
ding that  occurred  in  Mattoon  ;  at  the  first 
election  held  in  Mattoon  Tp.,  in  1857,  he 
was  chosen  a  Justice  of  the  Peace ;  April 
19, 1861 ,  he  entered  the  United  States  serv- 
ice as  Second  Lieutenant,  in  the  7th  Regt. 
I.  V.  I.;  he  served  as  First  Lieutenant, 
Captain  and  Major  in  the  41st  Regt.,  and 
Lieutenant  Colonel  and  Colonel  in  the  53d  ; 
July  22,  1865,  he  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service,  and,  on  his    return,    followed  his 


552 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


trade  some  three  years ;  in  1871,  lie  was 
elected  Mayor  of  the  city,  having  served 
one  term  as  Alderman;  in  1873,  he  was 
chosen  Police  3Iagistrate,  and  from  re- 
election, has  held  the  office  since.  Has 
four  children — May  I.,  John  A.,  Eddie 
D.  and  Lizzie  A. 

H.  W.  MAGEE,  attorney  at  law,  Mat- 
toon  ;  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  in  Oc- 
tober, 18J:7  ;  his  father  came  from  Cyn- 
thiana,  Ky.,  and  settled  in  Coles  Co.,  111., 
in  1832  ;  here  he  engaged  in  farming;  he 
relates  that  his  father  labored  a  whole  year 
for  Joseph  VanDeren  for  $96  ;  when  H. 
W.,  was  2  years  of  age,  his  father  moved  to 
the  western  portion  of  Missouri,  and  was 
there  during  the  border  troubles;  in  the 
fall  of  1857,  he  returned  with  his  family  to 
Coles  Co.,  and  settled  in  what  is  known  as 
the  "Dead  Man's  Grove;"  in  1872,  he 
moved  to  Louisa  Co.,  Iowa,  where  he  at 
present  resides ;  having  obtained  a  good 
common-school  education,  at  the  ao;e  of  20 
years,  H.  W.  entered  the  office  of  the  Cir- 
cuit Clerk,  at  Charleston,  as  Deputy  ;  here 
he  remained  about  two  and  a  half  years ; 
in  the  winter  of  1869,  he  entered  the  law 
department  of  Michigan  University,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1872; 
at  that  date,  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
the  courts  of  Michigan,  and,  the  summer 
of  1872,  was  admitted  to  the  courts  of 
Illinois  ;  he  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Mattoon,  his  present  residence. 
He  was  married  in  the  spring  of  1873  to 
Ellen  J.  Barnes,  a  native  of  Indianapolis ; 
has  one  child — Gracie. 

L.  F.  MORSE,  M.  D.,  physician  and 
surgeon,  Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Canterbury, 
N.  H.,  Feb.  5,  1839;  his  father  was  a 
farmer,  and  his  cirly  life  was  that  of  a 
farmer's  son ;  at  the  age  of  14,  he  went  to 
live  with  an  uncle  ;  in  the  winter  of  1860, 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine,  under 
the  supervision  of  Dr.  L.  T.  Weeks,  of 
Canterbury  ;  after  an  extended  course  of 
reading,  he  attended  a  course  of  lectures 
in  the  Burlington  Medical  College,  at  Bui-- 
lington,  Vt.;  in  June,  1862,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  Government  hospital  at 
Washington,  as  Contract  Surgeon  ;  here 
he  remained  one  year  ;  in  1 863,  he  at- 
tended a  course  of  lectures  in  Dartmouth 
Medical  College,  from  which  he  graduated 
in  November,  1863;  he  then  entered  the 
U.   S.    Navy,   as  Assistant  Surgeon,  and 


was  stationed  on  the  west  coast  of  Florida ; 
Dec.  7,  1865,  he  was  discharged  from  the 
U.  S.  service  ;  he  next  attended  a  course 
of  lectures  in  the  Homeopathic  College  of 
New  York,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
March,  1866;  he  first  located  in  Bidde- 
ford.  Me.,  and  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  his  profession  ;  in  September,  1867,  he 
came  West  to  see,  and  located  in  Pekin, 
Tazewell  Co. ;  in  May,  1868,  he  came  to 
Mattoon,  his  present  residence.  He  was 
married  April  3  4,  1869,  to  Harriet  F. 
Chamberlain,  a  native  of  Indiana ;  has 
three  children — Helen  L.,  Bertha  L.  and 
Clifford  L.  Mr.  M.  at  present  holds  the 
office  of  School  Director,  and  is  Secretary 
of  the  Board. 

J.  W.  MOORE,  lumber  merchant, 
Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Kent  Co.,  England, 
in  June,  1832  ;  when  10  years  of  age,  he 
lost  his  father;  in  1850,  his  mother,  with 
her  family,  immigrated  to  America  and 
settled  in  Chicago,  where  they  remained 
about  two  and  one-half  years ;  they  then 
removed  to  Cook  Co.,  where  himself  and 
an  older  brother  engaged  in  farming  and 
operating  a  country  store,  his  mother  man- 
aging largely  the  interests  of  her  family  ; 
in  1865,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  moved 
to  Monee,  Will  Co.,  and,  in  company  with 
a  Mr.  Dickson,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Dickson  &  Moore,  engaged  in  the  sale  of 
lumber  and  agricultural  implements ;  in 
1874,  he  came  to  Mattoon  and  opened  up 
his  present  business.  He  was  married  in 
July,  1865,  to  Cordelia  Sisson,  a  native  of 
Illinois  ;  they  have  three  children — Ernest 
S.,  Charles  H.  and  Augusta  E.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  School  Board  on  the  West 
Side. 

J.  A.  MULFORD,  wholesale  dealer  in 
hides,  leather,  findings,  furs,  pelts  and  tal- 
low, Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Newark,  N.  J., 
May  16,  1839 ;  he  completed  a  course  in 
the  high  school,  but  did  not  enter  upon  a 
college  course  ;  at  the  age  of  17,  he  began 
the  trade  of  a  jeweler,  and  worked  under 
instructions  till  his  majority ;  he  followed 
his  trade  about  five  years ;  subsequently 
he  was  employed  as  accountant,  and  had 
charge  of  the  wholesale  department  of 
Davis  &  Elcox,  in  Maiden  Lane,  New 
York,  for  some  length  of  time ;  in  the 
spring  of  1867.  he  came  West  to  Illinois 
and  located  in  Mattoon,  and  began  op- 
erating in  hides  for  the  Chicago  markets ; 


MATTOON  TOWNSHIP, 


563 


afterward,  he  operated  for  the  Eastern 
markets  ;  to-day,  he  operates  over  a  terri- 
tory extending  west  to  St.  Louis  and  east 
to  Terre  Haute ;  by  an  admirable  system 
of  book-keeping,  peculiarly  his  own.  he  is 
enabled  at  any  hour  to  know  the  exact 
status  of  his  business.  He  was  married 
Sept.  10,  1863,  to  Sarah  E.  Pruden,  a 
native  of  New  Jersey;  they  have  three 
children — E.  Ross,  Jennie  and  Herbert. 
Mr.  Mulford  is  recognized  as  a  man  of 
fine  business  qualifications,  and  well 
worthy  the  success  that  has  crowned  his 
eiforts. 

DANIEL  MESSER,  proprietor  Essex 
House,  Mattoon ;  was  born  in  Piermont, 
Grafton  Co..  N.  H.,  A.  D.  1829;  his 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  his  early  life  was 
that  of  a  farmer's  son  ;  in  addition  to  his 
common-school  education,  he  attended  for 
some  time  a  seminary  of  a  high  grade,  in 
Bradford,  Vt.  ;  at  his  majority  he  left 
home,  and  began  life  for  himself;  his  first 
•employment  was  that  of  overseeing  a  force 
of  workmen  on  the  Boston,  Concord  & 
Montreal  Railroad  ;  he  subse(iuently  con- 
tracted on  the  Bufialo,  Corning  &  New 
York  Railroad;  in  1853,  he  came  West, 
and  contracted  on  the  St.  Louis,  Alton  & 
Terre  Haute  Railroad,  and  on  the  comple- 
tion of  the  road,  was  appointed  Roadmas- 
ter  from  Terre  Haute  to  Pana,  which 
position  he  held  from  1855  to  1860  or 
1861  ;  on  leaving  the  road,  he  next 
operated  the  Messer  House,  in  Charleston, 
till  1867;  from  1867  to  1869,  he  owned 
and  operated  a  planing-mill,  at  Charleston; 
in  1869,  he  leased  the  Essex  House,  at 
Mattoon,  and  has  operated  it  for  the  past 
ten  years  ;  with  a  house  first-class  in  all  its 
appointments,  and  himself  possessed  of  all 
those  necessary  qualifications  that  go  to 
make  a  successful  landlord,  he  has  met 
with  deserved  success,  and  is  to-day  re- 
garded one  of  the  financially  solid  men  of 
the  city  ;  he  is  at  present  a  Director  in 
the  First  National  Bank. 

W.  H.  K.  PILE,  real  estate,  collecting 
and  insurance  agent,  Mattoon ;  was  born 
in  Breckinridge  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  17,  1819; 
he  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  learned  his 
trade,  that  of  a  wagon -maker,  during  his 
minority ;  at  the  age  of  20,  he  began  life 
for  himself,  following  his  trade  and  that  of 
a  carpenter,  till  25  years  of  age ;  he 
then  engaged  in  farming  for  five  years ;  in 


1855,  he  came  West  to  Illinois,  and  set- 
tled  south   of  Charleston,  Coles  Co. ;    in 

1856,  he  came  to  Mattoon,  and  engaged 
in  operating  a  hotel ;  in  1857,  he  was 
elected  Police  Magistrate  of  the  city ;  in 
1858,  he  was  chosen  Associate  Justice  of 
Coles  Co.,  with  Judges  Edwards  and 
Leach;  in  1859,  he  was  elected  School 
Commissioner  of  Coles  Co.,  and  served  two 
years  ;  in  the  winter  of  1862,  he  removed 
to  Charleston  and  operated  a  hotel,  and,  in 
1863,  located  in  Alton  and  engaged  in  the 
same  business;  in  1867,  he  returned  to 
Mattoon,  and  engaged  as  traveling  sales- 
man for  a  firm  in  Louisville,  Ky.  ;  in  1869, 
he  was  again  chosen  Police  Magistrate,  and 
held  the  office  four  years  ;  in  1873,  he  was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  remained 
in  office  four  years;  during  the  years  of 
1875,  1876  and  1877,  he  traveled  for  a 
firm,  loaning  money  on  real  estate  ;  for  the 
past  year  he  has  devoted  his  time  to  the 
collection  of  claims,  the  transaction  of  real 
estate  business,  and  has  recently  added  the 
insurance  agency.  He  was  married  in 
March,  1844,  to  Nancy  J.  Walkup,  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky. 

W.  H.  PAUGH,  M.  D.,  physician  and 
surgeon,  Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Lawrence 
Co.',  Ind.,  March  13,  1838;  his  father 
was  a  physician  and  settled  in  Indiana  as 
early  as  1815  ;  in  addition  to  his  common- 
school  education,  he  attended  the  high 
school  at  Springville,  Ind.,  and  in  subse- 
quent years  was  Principal  of  the  same. 
He  naturally  grew  up  into  a  physician,  and 
to  fix  a  period  at  which  he  began  the  study 
of  his  profession  would  be  a  difficult  task  ; 
he  practiced  his  profession  many  years  be- 
fore receiving  a  medical  degree  ;  he  attended 
Rush  Medical  College  one  session  ;  later, 
he  attended  the  medical  college  at  Keo- 
kuk, Iowa,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1876;  in  Jr  nuary,  1877,  he  located  in 
Mattoon.  He  was  married  Oct.  25th, 
1868,  to  Lou  E.  Best,  she  died  Oct.  26, 
1878.  Has  three  children — Gertie,  Phre- 
born  G.  and  Lolo.  Owns  120  acres  in 
Madison  Co.,  111.,  and  real  estate  in  the 
city. 

A.  G.  PICKETT,  M.  D.,  physician  and 
surgeon,  Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Kenton  Co., 
Ky.,  in  1826  ;  his  early  life  was  spent  for 
the  most  part  in  school ;  he  completed  a 
full  course  in  Woodward  College,  Cincin- 
nati, at  which  he  graduated  in    1844;  he 


554 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


then  entered  the  Ohio  Medical  College, 
and  completed  the  course  in  1847  ;  he  be- 
gan the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  one  year  ;  he  then  came 
West  to  Illinois,  and  located  near  Quincy, 
where  he  remained  till  18G1,  when  he  en- 
tered the  U.  S.  service  as  Surgeon  of  the 
50th  Eegiment  I.  V.  I.;  he  remained  in 
the  service  till  November,  1864 ;  on  his 
return  from  the  army,  he  located  in  Moul- 
trie Co.,  and  followed  his  profession  till 
1874,  when  he  removed  to  Mattoon.  He 
was  married  in  1862  to  Amanda  S.  Jen- 
kins, a  native  of  Kentucky  ;  has  four  chil- 
dren— Alice  S.,  Ada  M.,  Willie  A.  and 
Lenore.  Dr.  Pickett  very  naturally  grew 
up  into  a  physician  ;  his  father  and  many 
of  his  ancestors  had  been  practitioners  of 
the  "healing  art,"  and  the  profession 
seemed  to  fall  to  him  as  a  natural  birth- 
right inheritance. 

'  J..  G.  ROBERTS,  dental  surgeon,  Mat- 
toon  ;  was  born  in  Ripley  Co.,  Ky.,  Jan. 
18,  1846;  his  father,  R.  B.  Roberts,  was 
a  dentist  by  profession,  and  a  minister  in 
the   Christian    Church ;    his  father    came 
with  his  family  to  Indiana  when  L.  G.  was 
but  3  or  4  years  of  age,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1864,  he  came  to   Illinois;    his   education 
was    derived    mostly   from    the    common 
schools  ;  at  the  age  of  18,  he  entered  the 
dental  office  of  Dr.  Allen,  in  Ft.  Wayne, 
Ind.;  in  1864,  he  worked  under  instruc- 
tions with  Dr.  Moore,  of  La  Fayette,  Ind.; 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he   worked 
with  Dr.  Prevost,  of   Dayton,  Ohio,   per- 
fecting himself  for  his   profession   under 
the  directien  of  men  of  recognized  ability ; 
in  1865,  he  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  El  Paso,  Woodford  Co.,  111.;  in 
1878,  he  located  in  Mattoon,  his  present 
place  of  business.     He  was  married  Dec. 
25,  1878,  to  Mary  A.   Winn,  a  native  of 
Ohio;  has  had  two  children — Leonidas  G., 
living,  and   Prescott    W.,    deceased.      He 
has  a  fine  and  growing  practice,  and  ranks 
second  to  none  in  the  city  or  county  as  re- 
gards proficiency  and  skill. 

J.  O.  RUDY,  real  estate  agent,  Mat- 
toon ;  was  born  near  Louisville,  JeiFerson 
Co.,  Ky.,  May  1,  1827  ;  his  parents  moved 
to  Illinois,  and  settled  near  Paris,  Edgar 
Co.,  in  1880  ;  his  early  life  was  spent 
upon  the  farm,  and  his  early  experiences 
were  those  of  a  farmer's  son ;  his  educa- 
tion was  derived  from  the  common  schools ; 


in  1850,  he  crossed  the  plains  to  Califor- 
nia, where  for  two  years  he  applied  himself 
to  mining;  near  the  close  of  1852,  he  re- 
turned, having  as  his  reward  for  toil,  hard- 
ships and  privations,  about  $8,000  in  gold  ; 
on  his  return,  he  engaged  for  one  year  in 
operating   the    old    homestead;    near   the 
close  of  1858,  he  engaged  as  a  partner  in 
the  dry  goods  business,  in  the  firm  of  Au- 
gustus &  Rudy,  at  Paris ;    in  the   fall  of 
1 858.  the  firm  closed  out  business,  and  he 
moved  to  his  land    in    Douglas    Co.,    and 
opened  up,   and  improved   his   farm ;    in 
1862,  he  was  appointed  Post  Trader  to  the 
Pawnee  Nation,  under  the  administration 
of   President    Lincoln ;    this  position    he 
held  till  the  beginning  of  the  administra- 
tion of  Andrew  Johnson,  returning  in  the 
fall  of  1865  ;  he  next  went  to  Trumbull 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  engaged  in  sinking  wells, 
and  in  the  manufacture  of  lubricating  oil ; 
this  he  followed  one  year  ;  in  the  spring  of 
1867,  he  came  to   Mattoon,  and    in    com- 
pany with  Richard   Champion   and   S.   D. 
Dole,  began  the  business  of  banking,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Champion,  Rudy  & 
Co.;  in  1872,  he  sold  out  his  interest,  and 
continued  operating  a  planing-mill  which 
he  had   previously    purchased  ;    this    was 
soon  after  destroyed  by  fire ;    since   that 
time,  he  has  devoted  himself  to    the    real 
estate  business.      He  was  married  Sept.  29, 
1856,  to  Persis  J.  Dole,  daughter  of  Wm. 
P.   Dole,    a   very    early    settler   of   Terre 
Haute,  Ind.;  her  father  held  the  position 
of  Commissioner  of  Indian  Afi'airs  under 
President  Lincoln.    Has  seven  children  liv- 
ing— Prof  Wm.  D.  0.   Rudy  (now  Pro- 
fessor of  Chemistry  in  Illinois  Industrial 
University),  Jennie  F.,  Chas.  E.,   Bessie 
D.,  Mary  P.,  George  H.   and   Hattie  P.; 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, West  Side,  for  the  pjist  eight  years  ; 
has  also  held  the  office  of  Alderman  for  a 
number  of  terms. 

Z.  ROBERTSON,  farmer  and  me- 
chanic, Mattoon ;  was  born  in  Bourbon 
Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  22,  1830  ;  he  obtained  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  Paris,  • 
Ky.;  his  early  life  was  passed  upon  the 
farm  ;  at  the  age  of  22  years,  he  left  Ken- 
tucky and  moved  to  Greenfield,  Ind.;  here  he 
followed  the  trade  of  plastering  for  about  six 
years ;  in  the  winter  of  1858,  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  in  Mattoon,  where  for 
a  number  of  years  he  continued  his  trade, 


MATTOON  TOWNSHIP. 


555^ 


aud  that  of  farming ;  in  1865,  he  pur- 
chased and  improved  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  near  the  city  ;  this  he  sold  in  1869, 
and  again  moved  to  the  city  and  for  some 
time,  iollowed  his  trade;  since  coming  to 
the  State,  he  has  improved  three  farms. 
He  was  married  in  1855,  to  Rebecca  J. 
Morrison,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania;  has 
three  children  living — Oscar  C.,  Mattie  J. 
aud  Belle  F.  His  little  daughter  Fannie, 
whose  death  occurred  in  1863,  was  the  first 
interment  made  in  the  now  thickly  popu- 
lated cemetery  near  the  city.  As  an  evi- 
dence of  his  success  in  farming,  he  this 
year  raised  seventy -five  bushels  to  the  acre, 
while  his  neighbors  harvested  only  from 
thirty  to  forty  bushels  per  acre. 

REV.  J.  W.  RILEY,  Pastor  Mission- 
ary Baptist  Church,  Maftoon ;  was  born 
in  Clermont  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  9,  1823;  his 
ancestral  line,  traced  through  five  preced- 
ing generations  have  been  ministers  in  the 
Baptist  Church ;  his  father's  family  fur- 
nished six  ministers  to  the  society,  himself 
and  five  sons.  From  an  historical  record 
gathered  from  time  to  time,  it  was  ascer- 
tained that  the  family  of  near  relatives 
have  furnished  thirteen  ministers  of  the 
Gospel;  ten  of  these  are  Baptists,  two 
Methodists  and  one  Christian.  His  father. 
Rev.  J.  W.  Riley,  Sr.,  founded  the  first 
Missionary  Baptist  Church  in  all  this  sec- 
tion ;  this  was  at  Bloomfield,  Edgar  Co., 
as  early  as  1835.  Out  of  that  grew  the 
Bloomfield  Baptist  Association,  which  is 
to-day  one  of  the  largest  in  the  State.  His 
early  life  was  spent  upon  the  farm  and  in 
attendance  upon  school;  at  the  age  of  15 
years,  he  became  a  member  of  the  church, 
and  soon  after  began  to  take  part  in  its 
public  exercises  ;  he  was  ordained  to  the 
ministry  April  26,  1845.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1843,  to  Olive  J.  Crouch,  a  native 
of  Clermont  Co.,  Ohio ;  she  died  April  4, 
1855.  His  second  marriage  occurred 
Sept.  7,  1856,  to  Sarah  A.  Vance,  of 
Licking  Co.,  Ohio ;  she  was  educated  at 
Granville  College,  Ohio.  From  first  wed- 
lock he  reared  five  children — three  sons  and 
two  daughters  ;  from  second,  two  sons. 
He  came  to  Mattoon  in  November,  1864, 
and  most  of  the  time  since  has  been  Pastor 
of  the  Church.  About  the  year  1866  or 
1867,  his  health  having  become  impaired, 
he  went  South  and  spent  some  time  re- 
cruiting; on  his  return,   he  was  engaged 


most  of  the  time  for  three  years  writing 
and  compiling  a  work  called  U.  S.  A., 
the  World's  Empire  Passing  from  Proph- 

I  ecy  to  History  ;  this  is  a  work  of  413 
pages,  and  is  highly  spoken  of  by  eminent 
scholars  aud  critics.  His  theological  studies 
were  prosecuted  under  Elders  Jones  and 
Cox,  graduates  of  Granville  College. 

JOHN  F.  SCOTT,  attorney  at  law, 
Mattoon ;  was  born  in  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  A. 
D.  1 844  ;  his  early  life  was  spent  upon  the 
farm,  and  his  experiences  those  common 
to   a  farmer's  sou;  at  the  age  of  16,  he 

\  became  a  student  in  the  Eclectic  Institute 

i  (now  Hiram  College),  at  that  time  pre- 
sided over  by  Gen.  J.A.Garfield;   here  he 

I  remained  one  year ;  returning  home,  he 
engaged  in  farming  one  year,  and  subse- 
quently engaged  in  teaching ;  in  1866,  he 
entered  the  Commercial  College  in  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  remaining  eight  months; 
he  next  engaged  in  the  sale  of  territory  for 
patent  rights  ;  in  1868,  he  again  engaged 
in  farming;  in  March,  1869,  he  came 
West  to  Illinois,  located  in  Mattoon,  and 
was  engaged  in  life,  fire  and  accident 
insurance  till  1874;  he  then  came  into  the 
office  of  H.  S.  Clark,  and  resumed  his  legal 
studies;  in   April,  1875,   he   entered   the 

'  graduating  class  of  the  Ohio  State  and 
Union   Law    College,  of   Cleveland,  from 

j  which  he  graduated  in  July,  following;  on 

!  his  return,  the  legal  firm  of  Clark  &  Scott 
was  formed,  and  he  has  since  devoted  him- 

!  self  to  his  profession.  He  was  married  in 
1868,  to  Sophia  E.  Clark,  a  native  of  Ohio; 
has  two  children — Earl  C.  and  Montague 
W.  In  1872,  he  was  chosen  Mayor  of  the 
city,  and,  by  re-election,  held  the  office 
three  times  in  succession  ;  in  1876,  1877 
and  1878,  he  was  chosen  Supervisor  of 
Mattoon  Tp.,  and  ex-officio  Treasurer  ;  he 
is  at  present  Chairman  of  the  Board. 

J.  L.  SCOTT,  dealer  in  groceries, 
queens  ware  and  glassware,  Mattoon;  was 
born  in  Henry  Co.,  Ky.,  in  1836;  his 
early  life  was  passed  upon  the  farm,  and 
his  education  was  derived  from  the  com- 
mon schools;  in  1856,  he  moved  to  Frank- 
lin, Ind.,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits;  in  1863,  he  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky, located  in  Louisville,  and  was  em- 
ployed in  the  United  States  Government 
Pay  Department,  under  Gen.  Thurston, 
Paymaster  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land ;  in  the  spring  of  1865,  he   removed 


556 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


with  his  parents  to  Coles  Co.,  111.,  and  pur-  ! 
chased  a  tarin   of  160   acres   northeast  of 
Mattoon  ;  in  1871,  having  disposed  of  his 
farm,   he   came    to   Mattoon,   purchased  a 
stock  of  groceries,  and   has  since   resided 
here.     He  wa^  married  Dec.  10,  18G1,  to 
•Catharine  J.  llunyon,  a  native  of  Vernon,   | 
Jennings  Co.,   Ind ;  has   four  children — 
William  H.,  Mary  F.,  Gracie  and  Charlie. 
Has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor  of  Hum- 
boldt Tp. ;  is  at  present  Worshipful  Master  ] 
of  Mattoon  Lodge,  No.  260,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M. 

A.  J.  SANBORN,    master    mechanic,   | 
I.  &  St.  L.  Shops,  Mattoon ;  was  born   in  | 
Acton,  York   Co.,  Me.,   in    1826;  having  | 
lost  his  mother  when  but  11  years  of  age, 
he  left  home,  and,  making  his  way  to  Bos- 
ton, went  on  board  a  vessel,  and  was  absent 
two  years  on  a  voyage  ;  after  coming  into 
port,  he   made  known  to  his  father  and 
family    his    adventures  for  the  two  years 
past ;  he  served  seven  years  on  the  sea,  sail- 
ing as  second  mate  on  board  the  ship  Vesta, 
of  Boston,  and  the  brig  Yucatan,  in  the 
South  American  trade ;  at  the  age  of  21 
years,  he  began   his  trade  in  the  Lowell 
Machine-Shops,  at  Lowell,  Mass ;  here  he 
remained  two  years  ;  he  next  went  to  Bos- 
ton and  worked  in  the  locomotive-shops  of 
Hinckley  &   Drury  for  eighteen  months; 
thence  to  Lawrence,   Mass.,  to  the  Essex 
shops,  one  year  ;  in  1858,  or  1859,  he  came 
west  to  East  St.  Louis,  and  took  charge  of 
the  erecting   department  of  the  0.  &  M. 
R.   R ;   in   1867,  he  took  charge  of  the 
machinery  on  the  Vandalia  R.  R.,  and,  in 
1873,  he  took  charge  of  the  works  for  the 
I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R.   at   Mattoon ;   Mr.  San- 
born is  truly  a  self-made  man  ;  his  educa- 
tion   has   been   derived  in   the   school    of 
experience,  and,  whatever  he  undertakes  to 
perform,  he  executes  with  an   experienced 
and  skillful  hand. 

JOHN  W.  SOULES,  proprietor  meat 
market,  Mattoon ;  was  born  in  Terre  Haute, 
Ind.,  Nov.  10,  1828;  his  ftuher  was  a 
farmer,  and  his  early  life  was  spent  upon 
the  farm ;  his  education  was  limited 
entirely  to  the  common  school  ;  he  re- 
mained at  home  till  his  majority ;  at  the 
age  of  21  years,  he  engaged  in  the  packing 
house  of  Ferrington  &  Williams,  of  Terre 
Haute,  where  he  remained  five  years ;  he 
was  next  engaged  in  the  same  business 
with  Jacob  D.  Early  three  years  ;  in  1860, 
he  came  to  Mattoon  and  took  charge   of  a 


packing-house  for  Messrs.  Miller  &  John- 
son, and  remained  with  them  four  years  ; 
in  186-1,  he  took  charge  of  a  similar  estab- 
lishment for  P.  H.  Flarity,  remaining  nine 
years;  he  next  engaged  in  his  present 
business.  He  was  married  Oct.  20, 
1849,  to  Eveline  Bailey,  a  native  of 
Indiana  ;  has  had  six  children — Mary  E., 
Laura  L.,  William  H.,  Emma,  Charles  L., 
living;  Ocalla,  deceased.  Owns  city  prop- 
erty. He  superintended  the  construction 
of  the  reservoir  designed  to  supply  the 
city  with  water. 

ADOLF  SUxMERLIN,  editor  and 
attorney  at  law,  Mattoon  ;  born  in  Keo- 
sauqua,  Iowa,  Aug.  2-4,  1851 ;  moved  with 
his  parents,  Rufus  and  I.  A.  Sumerlin,  to 
a  farm  in  Scotland  Co.,  Mo.,  in  1859 ;  his 
father  having  embarked  in  the  newspaper 
business  in  Memphis  in  1860,  he  com- 
menced learning  the  printer's  trade  ;  in 
1865,  he  moved  to  Shelbyville,  111.;  in 
1869,  he  conducted  the  reportorial  depart- 
ment of  the  Shelby  Lender,  which  his 
father  had  purchased  in  1865  ;  in  the  same 
year,  commenced  reading  law  with  Thorn- 
ton &  Wendling  ;  moved  with  his  parents 
to  Springfield,  Mo.,  in  April,  1871,  and 
after  completing  his  law  studies  in  Phelps 
&  McAbel's  office,  was  admitted  to  practice 
in  the  courts  of  Missouri  in  October,  1871  ; 
moved  to  Mattoon,  111.,  in  September, 
1872,  and  with  his  father  purchased  the 
Mattoon  Commercial;  they  continued  to 
run  the  paper  together  until  August,  1876, 
when  the  paper  was  purchased  by  the 
Mattoon  Commercial  Printing  Co.,  who 
appointed  A.  Sumerlin  editor ;  at  present, 
is  editor  of  the  Commercial  and  practicing 
law. 

CAPT.  T.  E.  WOODS,  editor  Mattoon 
Journal^  Mattoon ;  was  born  June  2, 
1837,  near  the  pi-esent  village  of  Stockton, 
Coles  Co..  [11.;  his  education  was  secured 
in  subscription  and  common  schools,  and 
for  a  short  time  he  attended  an  academy  ; 
he  usually  walked  or  rode  from  two  to  five 
miles  each  morning  to  attend  school ;  at 
the  age  of  17,  he  began  teaching  school, 
and  followed  that  occupation  till  he 
reached  his  majority  ;  he  was  Deputy 
Postmaster  at  Mattoon  during  1855  and 
1856  ;  he  then  edited  and  published  the 
Mattoon  Gazette  from  1857  to  1860  ;  during 
the  year  1861,  he  edited  the  Charleston 
I    Courier;  in  the  summer  of  1862,  he  enlisted 


MATTOON  TOWNSHIP. 


557 


in  Co.  A,  123d  I.  Mounted  Inf., 
was  mustered  in  Co.  F,  and  went  to  the 
field  as  Quartermaster  Sergeant ;  he  was 
made  Sergeant  Major  at  Maysville,  Ala.; 
commissioned  Captain  Co.  H,at  Stevenson, 
Ala.,  early  in  1864,  and  commanded  it  to 
the  close  of  the  war  ;  since  the  war,  he  has 
conducted  the  Mattoon  Journal^  first  as  a 
weekly,  next  as  a  tri- weekly  and  at  present 
as  a  daily.  At  present  he  resides  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  where  he  fills  an  appoint- 
ment in  the  Post  Office  Department. 

REV.  J.  W.  WOODS,  C.  P.  minister, 
Mattoon ;  was  born  in  the  Territory  of 
Indiana,  Feb.  5,  1815.  He  is  the  son  of 
Wm.  G.  and  Rachel  (Lester)  Woods ;  his 
father  was  a  farmer  and  his  early  boyhood 
days  were  spent  upon  the  farm  ;  his  educa- 
tion was  obtained  mainly  at  Pilot  Knob 
Academy,  under  the  instruction  of  Prof.  D. 
R.  Harris ;  when  1 0  years  of  age,  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  Clark  Co.,  111.  ;  his 
father  settling  about  four  miles  east  of  the 
present  town  of  Marshall,  his  house  became 
the  resort  for  most  business  transactions  in 
that  part  of  the  county ;  it  was  the 
"  preaching-place  "  for  fifteen  years,  until 
the  building  of  a  church  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. At  the  age  of  17,  young  Woods  be- 
came a  member  of  the  church,  and  in 
May,  1834,  of  the  Presbytery;  in  June, 
1837,  he  began  his  public  ministry  in 
Clark  Co.,  111.,  and,  for  a  number  of  years, 
labored  in  Coles,  Douglas,  Cumberland, 
Shelby  and  other  counties  in  this  section  ; 
in  October,  1839,  he  was  ordained  to  the 
full  work  of  the  ministry ;  in  1859,  he 
moved  to  Mattoon  for  the  purpose  of  build- 
ing the  church  in  the  city  ;  under  his  direc- 
tion and  superintendence,  the  church  was 
built,  and  he  was  Pastor  until  September, 
1861,  when  he  entered  the  U.  S.  service  as 
Chaplain  of  the  5th  I.  V.  C,  and  remained  in 
the  service  until  Jan.  8,  1865  ;  on  his  re- 
turn from  the  army,  he  again  labored  for 
the  church  in  Mattoon  one  year  and  four 
months ;    two    years  ago,    he    built    the 


church  ten  miles  south  of  Mattoon,  in 
Cumberland  Co.,  called  Woods'  Chapel, 
and  has  since  labored  for  the  congregation 
at  that  point.  He  was  married  Nov.  4, 
1841,  to  Eliza  A.  Funkhouser,  a  native  of 
Wayne  Co.,  111.;  nine  children  have  been 
born  to  them — Mary  C.  (wife  of  W.  B. 
Dunlap),  Elizabeth  J.,  Cynthia  A.  (wife 
of  J.  R.  Tobey),  Celestina  C.  (wife  of 
O.  C.  Hoddy),  Eliza  N.  (wife  of  E.  V. 
Burnett),  William  L'R.,  John  P.,  Ida 
Belle,  Alice  L. ;  of  these,  EHzabeth  J. 
and  William  L'R.  are  deceased.  Has  been 
a  member  of  the  City  Council  and  East 
Side  School  Board.  He  has  always  been 
liberal  in  the  use  of  his  means  toward  the 
Church. 

•  H.  C.  WATSON,  time-keeper  and  clerk 
M.  M.  I.  &  St.  L.  shops,  Mattoon ;  was 
born  in  New  Madrid,  New  Madrid  Co., 
Mo.,  July  27,  1827;  his  father  was  a 
Scotchman  and  was  one  of  the  early  West- 
ern pioneers,  having  come  West  as  early 
as  1805.  Having  obtained  a  good  com- 
mon school  education,  in  1844,  he  became 
a  student  in  Prof.  J.  B.  Anderson's  high 
school,  in  New  Albany,  Ind. ;  this  he  at- 
tended one  year;  in  1845,  he  attended 
St.  Vincent's  College  at  Cape  Girardeau  ; 
in  1848,  he  matriculated  in  Bethany  Col- 
lege, Va.,  and  remained  one  year  ;  on  his 
return  home,  he  engaged  in  merchandising, 
and  followed  the  business  till  1863  ;  by 
reason  of  the  war,  he  lost  most  of  his  stock 
and  trade ;  he  moved  with  his  family  to 
Litchfield,  III,  and,  in  1865,  entered  the 
office  of  the  Master  Mechanic  of  the  St.  L., 
A.  &  T.  H.  R.  R.,  as  clerk  and  time- 
keeper; in  1867,  the  I.  &  St.  L.  leased 
the  road,  and,  in  1870,  when  the  shops 
were  removed  from  Litchfield  to  Mattoon, 
he  came  with  them.  He  was  married  in 
November,  1852,  to  Sarah  C.  Post,  a  na- 
tive of  Alton,  111. ;  has  five  children — 
William  G.,  Harry  W.,  Frank  E.,  Jennie, 
Gertie.  Has  held  the  office  of  School 
Director,  East  Side. 


658 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


EAST    OAKLAND    TOWNSHIP. 


JACOB  V.  D.  ANNIN,  farmer,  de- 
ceased ;in  the  early  part  of  the  seventeentli 
century,  there  emigrated  from  their  native 
land  of  Scotland,  one  John  Annin,  with 
his  family,  and  settled  in  the  beautiful 
State  of  New  Jersey,  where  he  erected  a 
log  house,  in  which  he  and  his  family  lived 
for  many  years  ;  and  if  it  be  asked.  How 
came  his  lot  to  be  cast  in  that  fertile  valley, 
far  from  the  land  of  his  birth  ?  the  answer 
is  to  be  found  in  the  terrible  story  of  the 
religious  persecutions  that,  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  seventeenth,  and  the  early 
part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  desolated 
and  depopulated  the  land  of  his  birth;  in 
the  year  1766,  William  Annin  (son  of 
John  Annin)  who  emigrated  with  his  par- 
ents from  Scotland,  erected  near  the  old 
log  cabin,  a  stone  house,  the  history  of 
which  occupies  a  dear  place  in  the  hearts 
of  the  descendants  of  its  builder,  who  was 
a  stern  Whig  patriot  in  the  New  Jersey 
Legislature  for  a  period  of  thirty  years, 
and  who  furnished  all  the  aid  and  comfort 
in  his  power  to  the  friends  of  free  gov- 
ernment, during  the  dark  days  of  the 
Revolutionary  struggle  ;  in  this  house,  he 
and  his  descendants  lived  for  four  genera 
tious  ;  in  this  house  was  born  John  Annin, 
eon  of  William  Annin,  the  builder,  and 
father  of  Jacob  V.  D.  Annin,  who  was 
also  born  in  the  old  stone  house,  June  4, 
1796  ;  here  he  passed  the  days  of  his 
youth;  a  description  of  the  above  house, 
is  given  in  a  work  entitled  "  Centennial 
Celebration  of  the  Annin  Family  at  the 
Old  Stone  House,  in  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J., 
Aug.  15,  1866  ;  "  the  description  is  given 
as  follows  :  The  scene  of  this  celebration 
was  an  old  stone  house,  some  50  feet  front, 
by  40  in  depth,  with  substantial  walls,  wide 
hall,  and  large  open  stairway ;  it  stands 
embowered  in  trees  in  one  of  the  prettiest 
little  valleys  of  the  State,  through  which 
flows  a  small  stream,  a  branch  of  the  head- 
waters of  the  Passaic  ;  on  the  above  date, 
the  descendants  of  John  Annin,  met  in 
this  venerable  mansion  to  thank  God,  for 
these,  and  all  other  blessings,  which,  during 
that  century  had  attended  them  and  theirs  ; 
they  came,  representatives  of  every  period 
of  life,  from  infancy  to  old  age ;  they  came 
in  number   120,  at   the  invitation    of  the 


venerable  owner  and  occupant,  then  in  his 
77th  year ;  they  visited  the  basement, 
where,  during  the  Revolution,  patriot 
soldiers  had  cooked  their  frugal  rations, 
where,  at  other  times,  schools  had  been 
kept,  and  the  Word  of  God  had  been 
preached  to  attentive  audiences,  convened 
from  the  neighborhood  ;  here  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  Jacob  V.  D.  Annin,  passed 
the  days  of  his  youth  ;  here  he  received 
his  education,  and  labored  upon  the 
farm,  and  continued  to  live  in  Somerset 
Co.,  N.  J.,  until  1850,  when,  seeking  new 
fields  of  labor,  he  emigrated  with  his  fam- 
ily West,  and  located  first  in  Lee  Co.,  111., 
where  he  lived  until  1852,  when  he  located 
in  East  Oakland  Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  111.,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  until  his  decease. 
His  marriage  with  Letty  Winne,  was  cele- 
brated Dec.  27,  1821  ;  she  was  born  in 
Bergen  Co.,  N.  J.,  April  4,  1803  ;  she  died 
in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  April  14,  1873,  leaving 
four  children  now  living — John,  Martin 
W.,  Samuel  A.  and  Jacob  V.  W.  (the 
biographies  of  the  last  three  will  be  found 
in  this  work)  ;  Mr.  Annin  was  one  of  the 
most  industrious,  hard-working  and  suc- 
cessful farmers  in  the  township  in  which 
he  lived,  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  and 
great  respect  in  the  community  in  which 
he  lived;  he  died  June  15,  1878,  upon 
the  place  where  he  had  lived  since  his  first 
settlement  in  Coles  Co. 

MARTIN  W.  ANNIN.  carpenter  and 
builder,  Oakland;  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  the  son  of  J.  V.  D.  Annin,  whose  bi- 
ography appears  in  this  work,  and  whose 
genealogy  is  given  for  four  generations  past ; 
he  was  born  in  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  Jan.  5. 
1831,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until 
15  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  and  learned  and  worked  at 
the  carpenter  trade  until  20  years  of  age, 
when  he  emigrated;  with  his  parents,  and 
located  in  Lee  Co.,  111.,  in  1850,  remain- 
ing here  a  short  time,  when  he  went  to 
Peoria  Co.,  and  worked  at  his  trade  until 
January,  1852,  when  he  removed  to 
Oakland,  Coles  Co.,  111.,  and  engaged 
in  contracting  and  building,  which  busi- 
ness he  has  since  successfully  fol- 
lowed ;  he  owns  his  residence  in 
Oakland,     which    he    erected    in     1877  ; 


EAST  OAKLAND   TOWNSHIP. 


559 


also  his  shop,  located  at  Lauson's  lumber- 
yard, East  Oakland  Depot;  his  business 
card  will  be  found  in  the  business  directory 
of  Oakland,  in  another  part  of  this  work. 
He  married  Jan.  10,  1861,  to  Angeline 
T.  Payne;  she  was  born  in  Hamilton  Co., 
Ohio,  July  27,  1833,  and  emigrated  with 
her  parents  to  this  county  in  1835;  they 
have  one  child  by  this  union — OUie.  born 
June  15, 1864. 

SAMUEL  A.  ANNIN,  farmer,  S.  23  ; 
P.  0.  Oakland ;  born  in  Somerset  Co.,  N. 
J.,  Nov.  8, 1836,  where  he  attended  school 
until  1850,  when  he  emigrated  with  his 
parents  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Wyo- 
ming Tp.,  Lee  Co.,  where  he  assisted  his 
father  iu  farming  until  January,  1852, 
when  he  located  in  East  Oakland  Tp.,  and 
engaged  in  farming,  which  business  he  has 
since  followed,  living  upon  the  old  home- 
stead where  his  father  first  located  in  1852, 
during  a  period  of  nearly  thirty  years  ;  he, 
with  his  younger  brother,  owns  some  400 
acres  of  land,  which  is  well  improved,  and 
upon  which,  they  each  have  good  build- 
ings. He  married  May  3,  1866,  to  Sarah 
M.  Hall ;  she  was  born  in  Fairfield  Co., 
Ohio,  Nov.  13,  1841 ;  they  have  two  chil- 
dren by  this  union,  viz.:  Winnie,  born 
Aug.  7,  1867;  George,  Aug.  5,  1869. 
Mrs.  Annin  emigrated  from  Ohio  and  lo- 
cated in  Illinois  when  8  years  of  age  ;  Mr. 
Annin  is  son  of  Jacob  V.  D.  Annin,  whose 
biography  appears  in  the  biographical 
sketches  of  this  township. 

J.V.W.  ANNIN,  farmer;  P.O.  Oakland; 
born  in  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  July  29, 
1841  ;  he  emigrated  with  his  parents 
when  he  was  9  years  of  age,  and  located 
in  Wyoming  Tp.,  Lse  Co.,  111.,  in  1850, 
living  there  until  January,  1852,  when  he 
removed  with  his  parents  to  East  Oakland 
Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  111.,  where  he  has  since  con- 
tinued to  live  ;  he,  with  his  brother  Sam- 
uel, own  400  acres  of  land,  among  which, 
is  the  old  homestead,  upon  which  they  set- 
tled when  they  firet  located  here  nearly 
thirty  years  ago  ;  while  they  own  the  above 
property  in  company,  each  has  a  good  set  of 
buildings  of  his  own.  He  married  Feb.  24, 
1871,  Martha  A.  Boyle;  she  was  born  in 
New  Jersey  Aug.  1, 1846  (her  parents  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  Coles  Co.);  they 
have  five  children  by  this  union,  viz.,  Co- 
ra A.,  Albert  S.,  Edward  M.,  Robert  A. 
and  Arthur  C,     Mr.  Annin  is  the  youn- 


gest son  of  Jacob  V.  D.  Annin,  who  loca- 
ted here  in  1852,  and  whose  biography 
appears  in  this  work,  and  in  which  appears 
the  genealogy  for  the  past  four  genera- 
tions of  the  Annin  family. 

S.  H.  ASHMORE,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser;  P.O.  Kansas;  born  in  Butler  Co.,  Ky., 
Jan.  29,  1822;  he  emigrated  with  his  par- 
ents when  quite  young  and  located  in 
Clark  Co.,  111.,  about  the  year  1826,  where 
he  lived  until  about  1828,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Coles  Co.,  and  located  before  the 
organization  of  the  township  in  what  is 
now  known  as  Ashmore  Tp.,  where  he 
lived  until  1836,  when  he  located  iu  East 
Oakland  Tp.,  where  he  has  since  lived. 
He  lived  with  his  parents  until  23  years  of 
age,  at  which  time  he  married,  and  rent- 
ing a  farm,  commenced  farming  for  himself; 
his  stock  then  consisted  of  a  team  of  po- 
nies and  two  cows ;  after  renting  two  years 
he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  for 
which  he  partly  paid  at  the  time,  the 
balance  was  paid  within  two  years  ;  he  has 
added  since  by  purchase,  until  he  now 
owns  upward  of  600  acres  in  Coles  and 
Edgar  Counties.  He  married  June,  1845, 
to  Matilda  Boyer ;  she  was  born  in  Edgar 
Co.,  Oct.  4, 1827  ;  she  died  Oct.  14,  1875, 
leavino;  five  children,  two  of  which  are 
since  deceased ;  the  names  of  the  living 
are  William  M.,  Nancy  J.  (now  Mrs. 
James  Buckler),  and  Emanda  B.  Mr. 
Ashmore  held  the  office  of  School  Director 
in  his  district  for  upward  of  twenty  years. 

J.  H.  BRANNON,  farmer,  Sec.  7;  P. 
0.  Oakland;  born  in  Rockingham  Co. 
Va.,  Sept.  1,  1836,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  until  19  years  of  age,  when,  in 
1855,  he  emigrated  to  Missouri,  where  his 
father  died  soon  after  his  arrival,  when  he 
returned  to  Virginia,  remaihing  during  the 
winter,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1856,  he  re- 
turned to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Oakland 
Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  and  engaged  in  farming, 
which  business  he  has  since  successfully 
followed  ;  he  owns  200  acres  of  land,  mostly 
under  cultivation.  His  marriage  with 
Sally  A.  Troxwell  was  celebrated  Nov.  11, 
1858  ;  she  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  her 
parents  being  among  the  early  pioneers  of 
this  county,  settling  here  at  an  early  day ; 
they  have  eight  children  by  this  union — 
Winfield,  Edward,  Clara,  Semantha  H., 
John  W.,  Hiram  L.,  Franklin  and  Min- 
nie L. 


560 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  ; 


JOHN  BUCKLER,  farmer,  Sec.  4; 
P.  O.  Oakland ;  born  in  Marion  Co.,  Ky., 
June  22,  1838,  where  he  was  engaged 
farming  until  IG  years  of  age,  when  he 
removed  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Edgar 
Co.,  in  1854,  where  he  was  employed  as 
farm  laborer  until  1862,  at  which  time  he 
rented  and  farmed  until  1874,  when  he 
purchased  eighty  acres,  which  he  worked 
four  years  ;  then  sold  out,  and,  after  living 
in  Douglas  Co.  eight  months,  purchased 
his  present  place  of  160  acres,  where  he 
now  lives,  on  Sec.  4,  East  Oakland  Tp. 
He  married  April  7,  1862,  to  Harriet 
Davis;  she  was  born  in  Clark  Co.,  111.; 
they  have  five  children  by  this  union,  viz., 
Rosanuah,  Richard  T.,  Emma  Jane,  Lor- 
enzo Dow,  Nettie  V. 

JOHN  BURWELL,  retired  farmer ; 
P.  0.  Oakland;  born  in  Morris  Co.,  N. 
J.,  Feb.  1,  181.3,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  wrought  iron  until 
19  years  of  age,  when  he  emigrated  West 
and  engaged  at  his  trade  in  the  States  of 
Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  Ohio,  until 
1840,  when  he  abandoned  his  trade  and 
located  upon  his  farm  in  Delaware  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  lived  until  1851.  when, 
selling  his  farm,  he  emigrated  West  and 
located  in  Embarrass  Tp.,  Edgar  Co.,  111., 
purchasing  a  farm  of  480  acres,  which  he 
worked  until  the  spring  of  1856,  when  he 
removed  to  Oakland,  where  he  has  since 
continued  to  live,  with  the  exception  of 
two  years  which  he  spent  upon  his  farm  ; 
he  owns  310  acres  of  prairie  and  timber 
land  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  and  320  acres  in 
Henry  Co.,  near  Newton,  Kan.  He  mar- 
ried Sept.  19,  1833,  to  Missouri  Thorp; 
she  was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Ohio ;  she 
died  in  1853,  leaving  five  children — 
Amos,  Mary,  Moses,  John,  Alice.  His 
marriage  with  Lucy  Ann  Terhune  was 
celebrated  Sept.  19,  1853;  she  was  born 
in  Johnson  Co.,  Ind. ;  she  died  in  1856, 
leaving  one  child,  since  deceased.  He 
married  April  18,  1857,  for  his  third 
wife,  Nannie  McCrum  ;  she  was  born  in 
Huntingdon  Co.,  Penn.,  Oct.  3,  1820  ;  one 
child  was  the  fruit  of  this  union — Frank 
P.,  born  Dec.  31,  1859.  Mr.  Burwell 
followed  milling  in  Oakland  from  1856 
until  1875,  when  he  i-ented  his  flour  and 
feed  mill  and   retired  from  active  labor. 

JOSIAH  H.  BUSBEY,  book-keeper, 
Okaland  ;  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  6, 


1847,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
attended  school  until  Feb.  24,  1864,  when 
he  enlisted  in  the  66th  I.  V.  I.,  and  went 
forward  to  battle  for  the  Union  ;  the  66th 
was  composed  of  picked  men  from  the  va- 
rious Northwestern  States,  elected  for 
their  skill  and  accuracy  in  handling  the 
rifle,  and  in  the  airmy  was  known  as  the 
Western  Sharpshooters ;  they  always  led 
the  advance,  and  in  important  battles  were 
detailed  in  S(iuads  to  silence  rebel  bat- 
tries,  which  duty  they  often  accomplished 
by  their  unerring  aim,  and  many  a  Union 
soldier  to-day  owes  his  existence  to  the 
skill  and  bravery  of  the  gallant  66th  ;  he 
was  with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  and 
at  the  siege  and  capture  of  Atlanta ;  at 
Lay's  Ferry,  being  in  the  advance,  they 
fought  their  way,  step  by  step,  for  eight 
miles,  losing  heavily  in  killed  and  wounded  ; 
in  the  battles  of  Rome  Cross  Roads,  Dal- 
las and  Kenesaw  Mountain,  they  suff"ered 
severely ;  he  was  with  Sherman  on  hi& 
march  through  Georgia  to  the  sea,  arriving 
in  Savannah  to  spend  the  Christmas  of 
1864  ;  he  then  marched  with  his  regiment 
I  north  through  North  and  South  Carolina, 
being  engaged  in  many  battles  until  reach- 
ing Morrisville  Station,  N.  C,  when  the 
66th  again  had  their  position  in  the  ad 
vance  of  Sherman,  not  to  deadly  conflict- 
as  they  had  many  times  been  before,  but. 
to  receive  the  surrender  of  Johnston  and 
his  army  ;  he  then  marched  to  Richmond, 
Va.,  then  to  Washington,  where,  after  the 
review  of  the  army,  he  went  to  Louisville, 
Ky.,  where  he  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  July  7,  1865  ;  in  1864,  while  com- 
ing North  upon  a  furlough,  he  was  made 
prisoner,  but  paroled,  and  at  the  expiration 
of  his  furlough,  again  joined  his  regiment, 
and  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
After  being  mustered  out  of  service,  he  re- 
turned to  Oakland,  and  worked  at  harness 
making  for  two  years,  when  he  went  to 
Kansas,  where  he  clerked  eight  months,  re- 
turning to  Illinois,  he  worked  at  his  trade 
for  six  months,  which  he  then  abandoned 
on  account  of  ill-health,  and,  in  1870,  en- 
gaged as  a  book-keeper  and  head  clerk  in 
the  dry  goods  house  of  L.  S.  &  S.  M. 
Cash,  which  position  he  has  since  held, 
with  the  exception  of  three  years,  which 
he  spent  in  Virginia,  on  account  of  the  ill- 
health  of  his  wife.  He  married  Nov.  18, 
1869,  Mary  B.  Cash,  daughter  of  Cary  J. 


EAST  OAKLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


561 


Cash,  and  niece  of  L.  S.  &  S.  M.  Cash; 
she  was  born  in  Amherst  Co.,  Va.,  July 
15,  1851  ;  one  child  was  the  fruit  of  the 
union — Ollie  May,  deceased. 

W.  D.  BUSBEY,  farmer  and  harness- 
maker,  Oakland;  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Coles  Co. ;  born  in  Clark  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec. 
28, 1820,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  un- 
til 19  years  of  age,  when  he  emigrated 
West  in  1839,  and  located  in  Coles  Co., 
111.,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  a  pe- 
riod of  fifteen  years  ;  in  1860,  he  located 
in  Oakland,  and  engaged  in  the  harness 
and  saddlery  trade,  which  business  he  has 
since  followed,  in  connection  with  farming; 
he  owns  his  shop  and  eighty  acres  of  land, 
upon  which  his  residence  stands,  which  he 
erected  in  1854;  he  held  the  office  of  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  for  "upward  of  sixteen 
years  in  the  township  in  which  he  lives.  , 
He  married  in  April,  1845,  to  Letitia  i 
Black;  she  was  born  in  Indiana  in  1824; 
she  died  May  1,  1855,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren— Josiah,  Milton  and  William.  His 
marriage  with  Margaret  A.  Newman,  was 
celebrated  Fieb.  23,  1860;  she  was  born  in 
Jefferson  Co.,  Tenn.,  Dec.  18,  1826;  they 
have  one  child  now  living  by  this  union — 
Frankie.  Her  parents  were  pioneer  settlers 
of  Coles  Co.,  locating  here  in  1834.  Mr. 
Busbey  has  been  a  resident  of  Oakland 
since  1845,  a  period  of  upward  of  thirty- 
three  years. 

S.  M.  CASH,  merchant,  deceased  ;  born 
in  Nelson  Co.,  Va.,  March  13,  1829,  where 
he  lived  until  8  years  of  age,  when  he 
removed  to  Amherst  Co.,  where  he  at- 
tended school  and  engaged  in  farming  until 
16  years  of  age,  after  which -time  he  was 
engaged  for  eighteen  months  at  Lexington 
learning  the  cabinet-maker's  trade ;  then 
coming  West  he  located  in  Paris,  Edgar 
Co.,  111.,  in  the  fall  of  1847,  where  he 
completed  his  trade,  when  he  associated 
with  his  brother  Henry,  and  located  in 
Westfield,  Clark  Co.,  where  they  engaged 
in  the  furniture  trade  from  1849  until  the 
spring  of  1851,  when  he  located  at  Oak- 
land, where  he  engaged  in  the  furniture 
business  until  1856  ;  at  which  time  he  as- 
sociated with  his  brother,  L.  S.  Cash,  in 
the  dry  goods  trade,  which  business  he 
continued  in  connection  with  farming, 
stock-raising  and  shipping  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  April  12,  1877;  in  the 
spring  of  1869,  their  store  with  its  contents 


was  destroyed  by  fire,  by  which  they  met 
with  a  loss  of  upward  of  $8,000  above 
insurance  ;  they  at  once  erected  a  fine  brick 
store,  into  which  they  moved,  and  the  sur- 
viving partner  still  continues  the  business 
under  the  old  firm  name.  His  marriage 
with  Adeline  Crawford  was  celebrated 
April  18,  1850  ;  she  was  born  in  Butler 
Co.,  Ohio,  April  17,  1831  ;  eight  children 
were  the  fruit  of  this  union,  five  of  which 
are  deceased,  the  names  of  the  living  are 
Alice  M.,  now  Mrs.  J.  R.  Lauson,  born 
Dec.  31,  1854  ;  Wilson  M.,  born  Dec.  6, 
1861,  and  Stanley  C,  born  March  15, 
1871.  Mr.  Cash  was  an  active  member 
of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  and   Oakland  Lodge, 

i  No.  219,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M,  Oakland 
Chapter  No.  153,  R.  A.  M.,  and  a 
Knight  Templar,  being  a  member  of 
the  Palestine  Commandery  at  Paris ;  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church 
for  eighteen  years  previous  to  his  death, 
and  was  held  in  high  esteem  and  great 
respect  in  the  community  in  which  he 
lived. 

REV.  J.  P.  CAMPBELL,  minister  and 
editor  of  Oakland  Herald^  Oakland ;  born 

I  in    Macoupin  Co.,    111.,   June    9,     1842  ; 

I  when  2  years  of  age,  he  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Clinton  Co.,  where,  after  living 
five  years  he  removed  to  Kentucky,  where 
he  attended  the  common  schools  until  19 
years  old,  when  he  entered  the  Beuleyville 
Academy,  and,  after  attending  several 
months,  enlisted  as  private  in  the  3d  Ken- 
tucky Cavalry,  serving  six  months,  when, 

j  on  account  of  physical  disability,  he  was 
discharged  ;  after  remaining  at  home  three 

j  months,  he  re- unlisted  for  twelve  months 
in  the  52d  Kentucky   Mounted   Infantry, 

j  serving  eighteen  months  ;  he  was  mustered 

I  out,  and    enlisted    in  the  17th  Kentucky 

!  Cavalry,  and  served  during  the  war  ;  he 
then  finished  his  education  at  the  academy 
and  engaged  in  school-teaching  and  preach- 
ing until  1871,  when  he  located  in  Coles 
Co.,  111.,  and  after  preaching  in  Ashmore, 
and  other  churches  in  the  circuit  until 
1877,  then  located  in  Oakland,  where  he 
now  lives;  in  the  spring  of  1878,  he  be- 
came editor  of  the  Oakland  Herald,  which 
position  he  now  holds  ;  this  is  the  only  pa- 
per in  the  town  of  Oakland.  He  married 
April  5,  1867,  to  Lucy  E.  Johnson  ;  she 
was  born  in  Breckinridge  Co.,  Ky.,  March 
29,   1849 ;  they  have  three  children   now 


562 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


living  by  this   union — Thomas  J.,  Jethro 
P.  and  William  H. 

L.  S.  CASH,  merchant,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser,  Oakland;  born  in  Nelson  Co., 
Va.,  Jan.  12,  1827,  where  he  attended 
school  until  10  years  of  age,  when,  upon 
his  father's  decease,  he  removed  to  Amherst 
Co.,  where  he  attended  school  and  engaged 
in  farming  until  1847,  when  he,  with  the 
family,  emigrated  West,  and  located  in 
Paris,  111.,  in  October,  of  the  same  year; 
during  the  December  following,  he  buried 
his  mother  and  two  older  brothers  within 
a  period  of  ten  days ;  he  learned  and 
worked  at  the  plasterer's  trade  here  for  two 
jears,  when,  in  March,  1850,  he  stairted 
overland,  with  an  ox-team,  for  California, 
taking  the  old  Oregon  route,  via  Fort  Hall, 
and,  on  August  18,  of  the  same  year,  he 
arrived  at  the  Placerville  dissinscs,  where 
he  remained  a  short  time  ;  then  to  Sumner 
River,  then  to  North  Greenwood  Valley  ; 
during  the  winter  and  the  spring  following, 
he  went  twenty-five  miles  south  of  Placer- 
ville to  Dry  Creek,  where,  meeting  with 
fair  success,  he  remained  until  his  return 
home,  sailing  upon  June  1,  1853;  coming 
via  New  York,  he  arrived  in  Paris,  111., 
July  1,  making  the  trip  in  thirty  days  ;  he 
then  located  in  Oakland,  where  he  worked 
at  the  plasterer's  trade  until  1856,  when  he 
engaged  in  the  dry  goods  trade,  with  his 
brother,  under  the  firm  name  of  L.  S.  & 
S.  M.  Cash,  which  he  still  continues,  since 
the  death  of  his  brother,  which  occurred 
April  12,  1877  ;  he  has  had  the  entire 
management  of  the  store,  together  with 
800  acres  of  land,  which  they  owned  to- 
gether at  the  above  date;  in  1869,  their 
store,  with  its  contents,  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  by  which  they  met  with  a  loss  of 
$8,000,  above  insurance  ;  he  erected  his 
fine  brick  residence  in  1874,  where  he  has 
since  lived.  He  married.  May  2,  1860,  : 
Roena  Sargent ;  she  was  born  in  Coles  Co. 
May  19, 1839;  she  died  March  18,  1869, 
leaving  two  children,  now  living — Ella  W. 
and  Lulu  R. ;  his  marriage  with  Susan 
Green  was  celebrated  Dec.  30,  1873  ;  she 
was  born  in  Coles  Co.  Nov.  17,  1844 ;  j 
they  hare  two  children,  now  living,  by  this 
union — Logan  S.  and  Alice. 

MARION  P.  CASH,  traveling  salesman; 
P.  0.  Terre  Haute,  Ind.  ;  born  in  Nelson 
Co..  Va.,  April  14,  1833,  he  removed  to 
Amherst    Co.,    with    the   family,  when  4  j 


years  of  age,  where  he  lived  until  14  years 
of  age,  when  he  emigrated  to  Illinois  and 
locate  J  in  Paris,  Edgar  Co.,  in  the  fall  of 
1847;  after  farming  one  year,  he  learned 
and  worked  at  the  cabinet-maker's  trade 
for  three  years,  in  Paris  ;  he  came  to  Oak- 
land, Coles  Co.,  and  worked  one  year  at 
his  trade,  when  he  engaged  with  his  brother 
in  the  furniture  trade  for  two  years ;  he 
then  sold  out  and  engaged  in  the  drug 
trade  one  year  ;  in  1855,  he  was  appointed 
Postmaster  of  Oakland,  at  which  date  he 
engaged  in  the  grocery  and  confectionery 
trade,  which  he  continued  until  1857,  when 
he  sold  out  and  again  engaged  in  the  fur- 
niture business  until  1861,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Westfield,  Clark  Co.,  and  man- 
aged the  merchandise  trade  of  H.  H.  Cash 
&  Bro.,  until  1863;  he  then  engaged  as 
traveling  salesman  for  a  wholesale  notion 
house  at  Terre  Haute  one  year ;  he  then 
went  to  Cincinnati  and  engaged  in  the 
same  business  until  1867,  when  he  bought 
out  a  dry  goods  store  at  Kansas  Station, 
which  he  ran  until  1869,  when,  selling 
out,  he  again  engaged  as  traveling  sales- 
man, which  business  he  continued  until 
1877,  for  Terre  Haute  and  Cincinnati 
wholesale  houses;  in  1877,  he  engaged  in 
farming,  and  in  September,  1878,  he  en- 
gaged as  traveling  salesman  for  the  Terre 
Haute  Woolen-Mills,  which  business  he 
has  since  followed.  He  married,  March 
31,  1853,  to  Elizabeth  J.  Ashmore ;  she 
was  born  in  East  Oakland  Tp.,  Coles  Co., 
111.,  March  23,  1833;  she  was  a  daughter 
of  James  Ashmore,  who  emigrated  from 
Tennessee,  and  located  in  Coles  Co.,  at  a 
very  early  period,  where  he  lived  until  his 
decease  ;  Mr.  Cash  has  eight  children  now 
living — William  A  ,  Marcus  L.,  Emery  E., 
Sarah  B.,  Rosa  A.,  Geoi:ge  B.,  Marion  R. 
and  Alvin  B. ;  Mr.  Cash  is  a  brother  of  L. 
S.  and  S.  M.  Cash,  whose  biographies  ap- 
pear among  the  biographies  of  Oakland  Tp. 
R.  B.  CLARKE,  merchant,  Oakland ; 
born  in  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  3,  1814, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  he 
attained  his  majority,  when  he  emigrated 
to  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  the  merchan- 
dise trade  and  distilling  whisky  for  eigh- 
teen years  ;  in  1852,  he  came  to  Illinois, 
and,  in  1854,  located  in  Oakland,  and,  with 
C.  Clement,  erected  the  fir-it  flour,  feed 
and  saw  mill  built  in  this  town ;  he  fol- 
lowed this  business  for  u])ward  of  twelve 


EAST  OAKLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


563 


years,  when  he  sold  his  mill ;  in  1 868,  he 
engaged  in  the  grocery  and  hardware  trade, 
which  he  has  since  successfully  followed, 
being  assisted  in  the  same  by  his  son, 
Orrin  M.  He  married,  Oct.  1,  1849,  to 
iMargaret  D.  Welch;  she  was  born  in  Fair- 
field Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  31,  181G  ;  they  have 
four  children  now  living  by  this  union, 
viz.:  Orrin  M.,  Clara  B..  Mary  J.  and  Odd 
R.,  Orrin  M.  Clark,  the  oldest  son, 
was  born  in  Ohio  May  15,  1850;  he  was 
married  to  Alice  E.  Adams  July  15, 1874  ; 
she  was  born  in  Lawrence  Co.,  Ind.,  Jan. 
27,  1859  ;  they  are  the  parents  of  three 
children  now  living,  viz.,  Clara  B.,  Claude 
D.  and  Jessie  C. ;  Mr.  Clark  is  engaged 
with  his  father  in  the  general  management 
of  his  business. 

T.  S.  COFFIN,  merchant,  Oakland  ; 
born  in  Cornville,  Somerset  Co.,  Me., 
Oct.  7,  1832,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
farming  and  attending  school  in  winter  ] 
until  18  years  of  age,  when,  after  finishing  i 
his  academical  studies,  he  engaged  in 
school-teaching  for  two  years,  then  as 
clerk  in  dry  goods  store  four  years  ;  he 
then  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  for 
two  years,  when,  in  1858,  he  went  to 
California,  where  he  resided  about  nine 
years,  mining  and  speculating  in  mines, 
making  and  losing  several  fortunes,  but 
finally  was  successful,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1867,  he  spent  the  winter  visiting  the 
scenes  of  his  childhood  in  Maine,  and  the 
following  spring,  located  in  the  dry  goods 
trade  at  Oakland,  which  business  he  has 
since  successfully  followed.  His  marriage 
with  Susan  J.  Winkler  was  celebrated 
March  5.  1872;  she  is  daughter  of 
David  Winkler,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Coles  ('«).  They  have  three  children  by  • 
this  union,  viz.,  Carrie  K.,  Eda  M.  and 
Harry  H. 

RICHARD  COLE,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Oak- 
land ;  born  in  Putnam  Co.,  Ind.,  Dec.  8, 
1835,  where  he  attended  school  during 
winter  and  engaged  in  farming  until  1871, 
when  he  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  located 
upon  his  present  place,  where  he  has  since 
continued  to  live.  U])on  his  arrival  here, 
he  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  mostly 
prairie,  where  he  has  since  success- 
fully followed  farming.  He  married 
Catharine  A.  Swinford  April  13,  1858; 
they  have  three  children  now  living  by 
this  union — James    P.,    born     Feb.     25, 


1861 ;  Mary  E.,  born  Jan.  23,  1863;  Lucy 
A.,  born  March  2,  1868.  Mr.  Cole  has 
held  the  office  of  School  Director  in  the 
district  in  which  he  lives.  Mrs.  Cole  was 
born  in  Harrison  Co.,  Ky.,  July  23, 
1838 ;  her  parents  removed  to  Indiana 
when  she  was  an  infant,  where  she  lived 
until  her  marriage. 

EDWARD  CONAGHAN,  merchant, 
Oakland;  born  in  County  Donegal,  Ire- 
land, Aug.  15,  1841,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  until  18  years  of  age,  when  he 
emigrated  to  America,  landing  in  New 
York  in  the  fall  of  1859  ;  coming  directly 
to  Charleston,  he  engaged  with  his  brother 
peddling,  taking  his  stock  of  goods  upon 
his  back  and  selling  from  house  to  house  ; 
after  following  this  for  nine  months  for 
his  brother,  he  commenced  peddling  on  his 
own  account,  taking  his  first  .stock  of 
goods,  which  invoiced  at  $20,  in  a  pack 
upon  his  back,  working  in  all  kinds  of 
weather,  until  1863,  when  he  associated 
with  his  brother  and  engaged  in  the  hotel 
business  at  Peoria,  111.,  which,  proving  un- 
profitable, they  closed  out,  and,  after  pay- 
ing all  their  indebtedness,  he  had  barely 
enough  means  left  to  again  start  his  porta- 
ble dry  goods  and  notion  store,  which  con- 
sisted, as  described  above,  of  his  pack, 
which  he  carried  upon  his  back,  buying 
his  goods  direct  from  first  hands  in  New 
York,  which  enabled  him  to  compete  with 
the  largest  dealers  in  Coles  Co.;  he  con- 
tinued doing  business  in  this  manner  un- 
til 1871,  when  he  associated  with  David 
Jones,  and  located  in  Oakland  in  the 
grocery  and  queensware  trade,  which  they 
continued  until  Jan.  3,  1876,  when,  pur- 
chasing his  partner's  interest,  he  added  a 
stock  of  dry  goods,  clothing,  etc.,  until  he 
now  carries  a  stock  second  to  none  in  town, 
and  his  business  is  yearly  increasing. 
Upon  his  arrival  at  Charleston,  he  wjis  not 
only  penniless,  but  was  in  debt  for  his  fare 
to  this  country,  and  his  first  earnings  were 
used  to  pay  this  indebtedness;  ..he  now 
has  a  good  property  which  he  has  accu- 
mulated b}'  his  hard  labor,  perseverance 
and  industry,  and  the  above  traits  of  char- 
acter are  well  worthy  of  imitation. 

JOHN  G.  CRAWFORD,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser;  P.O.Oakland;  born  in  Morgan 
Co.,  Ind.,  Aug.  10, 1837,  where  he  attended 
school  in  winter  and  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  .summer  until  he  was   23   years   of 

4 


664 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


age,  when,  in  the  spring  of  18G0,  he  re-  \ 
moved  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Douglas  Co.,  ! 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  1865, 
when  he  returned  to  his  native  home,  re- 
maining there  two  years ;  then  coming 
West  again,  he  continued  farming  nearly 
two  years  in  Douglas  Co.,  when  in  1869, 
he  removed  to  Oakland  and  erected  a  fine 
residence  where  he  now  lives ;  he  also 
owns  several  farms,  containing  upward  of 
1000  acres,  in  this  and  adjoining  counties, 
all  under  cultivation  ;  he  makes  a  specialty 
of  stock-raising,  usually  feeding  from  100 
to  200  head  of  cattle.  He  married  Jan. 
10,  1866,  to  Virginia  Valodin  ;  she  was 
born  in  New  Madrid,  3Io.,  November, 
1838  ;  three  children  were  the  fruits  of  this 
union — Dora  and  James,  both  deceased, 
John  F.,  now  living,  born  Aug.  9,  1874. 

CHARLES  CURTIS, farmer;  P.OOak- 
land;  born  in  Oakland,  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Dec.  5,   ! 
1841 ;  his  father  died  when  he  was  an  in- 
fant, and  he   continued   to  live    with    his  , 
mother  until  her  marriage  with  John  Dol- 
lar, with  whom   he   then   lived  until   the  j 
spring  of  1862.  when  he  enlisted  in  the 
6od  I.  V.  I.,  and   went  forward  to  battle 
for  the  Union ;    he  was  in  many   severe 
battles,  among  which   were  the  siege  and 
capture  of  Vicksburg,  Chickamauga,  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  Lookout  Mountain,  Atlan- 
ta, and  was  with  Sherman's  army  through 
Georgia,  spending  the  Christmas  of  1864 
in  Savannah  ;  then  north  through   South 
and  North  Carolina,  being  in  many  engage-   j 
ments,  until  the  surrender  of  Johnston  and 
his  army,  when  he  continued  his  march 
via  Richmond  to  Washington,  where,  after  i 
the    grand  review  of  the  army,  he  with 
his    regiment    went   to    Louisville,    Ky., 
where  he  was  mustered  out  of  service,  after 
which,  he  went  to  Springfield,  where  he  I 
received  his  discharge  in  July,  1865,  hav-   I 
ing  served  upward  of  three  years  in  the 
Union  army ;   he  then  returned  to  Coles 
Co.,  111.,  and,  in   the   spring  of  1866,  re- 
moved upon  his  present  place,  where  he  has  j 
since  lived.     He  married  April,  1864,  to 
Martha  1.  Hannah  ;  she  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  in  1844,  and  died  January,  187H, 
leaving    three   children    now    living,    viz., 
James  W\,  Lucinda  E.  and  Roddie  Ells-   ' 
worth  ;    his  marriage   with   Margaret   M. 
Yeager    was   celebrated   April  30,  1874; 
she    was  born  in   Ohio  April   18,    1855;   ' 
three  children  were  the  fruit  of  this  union,   1 


one  of  which  is  deceased  ;  the  living  are 
Lula  M.,  born  Oct.  3,  1876,  and  John 
Sherman,  March  14,  1878. 

A.  A.  DUNSETH,  Police  Magistrate 
and  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Oakland ;  born 
in  Fleming  Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  12,  1821 ;  he 
removed  with  his  parents,  when  6  years  of 
ai!;e,  to  Ohio,  where  he  learned  and  worked  at 
the  carpenter  trade  until  1843,  when  became 
West  and  located  at  Peoria,  111.,  working 
at  his  trade  until  1852,  when  he  removed 
to  Georgetown,  111.,  where  he  kept  hotel 
two  years,  when  he  purchased  a  saw-mill, 
which  he  ran  in  connection  with  his  trade 
until  1858,  when  he  removed  to  Danville, 
and  engaged  in  contracting  and  building 
until  1861,  when  he  raised  a  company  for 
the  4th  Illinois  Cavalry,  but  the  regiment 
having  obtained  its  full  quota  of  compa- 
nies, his  company  was  not  accepted,  the 
members  joining  other  companies  to  fill  up 
the  regiment;  in  1862,  he  visited  the  Un- 
ion Hospitals  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  find- 
ing a  wide  field  for  labor  in  the  interest  of 
the  soldiers  of  Illinois,  he  decided  to  re- 
main there  and  labor  in  behalf  of  the  same  ; 
he  immediately  entered  upon  this  noble  duty, 
laboring  for  the  relief  of  sufi"ering  patriots  of 
his  State  without  compensation  and  defray- 
ing his  own  expenses  for  three  months, 
when  the  hospital  was  visited  by  Dr.  W.  E. 
Fithian,  J.  L.  Tincher  and  Judge  Terry,  of 
Danville;  they  at  once  saw  the  amount  of  good 
being  accomplished  through  the  agency  of 
Mr.  Dunseth,  when  they  immediately  de- 
manded of  Gov.  Yates  that  Illinois  should 
have  a  State  Agent  to  look  after  our  suf- 
fering soldiers,  and  suggested  Mr.  Dun- 
seth as  a  suitable  person  to  fill  the  position. 
This  was  at  once  acted  upon,  and  he  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  State  Agent,  dat- 
ing from  the  time  he  first  came  to  the  hos- 
pitals. He  had  never  made  application  . 
for  the  above  position,  and  when  he  re- 
ceived his  commission,  it  was  much  of  a 
surprise  to  him.  The  writer  of  this 
sketch  has  seen  many  letters  to  Mr.  Dun- 
seth from  prominent  men,  both  in  civil  and 
military  life,  expressing  thanks  and  grati- 
tude to  him  for  the  noble  spirit  he  has^ 
shown  in  behalf  of  the  soldiers  of  the 
Union  army.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  Ik 
returned  to  Danville  and  engaged  in  rail- 
road bridging  in  Illinois  and  the  Southern 
States  until  1872,  when  he  removed  to 
Oakland,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  mar- 


EAST  OAKLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


565 


ried  Oct.  17,  1844,  to  Mary  Burnside, 
cousin  of  Gen.  A.  E.  Burnside  ;  she  was 
born  in  Kentucky  May  29,  1821  ;  they 
are  the  parents  of  five  children,  now  liv- 
ing, viz.,  Sarah  E.,  David  W.,  Charles  A., 
Alice  M.  and  James  H.  Mr.  Dunseth 
has  always  labored  in  behalf  of  Christian- 
ity and  temperance ;  was  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  Lodge  No.  2,  Sons  of  Temperance, 
at  Peoria,  111.,  and  has  been  a  brother 
Odd  Fellow  for  the  past  thirty-four 
years. 

THOMAS  H.  DUNCAN;  P.O.Oakland; 
born  in  Clark  Co.,  111.,  April  29,  1844, 
where  he  attended  school  and  engaged  in 
farming  until  August  1,  1862,  when  he 
enlisted  as  private  in  Co.  A  (Capt.  James 
B.  Hill),  of  the  123d  Regt.  I.  V.  I.,  and 
went  forward  to  battle  for  the  Union  ;  he 
first  went  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  then  march- 
ing South,  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of 
Prairieville,  Ky.,  Oct.  8,  1862,  going  then 
to  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  where  he  remained 
until  May,  1863,  when,  on  account  of  dis- 
ability, he  received  his  discharge,  and,  re- 
turning home,  engaged  in  farming  for  a 
short  time  ;  then,  after  attending  the  West- 
field  College  one  term,  he  engaged  as  clerk 
in  the  dry  goods  store  of  J.  M.  Miller,  at 
Charleston,  111.,  which  position  he  held  for 
nearly  two  years,  when,  on  account  of  ill- 
health,  he  returned  home,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  fall  of  1868,  when  he 
entered  the  college  at  Eureka,  111.,  where, 
after  attending  one  term,  he  worked  as 
clerk  in  the  stores  of  Kirkbride  and  Mar- 
cilleot,  at  Eureka,  during  the  summer,  and 
in  the  fall  again  entered  the  college,  but 
on  account  of  ill-health  was  unable  to  re- 
main but  a  short  time.  In  early  life,  he 
had  formed  a  determination  to  obtain  a 
collegiate  education,  and  his  lack  of  means 
only  tended  to  stimulate  his  energies  in 
that  direction,  and  to  obtain  the  means  to 
defray  his  expenses  while  attending  col- 
lege, he  employed  all  his  time,  Saturdays, 
mornings  and  evenings  clerking ;  this  la- 
bor, added  to  his  hard  study,  so  impaired 
health  that  he  was  obliged  to  give  up  his 
long  cherished  hope  of  graduating  from 
college  ;  he  then  returned  home  and  re- 
mained during  the  winter,  and  the  follow- 
ing spring  was  employed  as  clerk  for  Wil- 
son Bros.,  Charleston,  111.,  tor  six  months, 
when  he  engaged  dealing  in  pictures,  chro- 
mos,    etc.,    until    the    following    January, 


when  he  engaged  in  the  sewing-machine 
business,  which  he  followed  until  July  1, 
1873,  when  he  purchased  a  stock  of  goods 
and  located  in  Oakland,  where  he  has  since 
continued  to  live ;  he  was  described  to  the 
writer  as  being  the  tallest  man  in  Oakland, be- 
ing six  feet  five  and  one-half  inches  in  height, 
and  while  in  the  army  was  known  as  little 
Tommy  Duncan.  His  marriage  with  lone 
B.  Decker  was  celebrated  Nov.  28,  1872  ; 
she  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  March  17, 
1851  ;  they  have  two  children  by  this  un- 
ion, viz.,  Gertrude  Q.  and  Jacob  L.  Mrs. 
Duncan  is  the  daughter  of  Jacob  K.  Deck- 
er, one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Charles- 
ton, Coles  Co.,  111. 

JOHN  DOLLAR,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser;  P.  0.  Oakland  ;  born  in  Perthshire, 
Scotland,  July  1,  1807,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  until  33  years  of  age,  when  he 
emigrated  to  A.merica,  landing  in  New 
York  in  June,  1840,  coming  to  Chicago 
via  canal  and  lakes,  where  he  hired  a 
team  to  transport  him  to  Coles  Co.,  pay- 
ing for  the  same  the  sum  of  $40  ;  arriving 
here  in  July,  he  located  eighty  acres  of 
land  on  Section  2,  in  what  is  now  known 
as  East  Oakland  Tp.,  upon  which  he  com- 
menced to  make  improvements,  employing 
his  spare  time  for  several  years  in  ditching 
for  other  parties ;  he  located  upon  his 
present  place  in  1849,  which  contains  263 
acres,  and  upon  which  he  has  a  complete 
set  of  buildings  which  he  has  erected  since 
that  date  ;  he  also  owns  200  acres  of  land 
in  other  parts  of  the  county,  all  of  which 
he  has  secured  by  his  own  hard  labor ;  in 
the  fall  of  1842,  he  made  two  trips  to 
Chicago,  taking  up  wheat  which  he  sold 
at  64  cents  per  bushel,  receiving  his  pay 
in  leather,  salt  and  groceries ;  the  time 
consumed  on  each  trip  being  eighteen  days. 
Mr.  Dollar,  though  in  his  72d  year, 
is  in  possession  of  all  his  faculties  and 
daily  attends  to  the  feeding  and  care  of 
his  slock,  of  which  he  has  40  head  of  cat- 
tle, 7  horses,  100  hogs  and  30  sheep.  He 
married  in  Scotland  in  the  spring  of  1833, 
to  Margaret  Carmichael ;  she  was  born  in 
Perthshire,  Scotland,  and  died  April  23, 
1837,  leaving  one  child,  which  died  Aug. 
28,  of  the  same  year ;  his  marriage  with 
Mrs.  Sarah  Curtis  was  celebrated  April  8, 
1847  ;  she  was  the  daughter  of  .James  D. 
Hunt,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Coles 
Co.,   and   was   born   in   Clark   Co.,    Ohio, 


566 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES; 


Aug.  19,  1822;  they  have  four  children 
now  living  by  this  union,  viz.,  Margaret 
J.,  Nancy  Isabel,  Sarah  A.  and  Ralph  D. 
Mr.  Dollar  has  always  taken  a  deep  inter- 
est in  the  cause  of  religion  and  education, 
having  been  a  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  for  upward  of  thirty 
years ;  he  was  a  strong  Unionist  during 
the  late  war,  and  in  January,  1865,  his 
house  was  visited  by  a  band  of  despera- 
does in  the  night,  and  with  the  revolvers 
of  five  blackened  villains  presented  to  him- 
self and  family,  they  demanded  his  money, 
of  which  they  obtained  upward  of  $600 
and  made  away  with  their  spoils ;  four  of 
the  five  were  afterward  captured  and 
lodged  in  the  Jail  at  Charleston,  but  broke 
jail  and  all  escaped  the  penalty  of  their 
crimes.  Mr.  Dollar  lost  his  father  by 
death  in  September,  1840;  his  mother 
died  in  1846. 

N.  R.  DUER,  farmer  and  school-teach- 
er ;   P.  O.  Oakland ;  born  in  Fairfield  Co., 
Ohio,  May  13,    1832,  where  he  attended 
school  and  engaged  in  farming  until  he  at- 
tained  his  majority,  when  he  engaged   in 
school-teaching  one  year ;  he  then  entered 
the  Ohio  Wesleyan   University,  located  at 
Delaware,   which  he  attended  for  upward 
of  two  years  ;  he  then  engaged  in  farming 
and  school-teaching  in   Ohio,  until  1862, 
when  he  emigrated  to  Illinois  and   located 
in  Clark  Co..  where  he  followed  teaching 
and  farming  until   1 864,  when  he  located 
in  Coles  Co.,  and  engaged   in  teaching  in 
Oakland  one  year,  and   one  year  in   East 
Oakland  Tp. ;  he  then  returned  to  Clark 
Co.,  and  for  three  years  was  employed  in 
teaching  in  Clark   and  Cumberland   Cos. ; 
he    then    engaged  in    the    drug-trade,    at 
Farmington,  Coles  Co..  which  business  he 
followed  until  the   fall   of  1875,   when  he 
engaged  in   drug  trade  at  Oakland,  with 
N.    R.    Moore,   under  the    firm    name   of 
Duer  &  Moore,  which   business  continued 
until  March,  1878,  when  he  sold  his  inter- 
est and  again  resumed  farming  and  school- 
teaching.     He  married,  Aug.  14,  1861,  to 
Jane  Elder  :  she  was   born  in   Ohio  July 
19,  1838  ;  died  Oct.  5,  1862.   leaving  no 
children  ;  his  marriage  with  Celia  E.  Fer- 
guson was  celebrated  July  21.  1863  ;  she 
was  born  in  Clark  Co.   April  15,   1842 ; 
they  have  four  children  now  living  by  this 
union,    viz.,  Jane,   Charles  S.,  Alice  May 
and  Amelia  G. 


HUGH  DAUGHERTY,  farmer;  P.O. 
Oakland  ;  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  25, 
1830,  in  which  county  he  has  always  lived  ; 
he  is  the  son  of  John  Daugherty,  one  of 
the  earliest  pioneers  of  Illinois,  who  emi- 
grated from  North  Carolina  and  located  in 
Illinois  about  the  year  1828  ;  he  died 
about  the  year  1860,  in  East  Oakland  Tp., 
Coles  Co. ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  as- 
sisted his  father  farming  until  17  years  of 
age,  when  he  was  employed  as  farm  laborer 
for  two  years,  when  he  commenced  farm- 
ing, renting  for  a  period  of  five  years, 
when  he  purchased  forty  acres,  since  which 
time  he  has  farmed  his  own  land ;  he  now 
owns  eighty-seven  acres  on  Sec.  29  ;  when 
he  first  commenced  farming,  his  capital  con- 
sisted of  one  horse  and  two  cows,  and  he 
was  in  debt  about  S200  ;  his  first  tax  was 
50  cents.  He  married,  March  27,  1851. 
to  Matilda  Hite ;  she  was  born  in  Ohio 
Oct.  6,  1823;  she  died  Jan  2,  1872, 
leaving  five  children,  now  living — Sarah 
A.,  Andrew,  John  M.,  Mahalia  and  Ellen  ; 
his  marriai^e  with  Martha  E.  Burton  wa,H 
celebrated  Dec.  12,  1872  ;  she  was  born 
in  Fountain  Co.,  Ind.,  March  20,  1847  ; 
they  have  three  children  now  living — 
Hugh  F.,  Samuel  Wesley  and  James 
Calvin. 

JAMES    T.    EDSON,    Oakland,    pur- 
chasino;  a^ent  for  Illinois  of  Wm.  B.  Dick- 
son   &   Co.,   Indianapolis.    Ind. ;    born    in 
Iredell  Co.,  N.   C,  Jan.   15,   1841  ;    his 
parents    removed    to   Ohio   when    he  wa.s 
((uite    young,    where    he  attended    school 
during  the  winter,  and  worked  upon  the  farm 
during  the  summer,  until   1861,  when   he 
enlisted  in  the  14th  Ohio  V.  I.  for  three 
months,  after  which  he   enlisted  for   three 
years    in   the  38th  Ohio  V.  I.,  where  he 
served    nearly   three  years,    when    he   re- 
enlisted  in  the  38th  Ohio  Veteran  Regi- 
ment, in  which  he  served  during  the  war  ; 
he  took  part  in  nearly  all  the  severe  battles 
in  which  the  14th   Army  Corps  was  en- 
gaged, among  which    were    Mill    Springs, 
Stone    River,     Perryvillc,     Chickamauga, 
Missionary  Ridge  and   many  others,  and 
was  with  Sherman's  army  in  his  march  to 
the  sea  ;    he  was   mustered  out  with  his 
regiment  in  July,  1865,  at  Louisville,  Ky., 
when  he  engaged  in  farming  in  Ohio  sev- 
eral years,  until  1871,  when  he  located  in 
Oakland,  and  en-jcaged  in  buying  and  ship- 
ping lumber  to   Indianapolis,   which  busi- 


EAST  OAKLAND   TOWNSHIP. 


567 


ness  he  has  since  successfully  followed. 
His  mdrriage  with  Cordelia  Hickox  was 
celebrated  Jan.  25,  1876;  she  was  born 
in  Oakland,  Coles  Co.,  May  29,  1850;  her 
parents  were  amono;  the  early  settlers  of 
Illinois,  locatinji  in  Edgar  Co.,  in  1833. 

GEO.  GEYER,  fiirmer  ;  P.O.Kansas; 
born  in  Muskingum  Co.,  Ohio,  May  8, 
1832,  where  he  followed  farming  until 
1857,  when  he  removed  to  East  Oakland 
Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  111.,  and  located  upon  the 
old  Donica  farm,  where  he  commenced 
farming  with  a  capital  ot  $25  cash  and  a 
team  only  partly  paid  for  ;  he  immediately 
went  to  work  making  improvements, 
which  he  continued  until  January,  1863, 
when  he  sold  his  improvements  for  $500, 
and  purchased  his  present  place,  where  he 
has  since  Hved  ;  his  first  purchase  upon  his 
present  place  was  for  1 1 1  acres,  upon 
which  he  made  a  payment  of  $500,  leaving 
a  balance  of  $1,720,  to  be  made  in  pay- 
ments, which  he  met  promptly;  he  has 
since  added  to  the  same  until  his  home 
farm  now  contains  200  acres,  upon  which 
he  has  erected  as  fine  farm-buildings  as 
any  in  the  township ;  he  also  owns  about 
ten  acres  of  timber.  He  married  Jan.  5, 
185-4,  to  Mary  E.  Roberts;  she  was  born 
in  Muskingum  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  19,  1833  ; 
she  is  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Roberts, 
now  living  in  East  Oakland  Tp.;  they  have 
five  children  now  living,  having  lost  four 
by  death.  The  names  of  the  living  are 
Maranda  C,  Emma  R.,  Elizabeth  I.  A., 
Arietta  A.  and  William  F. 

PETER  GOBERT  farmer,  and  stock- 
raiser,  S.  19 ;  P.  0.  Oakland  ;  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Coles  Co.;  born  in  France  Oct.  17, 
1821,  where  he  attended  school  until  11 
years  of  age,when  he  emigrated  with  his  par- 
ents to  America,  landing  in  New  York  the 
spring  of  1832  ;  going  to  Bufi"alo,  he  assisted 
his  fiither  upon  a  farm  until  16  years  of  age, 
when  he  emigrated  West  in  the  spring, 
coming  by  way  of  the  lakes  to  Chicago, 
arriving  there  June  11,  1837;  coming 
directly  to  Coles  Co.,  they  located  in  what 
is  now  known  as  East  Oakland  Tp.,  before 
the  organization  of  the  same ;  here  he  en- 
gaged with  his  father  farming  until  1860, 
when  his  father  retired  from  active  labor, 
and  Mr.  Gobert  assumed  the  management 
of  the  farm  ;  he  owns  his  brick  residence, 
with  good  stables  and  other  buildings,  and 
upward   of  400  a?res  of  land,  all   under 


I  cultivation  except  twenty- five  acres  of  tim- 
ber. He  married,  June  8,  1843,  Melinda 
R.  Ashmore  ;  she  was  born  in  Kentucky 
March  22,  1824;  she  died  Feb.  21,  1861, 
leaving  five  children  now  living,  viz., 
Samuel,  Charles,  Louis,  La  Fayette,  Vir- 
ginia. His  marriage  with  Matilda  A. 
Roberts  was  celebrated  Oct.  17,  1861  ; 
she  was  born  in  Ohio,  June  26,  1835; 
they  have  four  children  now  living  by  this 
union,  viz.,  Ahce,  Thomas,  Napoleon, 
Frank.  Mr.  Gobert  drove  an  ox  team 
from  here  to  Chicago  in  1842,  taking  up 
apples  and  bring  back  groceries.  In  1844, 
he  drove  his  team  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  loaded 
with  chickens  and  turkeys — the  chickens 
selling  at  75  cents  and  the  turkeys  at  $3 
per  dozen. 

SOLOMON  HENDRIX,  stock  dealer  ; 
P.  0.  Oakland;  born  in  Champaign  Co., 
Ohio,  May  13,  1820,  where  he  attended 
school  during  his  youth  until  large  enough 
to  labor  upon  a  farm,  when  he  followed 
farming  for  his  father  until  he  attained  his 
majority,  when,  in  1842,  he  located  upon 
a  farm  of  eighty-six  acres,  all  heavy  tim- 
ber, where  he  lived  seven  years  and  suc- 
ceeded in  clearing  and  placing  under  culti- 
vation upward  of  sixty  acres,  the  first  year 
by  hard  labor  he  raised  eight  acres  of  corn 
and  potatoes  enough  for  his  family  use 
during  the  winter.  In  the  summer  of 
1850,  he  came  to  Illinois,  but  not  finding 
a  location  to  suit,  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and 
purchased  a  farm  of  160  acres,  which  he 
worked  for  three  years,  clearing  off"  upward 
of  seventy  acres  of  timber,  when  he  sold  his 
farm  and  purchased  the  old  homestead, 
living  there  until  1857,  when  he  emigrated 
West  and  located  in  Edgar  Co.,  purchas- 
ing 320  acres  of  land  six  miles  north  of 
Paris,  where  he  lived  until  the  spring  of 
4861,  when,  selling  his  farm,  he  engaged  in 
stock  raising  and  feeding  and  selling,  con- 
fining his  business  mostly  to  sheep,  which 
business  he  followed  until  1866;  at  the 
above  date  he  located  in  East  Oakland  Tp., 
and  engaged  in  fiirming  and  dealing  in 
stock,  which  business  he  followed  for  a 
period  of  eleven  years,  when  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Oakland,  where  he  has 
since  continued  to  live.  He  owns  his  resi- 
dence, and  is  interested  in  about  200 
acres  of  well-improved  and  timber  land. 
He  married  June  19,    1842,   to  Nancy  G. 

.  Wilson  ;  she  was  born  in    Pennsylvania  in 


568 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


1823;  died  March  5,  186G,  leavinj^  seven 
children,  viz.,  William  T.,  Mary  E.,  Lucy 
E.,  Charles,  John  E.,  Joseph  and  Alice  M. 
His  marriage  with  Melvina  Berry  was 
celebrated  Dec.  11,  1866;  she  was  born  in 
Clark  Co.,  111.,  May  U,  1834;  they  have 
one  child  by  this  union — Raymond  Hen- 
drix.  Mrs.  Hendrix's  father  and  mother 
are  among  the  early  settlers  of  Clark  Co., 
locating  there  at  a  very  early  date,  about 
1829  or  1830  ;  she  has  one  child  by  her 
previous  husband — Amelia  Berry. 

WILLIAM  HUNT,  farmer  and  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  Oakland ;  born  in  Coles 
Co.,  Ill,  Feb.  11,  1845,  upon  the  place 
where  be  has  since  continued  to  live  ;  he 
is  the  son  of  James  D.  Hunt,  who  located 
in  Coles  Co.,  previous  to  1838,  where  he 
died  July  3,  1856  ;  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  continued  upon  the  old  homestead, 
and  attended  school  and  assisted  in  farm- 
ing, until  the  decease  of  his  mother,  which 
occurred  July  3,  1865 ;  after  which  he 
purchased  the  interest  of  a  portion  of 
the  other  heirs,  and  continued  farm- 
ing upon  the  old  place  upon  his  own 
account,  which  business  he  has  since 
successfully  followed ;  he  owns  110 
acres  upon  his  home  farm,  upon  which 
he  has  erected  good  farm-buildings.  He 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  in  the  spring  of  1877,  for  a  term  of 
four  years,  which  office  he  now  holds.  He 
married  March  3,  1864,  to  Susan  E. 
Handley ;  she  was  born  in  Clark  Co.,  111., 
Aug.  22,  1848  ;  her  parents  were  among 
the  early  pioneers  of  Illinois ;  they  have 
five  children  now  living  by  this  union — 
Justin  H.,  born  Feb.  11,  1867,  Ruth  T., 
born  Sept.  24,  1872,  Luviee  B.,  born  July 
2, 1874,  Sherman  W.,born  June  10,  1876  ; 
Alvira  L.,  born  Oct.  2,  1877. 

MERRILL  F.  HACKETT,  retired 
farmer  ;  P.  0.  Oakland  ;  born  in  Lexington, 
Fayette  Co.,  Ky.,  Sept.  10,  1821  ;  he  re- 
moved with  his  parents,  when  8  years  of 
age,  and  located  in  Springfield,  Sangamon 
Co.,  111.,  where  he  learned  and  worked  at  the 
trade  of  brickmason  until  1841,  at  which 
time  he  removed  to  Charleston,  Coles  Co., 
and  engaged  at  his  trade  and  farming  and 
stock-raising  until  1 856  ;  he  then  removed 
to  the  northern  part  of  Coles  Co.,  where 
he  followed  farming  and  stock-raising  un- 
til 1875,  when  he  purchased  his  present 
place  of  about  thirty  acres,  upon  which  he 


has  a  fine  residence,  and  removed  to  Oak- 
land, where  he  has  since  continued  to  live  ; 
he  also  owns  G13  acres  of  land  in  Douglas 
Co.,  which  he  has  rented.  He  married 
Jan.  22,  1867,  Elizabeth  J.  Sargent;  she 
was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  March  22, 
1839;  her  parents  were  among  the  early 
pioneers  of  Coles  Co.,  locating  in  1830  ; 
they  have  four  children  by  this  union — 
Snowden  S.,  Gennella  C,  Lora  E.  and 
Florence  M. 

WILLIAM  HOLLIS,  retired  farmer  ; 
P.  0.  Oakland;  born  in  Essex  Co.,  Del., 
Jan.  18,  1800,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  25  years  of  age,  when  he  emi- 
grated West,  and  located  in  Pickaway  Co., 
Ohio,  and  engaged  in  farming  until  1845, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in 
Pldgar  Co.,  where  he  followed  farming  for 
a  period  of  thirty  years ;  in  1875,  he  pur- 
chased his  present  residence  in  Oakland, 
where  he  has  since  lived,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  short  time,  which  he  lived  upon 
his  farm  ;  he  also  owns  a  farm  of  160  acres, 
upon  which  are  good  buildings,  the  same 
being  now  managed  by  his  son  George. 
His  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Lane  was  cele- 
brated April  28,  1825  ;  she  was  born  in 
Essex  Co.,  Del.,  Aug.  28,  1800;  they 
have  five  children  now  living,  having  lost 
the  same  number  by  death  ;  the  names  of 
the  living  are  George,  Catharine,  Henry, 
Erastus  and  Mary  Ann.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hol- 
lis  are  the  oldest  couple  now  living  in  Oak- 
land, Mr.  H.  being  79  years  of  age  and 
Mrs.  H.  lacking  but  a  few  months  of  the 
same  age ;  their  marriage  was  celebrated 
fifty-four  years  ago. 

GEORGE  F.  HACKETT,  farmer,  S. 
18  ;  P.  0.  Oakland ;  born  in  Scott 
Co.,  Ky.,  Aug.  27,  1827:  he  emi- 
grated with  his  parents,  in  the  fall 
of  1834,  to  Illinois,  and  located  in 
Coles  Co.,  where  he  attended  school  during 
the  winter,  and  a.ssisted  his  father  farming 
during  the  summer,  until  18  years  of  age, 
when  he  w^orked  by  the  month  during  the 
summer  driving  cattle  from  Coles  Co.  to 
Wisconsin,  and  attending  school  during 
the  winter  for  four  years ;  in  1850,  he 
he  drove  an  ox-team,  overland,  to  Califor- 
nia, going  via  the  old  Oregon  route,  by 
Fort  Hall,  arriving  in  Wearville,  Aug. 
26,  of  the  same  year,  being  on  -the  road 
six  months  and  twelve  days,  leaving  St.  Joe, 
Mo.,    May    14 ;  he    traveled  2,200  miles 


EAST  OAKLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


569 


without  seeing  a  house  or  habitation,  save 
three  forts,  which  were  occupied  by  United 
States  soldiers ;  he  then  went    directly  to 
the  mines,     where    he    followed   mining,   i 
meeting  with   fair  success,    for  two  and  a 
half  years  ;  when  he  came  home,  by  steam- 
er, via    New  York,  arriving    at  Oakland, 
April  16,  1853,  having  been  gone  for  up- 
ward   of  three  y<>ars ;  he  then  engaged  in 
farming  five  miles  from  Oakland,  which  he 
followed   until  1 858,  when   he  purchased 
his  present  place,  where  he  has  since  lived 
for    a  period  of  upward  of  twenty  years. 
He  married  March  9,  1854,  to  Edna  Pem- 
berton  ;  she  was  born  in  Virginia  Feb.  8, 
1826 ;  they  have  four  children  now  living — ■ 
Fred    S.,  Anzonett  M.,  William   E.    and 
Greorge  W.      Mrs.  Hackett  is  the  youngest 
daughter  of  Stanton  Pemberton,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Coles  Co.,  locating  here  in  1831. 
L.  M.  HUDSON,  farmer.  Sec.  29  ;   P. 
O.   Oakland;  born  in   Carter  Co.,  Tenn., 
Sept.  5,  1809,   where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until    24  years    of  age,  when   he    re- 
moved to  Jessamine  Co.,  Ky.,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming   until  1851,  when  he 
removed  to  East  Oakland  Tp.,  Coles  Co., 
111.,  and  purchased  200  acres,  upon  which 
he  has  since   continued  to    live,   during  a 
period  of  twenty-eight  years ;  he  has  since 
added  by  purchase  until  he  now  owns  320 
acres,  upon  which   he   has  good    buildings 
erected  by  himself;  at  the  time  of  his  locat- 
ing here,  corn  was  worth  but  six  cents  per 
bushel    and   pork    $2    per  hundred.     He 
was    married    Oct.    23,  1833,  to   Sophia 
Rader  ;  she  was  born  in  Virginia  July  22, 
1808  ;  she  died  Feb.  13, 1866,  leaving  five 
children    now    living — Lemuel,  Minervia, 
Jesse,   John  and  Mary  Jane.     His  mar- 
riage with  Delilah  J.  Rutherford  was  cele- 
braiei    Sept.    15,  1866  ;  she  was   born  in 
Dubois  Co.,    Ind.,    Dec.    6,    1836 ;  they 
have    no    children    by    this    union.      Mr. 
Hudson    has    filled    the  office   of  School 
Director  four  years  in  his  district,  and  Road 
Commissioner  the  same  length  of  time. 

WM.  HENDERSON,  blacksmith,  Oak- 
land; born  in  Gurnsey  Co.,Ohio,  Sept  25, 
1831,  where  he  learned  and  worked  at  the 
blacksmith  trade  until  the  fall  of  1858, 
when  he  emigrated  West  and  located  in 
Lawrence  Co.,  111.,  where  he  followed  his 
trade  until  1862,  when  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  the  60th  I.  V.  T.,  and  went  for- 
ward to  battle  for  the   Union  ;  he  served 


with  his  regiment  one  year,  when  he  was 
detailed  as  blacksmith  in  the  Quartermas- 
ter's Department  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1865, 
when  he  returned  and  worked  at  his  trade 
at  Marion,  111.,  and  Terre  Haute,  Ind., 
until  August,  1866,  when  he  located  in 
Charleston  and  worked  at  his  trade  until 
June,  1872,  when  he  removed  to  Oakland, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  He  is  President 
of  the  National  Christian  Temperance 
Union,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  for  the 
noble  stand  he  has  taken  in  the  cause  of 
temperance  ;  he  was  elected  Chairman  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Oakland  at  the 
last  municipal  election,  which  office  he  now 
holds.  His  marriage  with  Ellen  Eaglan 
was  celebrated  March  27,  1871;  she  was 
born  in  Virginia  June  2,  1835  ;  they  have 
four  children  now  living  by  this  union,  viz., 
Francis,  John,  Edward  and  William. 

LEWIS  KEES,    merchant,    Oakland; 
born  in  Preble  Co.,  Ohio,  April  10,  1843, 
where  he  attended  school  until  16  years  of 
age,  when  he  emigrated  West  and    located 
in  Embarrass  Tp.,  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  where  he 
engaged    in    farming    until    July,    1862, 
when  he  enlisted  in  the  70th  I.  V.  I.  for 
three  months ;  he  was  sent  to  Camp   But- 
ler, Sprinacfield,  where   he   remained    two 
\  months  guardmg  prisoners,   then  to  Alton 
for    two     months    performing    the   same 
duty  ;  he  was  in  the  service  four  months 
*  and  was  mustered  out  with  his  regiment  in 
November,  1862.   He  then  returned  to  his 
farm,  which  he   worked  until  1874,   when 
he  engaged  in   the  grocery  trade  at  Isabel 
one  year,  when  his  store  and  stock  being 
consumed  by  fire,  he   met  with   a   loss  of 
i  nearly  $2,000,  upon  which  he  had  no  in- 
surance ;  he  then  purchased  a  farm  of  160 
acres,     which    he    worked  until  May    1, 
1878,    when   he  exchanged   a  portion  of 
[  the  same  for  a  stock  of  goods  at  Oakland, 
since  which  time  he  has  added  largely  to 
tlie  same,  until  he  now  has  a  full  and  com - 
!  plete  stock  of  dry  goods,    clothing,   boots 
and  shoes,  hats  and  caps,  notions,  etc. ;  his 
business  card  will  be  found  in  the  business 
directory  of  Oakland,  in  another   part  of 
I  this  work.     He  married   Aug.   29,   1863, 
Mary  Ann  Housel ;  she  was  born  in  Edgar 
Co.    Sept.    20,  1845;    her    parents    were 
among  the  early    pioneers   of  Edgar  Co.; 
she  died  Jan.  28,  1868,  leaving  one  child, 
i  —Sarah  J.,  born  July  4,  1865. 


570 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


R.  F.  LARIMER,  merchant,  Oakland; 
born  in  Scioto  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  27,  1838, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  16 
years  of  age,  when,  coming  West,  he  located 
in  Embarrass  Tp.,  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  and 
engaged  in  farming  until  1856,  when  he 
went  to  Kansas  for  six  months ;  returning 
to  Edgar  Co.,  he  purchased  one-half  inter- 
est in  a  saw  and  flour  mill,  which  he  ran 
until  Sept.  10,  18G1,  when  he  enlisted  as 
private  for  three  years  in  the  66th  I.  V.  I.; 
this  regiment  was  composed  of  picked  men 
from  the  various  Northwestern  States,  for 
their  skill  and  accuracy  in  handling  the 
rifle ;  while  this  regiment  was  credited  to 
Illinois,  it  was  known  in  the  army  as  the 
Western  Sharpshooters;  in  tlie  marches 
they  always  ltd  the  advance,  and  when 
engaged  in  battle,  were  detailed  in  squads 
to  pick  ofl^  rebel  gunners,  and  many  a  rebel 
battery  has  been  silenced  by  the  unerring 
aim  of  this  regiment;  he  was  in  many  se- 
vere battles,  among  which  was  Mt.  Zion, 
Ft.  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Resaca, 
Lay's  Ferry,  where  the  regiment,  being  in 
the  advance,  fought  its  way  for  eightmiles, 
the  regiment  suS"ering  severely  in  killed 
and  wounded ;  he  was  next  engaged  at 
Rome  Cross  Roads,  Dallas,  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  at  which  place  among  the 
killed  was  a  younger  brother ;  he  was  with 
the  army  during  the  siege  and  capture  of 
Atlanta,  after  which,  having  served  one 
month  above  his  term  of  enlistment,  he  was 
mustered  out  of  service ;  he  then  returned 
to  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  where  he  bought  a  saw 
and  flour  mill,  which  he  ran  until  1868, 
when,  selling  his  mill,  he  purchased  one- 
half  interest  in  a  saw-mil!  near  Charleston, 
which  he  ran  until  1872,  when  he  sold  out 
and  located  at  Oakland  in  the  drug  trade, 
which  he  followed  until  1876  ;  in  1877,  he 
engaged  in  his  present  business,  which  he 
has  since  successfully  followed.  While 
looking  after  the  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Corinth,  he  was  made  prisoner  by  a  squad 
of  six  rebels,  and,  while  they  were  taking 
him  tu  their  camp,  a  squad  of  union  calvary 
came  upon  them  and  captured  his  captors, 
taking  them  back  to  the  Union  camp. 

JOHN  R.LAWSON,  lumber  and  build- 
ing materials,  Oakland  ;  born  in  Portsmouth, 
Scioto  Co.,  Ohio,  June  3,  1847,  where  he 
attended  school  constantly  until  21  years 
of  age,  the  last  five  years  at  the  Ports- 
mouth Normal  School ;  at  the  above  age, 


he  engaged  in  bo(jk-keeping  for  the  Ports- 
mouth Foundry  Co.,  which  position  he 
filled  for  two  years  ;  then,  in  1871,  he 
came  West  and  engaged  in  book-keeping 
for  Lawson  &  Burt,  at  Tuscola,  Douglas 
Co.,  for  two  years,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  time,  he  came  to  Oakland,  Coles 
Co.,  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade, 
dealing  in  lumber  of  all  kinds,  paints,  coal, 
lime,  cement,  plaster,  sash,  doors  and 
blinds,  etc.,  etc.  His  marriage  with  Alice 
M.  Cash  was  celebrated  April  16,  1874; 
she  was  born  in  Oakland  Dec.  31,  1854; 
she  was  the  daughter  of  S.  M.  Cash,  one 
of  the  pioneer  merchants  of  Oakland,  Coles 
Co.,  111.  Mr.  Lawson  holds  the  office  of 
Town  Trustee. 

WM.  LAND,  farmer,  Sec.  2;  P.  0. 
Oakland  ;  born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  111., 
Jan.  19,  1839 ;  at  7  years  of  age,  his  par- 
ents both  died,  their  death  occurring 
within  a  period  of  four  days ;  at  tbeir 
decease,  he  came  to  Coles  Co.,  111.,  and, 
until  15  years  of  age,  worked  at  difl'erent 
places  for  his  living ;  when  he  worked  for 
three  years  by  the  month  ;  then  rented 
land,  and  engaged  in  farming  for  himself 
for  about  four  years,  in  Ashmore  Tp.,  and 
in  1862,  enlisted  in  tlie  123d  regiment, 
I.  V.  I.,  in  which  he  served  his  country 
until  he  received  his  discharge  in  May, 
1865,  a  large  part  of  which  time  he  was 
detailed  to  do  post  duty,  the  last  two  years 
being  at  Nashville,  Tenn. ;  after  his  dis- 
charge, he  went  to  Missouri,  where  he  re- 
mained one  winter,  when  he  returned  to 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  and,  again  renting  land, 
continued  farming  until  1876,  when  he 
purchased  his  present  place  of  eighty 
acres,  upon  which  he  removed,  and  where 
he  has  since  lived.  He  married  in  Sep- 
tember, 1859,  to  Emily  Sublette  ;  she  died 
December,  1865,  leaving  two  children,  viz. 
— Peter  B.  and  Lucinda.  His  marriage 
with  Lucinda  Milner  was  celebrated  Sept. 
22,  1868  ;  she  was  born  in  Vermilion 
Co.,  111.,  Dec.  17,  1843;  they  have  three 
children  now  living  by  this  union,  viz., 
Rebecca  A.,  born  Dec.  5,  1869 ;  Malinda 
M.,  Dec.  19,  1870;  Charles  W.,  June  23, 
1878,  and  one  deceased. 

THOMAS  J.  MOCK,  fiirmer  and  Con- 
stable, Sec.  25  ;  P.  0.  Oakland ;  born  in 
Hocking  Co.,  Ohio,  March  22,  1845, 
where  he  lived  until  1854,  when  he  re- 
moved with  his  parents   to  Coles  Co.,  111., 


I 


EAST  OAKLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


571 


where  he  lived  uutil  Aug.  1,  1862,  when 
he  eulisted  at  the  age  of  17  years  in  Co. 
A,  123d  I.  V.  I.,  and  at  once  went  into 
camp  at  Mattoon,  where  they  remained 
until  Sept.  6,  when  they  were  mustered  in 
and  at  once  sent  to  the  front,  going  to 
Louisville,  they  joined  the  army  of  Gen. 
Buell,  which  had  been  defeated  and  driven 
to  that  point  by  the  army  under  the  rebel 
Gen.  Bragg;  marching  South,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  battle  of  Perryville  Oct.  8 ; 
then  to  Mumfordsville,  where,  being  pros- 
trated by  sickness,  he  was  sent  to  the 
hospital  at  Louisville,  remaining  four 
weeks,  at  which  time,  Morgan  having  got 
in  the  rear  of  the  Union  army,  he  volun- 
teered in  a  convalescent  regiment,  and  went 
out  guarding  bridges,  etc. ;  returning  to 
Louisville,  he  was  forwarded  to  his  regi- 
ment at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  where  he 
arrived  January,  1863,  and  performed 
scout  duty  until  spring,  being  in  many 
severe  engagements ;  they  were  then 
formed  into  a  cavalry  regiment,  armed  with 
Spencer  seven-shooter  rifles,  and  attached 
to  Wilder's  Brigade,  which  was  afterward 
noted  for  the  good  fighting  qualities, 
daring  and  courage  of  its  officers  and  men, 
being  nearly  always  in  advance  upon  any 
im])ortant  engagements  of  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee ;  in  the  spring,  they  led  the  ad- 
vance in  the  two-days  fight  at  Hoover's 
Gap,  where,  after  getting  the  rebels  fairly 
engaged,  made  their  way  to  the  rear  of  the 
rebel  army,  and,  after  cutting  off  their 
supplies  and  communications  and  destroy- 
ing their  railroad  depots  and  cars  and  tear- 
ing up  the  railroad,  etc.,  returned  to  help 
the  Union  army  to  win  the  battle  ;  they 
then  went  across  the  mountains  to  Chat- 
tanooga, where  they  were  engaged  for  nine- 
teen days  skirmishing  with  the  rebels, 
previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  balance  of 
the  Union  army,  and  upon  its  arrival,  the 
above  place  was  captured  without  a  battle ; 
following  this,  was  the  battle  of  Cliick- 
amauga,  in  which  the  brigade  suffered 
severely  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners, 
and,  after  the  defeat,  covered  the  retreat 
of  the  Union  army  to  Chattanooga ;  Mr. 
Mock  expressed  himself  to  the  writer  as  its 
being  the  first  time  he  had  even  un- 
consciously been  whipped  ;  they  were  then 
placed  on  duty  guarding  fords,  etc. ;  while 
performing  this  duty,  the  rebel  Gen. 
Wheeler   crossed    above  them  to  destroy 


their  communications,  when  they  followed 
them  for  two  weeks,  fighting  continually, 
and,  upon  reaching  Farmington,  had  a 
severe  fight,  in  which  his  regiment  suffered 
severely  in  killed  and  wounded,  among  the 
former  being  their  Colonel ;  after  this,  he 
went  to  Maysville,  Ala.,  where  his  regi- 
ment was  detailed  in  squads  as  scouts, 
which  duty  he  performed  until  the  close  of 
the  war ;  he  expressed  himself  as  beins 
pleased  with  this  arduous  and  dangerous 
duty,  preferring  it  to  the  monotony  of  camp 
life  ;  after  being  engaged  in  the  seige  and 
capture  of  Atlanta,  their  horses  were 
turned  over  to  Kilpatriik,  and  they  went 
to  Louisville,  drew  firesh  horses,  and,  early 
in  the  winter  of  1864,  went  to  Graverly 
Springs,  Ala.,  where  they  were  organized 
in  a  corps  of  cavalry  under  Gen.  Wilson ; 
going  South,  skirmishing  daily,  until 
reaching  Selma,  at  which  place,  after  the 
4th  United  States  Regulars  had  made  a. 
charge  and  been  driven  back,  this  brigade 
were  dismounted  and  made  the  charge, 
when,  after  severe  fighting,  they  captured 
the  fortifications,  in  which  they  suffered  se- 
verely, some  of  their  men  being  killed  upoQ 
the  breastworks;  they  continued  south 
until  reaching  Macon,  which  place  they 
captured  ;  when  hearing  of  the  surrender 
of  Johnson  and  his  army,  he  was  detailed 
in  command  of  a  force  and  sent  out  to 
capture  Jeff  Davis,  traveling  day  and  night 
for  four  days  ;  he  heard  of  the  capture  of 
the  rebel  chief  when  within  less  than 
thirty  miles  of  his  camp  ;  he  then  returned 
to  Macon,  where  he  was  again  detailed 
with  one  other  to  learn  the  location  of  a. 
band  of  rebels,  who  were  collecting  horses, 
mules,  wagons  and  other  articles  to  take 
further  south  ;  he  made  their  camp,  took 
supper  with  them,  and,  after  satisfying 
them  he  was  no  spy  by  his  papers  as 
paroled  prisoner  of  a  rebel  guerrilla  force, 
he  made  his  way  back  to  camp,  and  at 
daylight  the  whole  force  was  captured  ;  he 
was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  and  received  his  discharge  at  Spring- 
field, 111.,  July  10,  1865,  having  been  in. 
the  Union  army  nearly  three  years  ;  re- 
turning home,  when  he  followed  farming 
until  1867,  when  he  again  engaged  in  the 
United  States  service,  going  with  the  army 
through  some  of  the  Western  Territories 
as  far  as  Ft.  Union,  New  Mexico,  having 
charge    of   Government  stores.       He    re- 


512 


BIuGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES; 


moved  upon  his  present  place  in  1871, 
where  he  has  since  continued  to  live,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  months'  prospecting 
in  Nebraska  during  the  year  of  1873. 
He  married  Dec.  1,  1868,  Nancy  J.  Dol- 
lar; she  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  March 
31,  1850  ;  they  have  three  children  now 
living  by  this  union — John  T.,  Sarah  E.. 
and  Ralph  ;  Mrs.  Mock  is  a  dau2;hter  of 
John  Dollar,  whose  biography  appears  in 
this  work,  is  one  of  the  settlers  of  Coles 
€o. 

NALLIE  R.  MOORK,  druggist,  Oak- 
land ;  born  in  Morgan  Co.,  Ind.,  Aug.  -1, 
1854,  where  he  attended  school  until  11 
years  of  age,  when  he  removed  to  Mat- 
toon,  Coles  Co.,  111.,  where  he  attended 
school  until  20  years  of  age,  the  last  three 
years  devoting  his  time  to  the  study  of 
geometry,  physiology,  and  the  other  high- 
er branches  of  education  ;  having  devoted 
his  spare  time  when  out  of  school  for  the 
last  eight  years  in  his  father's  drug  store, 
he  now  engaged  in  the  same,  where  he  was 
employed,  compounding  drugs,  preparing 
prescriptions,  etc.,  until  May,  1876,  when 
he  associated  with  N.  R.  Duer,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  drug  business  at  Oakland,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Duer  &  Moore,  con- 
tinuing the  same  until  March,  1878,  when 
lie  bought  his  partner's  interest  and  asso- 
ciated with  his  father,  which  business  he 
has  since  continued  under  the  firm  name 
of  C.  Moore  &  Son  ;  having  been  thor- 
oughly educated  in  the  drug  trade,  parties 
having  prescriptions  to  be  filled,  may  feel 
assured  that  the  same,  when  prepared  by 
Mr.  Moore,  will  be  put  up  by  a  competent 
and  careful  druggist.  A  card  of  his  busi- 
ness will  be  found  in  the  business  directory 
of  Oakland  in  another  part  of  this  work. 

GIDEON  MINOR,  farmer;  P.O.Oak- 
land; born  in  Brown  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  16, 
1818;  he  emigrated  with  his  parents  to 
Kentucky  at  4  years  of  age,  where  he  at- 
tended school  and  engaged  in  farming  un- 
til 14  years  of  age,  when  he  emigrated  to 
East  Oakland  Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  in  May,  1832; 
his  father  purchased  120  acres  of  land  in 
the  timber,  and  after  clearing  the  timber 
during  the  summer,  died  in  the  following 
fall  ;  the  duty  of  raanagin<>;  the  farm  then 
fell  upon  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who 
worked  it  until  1844,  when  his  mother 
disposed  of  the  above  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  prairie,  and  the  following 


year  her  decease  occurred ;  Mr.  Minor 
purchased  his  present  place  in  the  spring 
of  1864,  which  contains  160  acres,  and 
where  he  has  since  lived.  His  marriage 
with  Nancy  Powers  was  celebrated  Nov. 
25,  1847;  she  was  born  in  Butler  Co., 
Ohio,  Aug.  30,  1830;  she  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  D.  B.  Powers,  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  this  county,  and  whose  biography 
appears  in  this  work ;  they  have  one  child 
by  this  union — George  A.  Minor,  born 
April  3,  1849.  Mr.  Minor  has  held  va- 
rious township  offices,  and  at  present  holds 
the  office  of  Township  Collector. 

W.  J.  PEAK,  physician,  surgeon  and 
druggist,  Oakland;  born  in  Warsaw,  Gal- 
latin Co.,  Ky.,  April  3,  1836,  where  he 
devoted  his  whole  attention  to  his  studies 
until  he  attained  his  majority,  the  last  four 
years  exclusively  to  the  study  of  medicine, 
graduating  from  the  St.  Louis  Medical 
College  in  the  winter  of  1860  ;  he  imme- 
diately commenced  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine at  Warsaw,  Ky.,  for  a  short  time, 
when,  in  the  spring  of  1861,  he  located  in 
Johnson  Co.,  Mo.;  during  the  summer, 
and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  went 
to  Texas,  where  he  was  placed,  from  force 
of  circumstances,  in  charge  of  the  rebel 
hospitals  at  Ozark  and  St.  Francisville, 
Ark.,  where  he  remained  until  the  spring 
of  1862,  when  he  was  appointed  Assistant 
Surgeon  in  the  Union  hospitals  at  Fayette- 
ville.  Ark.,  where  he  remained  one  year, 
when  he  received  the  appointment  of  Sur- 
geon of  the  14th  Regiment,  Kansas  Cav-^ 
airy,  which  position  he  held  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  being  mustered  out  of 
the  service  at  Lawrence,  Kan.,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1865;  he  then  returned  to  Johnson 
Co.,  Mo.,  where  he  remained  a  short  time, 
when  he  removed  to  Coles  Co.,  111.,  and 
located  in  Morgan  Tp.  in  the  winter  of 
1866.  where  he  followed  his  profession  until 
1876,  when  he  removed  to  Oakland,  and 
engaged  in  the  drug  trade,  still  giving  liia 
whole  time  and  attention  to  his  very  ex- 
tensive practice  which  ho  has  built  up  in  this 
and  adjoining  counties,  his  drug  store  be- 
ing in  charge  of  a  very  careful  druggist. 
His  marriage  with  Mary  Burr  was  cele- 
brated Dec.  2,  1869  ;  she  was  born  in  Mo- 
mence,  Kankakee  Co.,  111.,  Aug.  6,  1852; 
they  have  one  child  by  this  union — Maud, 
born  Nov.  19,  1871.  Mr.  Peake  has  tak- 
en a  deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  educa- 


EAST  OAKLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


573 


tion.  having  filled  the  office  of  School  Di- 
rector for  several  terms ;  contributes  lib- 
erally to  the  churches,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Wabash  Valley  Esculapian  Society. 

WILLIAM  PARKER,  deceased  farm- 
er ;  born  in  Staffordshire,  England,  1802, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  1835, 
when  he  emigrated  to  America  with  his 
wife,  landing  in  New  York  Feb.  2,  of  the 
same  year,  coming  directly  West ;  they  lo- 
cated upon  a  farm  four  miles  from  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  where  they  followed  farming 
until  1840,  at  which  date  they  removed  to 
Edgar  Co.,  111.,  where  they  engaged  in 
farming  until  1855,  when,  on  account  of 
ill-health,  Mr.  Parker  retired  from  active 
labor,  and,  selling  his  farm,  removed  to 
Oakland,  111.,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  the  fall  of  1862. 
Their  marriage  was  celebrated  Nov.  17, 
1834;  Mrs.  Parker's  maiden  name  was 
Hannah  Huslow ;  she  was  born  in  Staf- 
fordshire, England,  May  1,  1814;  she 
still  lives  in  the  brick  house  built  by  her 
husband,  and  occupied  by  them  during  his 
lift.  Mrs.  Parker  was  quite  well  acquainted 
with  President  Harrison,  he  having  dined 
with  them  upon  several  occasions  previous  to 
his  election  to  the  highest  office  of  the  nation. 

WILLIAM  R.  PARKER,  deceased 
farmer;  born  in  Anderson  Co.,  Ky.,  March 
27,  1823 ;  he  emigrated  with  his  parents 
to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Edgar  Co.,  in 
1828,  where  he  lived  until  18  years  of  age, 
when  he  went  to  St.  Clair,  Co.,  111.,  and 
engaged  in  farming  two  years,  then  to 
Minnesota,  where  he  followed  logging, 
rafting  and  milling  for  three  years  ;  return- 
ing to  Illinois,  he,  with  his  brother,  worked 
at  blacksmithing  one  year,  when,  in  1848, 
he  engaged  in  farming  in  Edgar  Co., 
which  business  he  followed  until  1854, 
when  he  removed  to  Coles  Co.,  and  rented 
land,  which  he  worked  until  he  purchased 
the  old  homestead,  where  he  located  in 
1865,  and  lived  until  his  decease,  which 
occurred  Feb.  14,  1873,  at  which  time  he 
owned  165  acres,  upon  which  he  had  good 
buildings,  and  which  he  had  accumulated 
by  his  own  hard  labor,  in  which  he  was 
nobly  assisted  by  his  wife,  who  survives 
him,  and  who  continues  to  live  upon  the 
old  farm  with  the  most  of  the  family  ; 
they  have  since  added  to  the  farm,  until 
it  now  contains  about  two  hundred  and 
forty    acres  of  prairie    and    timber     land. 


He  married  July  15,  1848,  to  Rebecca 
Clark ;  she  was  born  in  Kentucky  Sept.  3, 
1822 ;  she  emigrated  with  her  parents  and 
located  in  Coles  Co.  in  1828;  they  have 
seven  children  now  living  by  this  union — 
Francis  M.,  Harvey  B.,  John  F.,  George 
W.,  Narcissa  R.,  Charles  J.  and  MoUie 
L.  Mrs.  Parker  remembers  vividly  when 
coming  to  Illinois  ;  upon  arriving  at  Grand 
View,  the  joy  of  the  settlers  at  that  point, 
was  so  great  at  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Parker 
and  family,  that  they  turned  out  and  es- 
corted them  to  where  they  first  located, 
upon  the  farm  which  is  now  occupied  by 
Mr.  Thomas  Roberts. 

J.  J.  PEMBERTON, retired  merchant, 
Oakland ;  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
Coles  Co.  ;  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Va., 
Dee.  5,  1814,  where  he  attended  school  in 
winter,  and  assisted  his  father  farming  in 
summer,  until  17  years  of  age,  when  he 
emigrated  West  and  located  in  East  Oak- 
land Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  111.,  in  1831,  in  which 
township  he  has  since  lived,  for  a  period  of 
nearly  half  a  century;  from  1831  to 
1838,  he  was  engaged  in  farming,  when 
he  removed  to  Oakland  and  engaged  in 
hotel-keoping  four  years,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  time  he  engaged  in  the  gen- 
eral merchandise  trade,  at  Oakland,  which 
business  he  followed  until  1875,  when  he 
retired  from  the  above  business,  at  which 
time  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
which  office  he  now  holds.  He  held  the 
office  of  Postmaster  at  Oakland  for  several 
years ;  he  was  appointed  assistant  revenue 
officer  for  this  district  under  the  adminis- 
tration of  President  Lincoln,  the  position 
at  the  time  being  attended  with  much 
danger,  from  the  feelins;  manifested  in 
some  localities  to  resist  the  execution  of 
the  law  taxing  incomes  ;  his  friends,  who 
were  numerous,  often  cautioned  and  tried 
to  dissuade  him  from  attempting  to  exe- 
cute the  law  in  localities  where  the  worst 
element  prevailed,  but  he  knew  no  fear 
where  duty  called  him,  and  performed  the 
same  fearlessly  until  the  expiration  of  his 
term.  He  owns  his  residence,  office  and  six 
acres  of  land  in  Oakland,  with  a  large 
store,  which  is  rented,  also  500  acres  df 
land  under  fence,  and  nearly  all  of  which 
is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  His 
marriage  with  Clarinda  Davis  was  cele- 
brated April  8,  1838;  she  was  born  near 
Norfolk,  Va.,  Jan.  9,  1816. 


674 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


H.  A.  PEMBP:RT0N,  farmer,  Sec. 
IS  ;  P.  0.  Oakland  ;  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Coles'  County;  born  in  Washin<iton  Co.,  Va., 
Aug.  22,  1822;  he  emigrated  with  his 
parents  when  cjuite  young,  and  located  in 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  ia  November  1831,  upon  the 
place  where  he  has  since  lived  during  the 
a  period  of  nearly  half  a  century ;  he  is 
the  youngest  son  of  Stanton  and  Sarah 
Pemberton  ;  his  father  died  in  1838 ; 
seven  years  after  his  settlement  here,  and 
his  mother  died  in  1850;  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  he  and  an  older  brother 
managed  the  place  until  1800;  at  which 
time  his  brother  died  without  family,  and 
Mr.  P.  became  possessor  of  the  old  home- 
stead where  he  now  lives.  He  owns  240 
acres  of  land  mostly  under  a  good  state  of 
cultivation,  which  he  has  assisted  to  re- 
claim from  its  wild  prairie  condition.  He 
married  Nov.  14,  1850,  to  Elizabeth  Hicks  ; 
she  was  born  in  Indiana  June  21,  1830. 
They  have  three  children  by  this  union — 
Sally  S.,  Jackson  J.,  Stanton  C  ;  Mr.  Pem- 
berton has  been  School  Director  for  upward 
of  thirty  years,  and  has  held  the  office  of 
Eoad  Commissioner  for  the  last  three 
years  in  the  Township  in  which  he  lives. 

JAMES  H.  PIERSON,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser;  P.  O.  Oakland;  born  in 
Warren  Co.,  Ohio,  April  6,  1847,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  until  Feb.  15, 1863, 
when,  at  the  age  of  15  years,  he  enlisted  as 
private  in  Co.  A,  1 2th  Ohio  V.  I.,  and  went 
forward  to  battle  for  the  Union  ;  he  was  in 
many  hard-fought  battles,  among  which  were 
South  Mountain,  Antietam,  2d  Bull  Run, 
Winchester,  Cedar  Creek,  Lynchburg  and 
was  with  the  1 6th  Army  Corps  under  Gen, 
Hunter  in  front  of  Richmond  ;  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Winchester,  he  was  wounded  and 
sent  to  the  hospital  for  two  months ;  at  the 
battle  of  South  Mountain  a  ball  passed 
through  his  blouse  ;  at  the  battle  of  Lynch- 
burg, a  shot  struck  and  carried  away  his 
canteen  ;  while  scaling  a  stone  wall  upon 
the  retreat  of  the  Union  army  at  the  bat- 
tie  of  Winchester,  a  solid  shot  struck  the 
wall  beneath  him,  which  demolished  the 
wall,  broke  the  stock  of  his  gun  into  atoms, 
and  stunned  and  bruised  him  badly  by  the 
fulling  stones  ;  a  companion  seeing  this  in- 
cident and  supposing  him  killed,  so  re- 
ported to  his  folks,  under  which  impression 
they  labored  until  his  return  at  the  close 
of  the  war  ;  he  was  mustered  out  of  service 


'  with  his  regiment  in  August,  1 865,  at  Cleve- 
j  land,  Ohio.  After  remaining  in  Ohio  a  short 
:  time  he  emigrated  to  Edgar  Co.,  111., 
i  where  he  arrived  with  a  capital  of  75 
cents ;  he  immediately  commenced 
work  in  a  saw-mill  at  ^1.25  per  day, 
which  business  he  followed  for  several 
years  ;  he  removed  upon  his  present  place 
in  1870,  where  he  owns  160  acres  of  land 
under  cultivation;  116  head  of  cattle,  up- 
ward of  100  hogs,  120  head  of  sheep,  and 
j  18  head  of  horses  and  mules,  which  he  has 
accumulated  by  hard  labor,  energy  and 
industry,  being  nobly  assisted  by  the  aid 
of  his  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  May 
18,  1870  ;  her  maiden  name  was  Susan  S. 
Brodie;  she  was  born  in  Arena,  Wis.,  Jan. 
6,  1848 ;  they  have  four  children  now  liv- 
ing by  this  union,  viz.,  Ollie  M.,  Flora  B., 
Jackson  and  William  S.  ;  at  the  time  of 
his  marriage,  he  had  neither  money  to  pro- 
cure the  license  nor  defray  the  expense  of 
the  ceremony,  the  same  being  advanced 
by  his  employer,  Mr.  R.  F.  Larimer,  a 
prominent  merchant  of  Oakland,  who  has 
nobly  rendered  him  assistance  at  different 
times,  and  of  whom  he  speaks  in  terms  of 
the  highest  praise. 

DANIEL  B.  POWERS,  retired  farmer ; 
P.  0.  Oakland  ;  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  Coles  Co ;  born  in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio, 
July  1,  1807,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  1836,  when  he  emigrated  West 
and  located  in  Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade  for 
about  eighteen  months,  when  he  sold  his 
interest  in  the  store  and  removed  to  East 
Oakland  Township  in  March,  1838,  whore 
he  purchased  180  acres  of  land,  where  he 
has  since  lived  during  a  period  of  forty 
years  ;  he  has  upon  his  old  farm  upon  which 
he  lives,  a  fine  brick  residence,  which  he 
erected  in  1846,  making  the  brick  himself 
upon  his  own  fai'm.  He  married  Sep- 
tember, 1828,  to  Maria  Hun nels  ;  she  was 
born  in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio  ;  she  died  April 
17,  1861,  leaving  four  children — Jonatlian 
W.,  Nancy,  John  and  Levi ;  his  marriage 
with  Phoebe  Bates  was  celebrated  Aug. 
29,  1861  ;  she  was  born  in  Ohio  July  25, 
1817  ;  Mr.  Powers  has  held  the  office  of 
Justice  of  the  Peace  four  years,  and  Town 
Collector  two  years  in  the  Township  in 
which  he  lives. 

S.    A.   REEL,  physician   and  surgeon, 
farmer,  stock-raiser  and    dealer  in  stock, 


EAST  OAKLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


575 


Oakland ;  born  in  Gibson  Co.,  Ind.,  May 
3,  1829,  where  he  attended  school  and 
engaged  in  farming  until  18  years  of  age, 
when  he  taught  school  and  studied 
medicine  for  two  years  in  Missouri  and 
Arkansas,  when  he  cut  a  raft  of  lumber, 
which  he  took  down  the  Mississippi  | 
River  to  New  Orleans,  and,  after  dispos- 
ing of  the  same,  he  returned  to  Indiana, 
then  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  attended  i 
the  Eclectic  Medical  School  one  term ;  in 
the  fall  of  1852,  he  located  in  Pleasant 
Grove  Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  111.,  where  he  re-  ' 
mained  until  1855,  being  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile trade  and  studying  medicine ; 
he  then  engaged  for  two  and  a  half 
years  farming  in  Hickory  and  Okaw 
Tps.  ;  when  selling  out,  he  removed 
to  Iowa,  living  there  six  months,  when  he 
returned  to  Cumberland  Co.,  111.,  where  he  i 
engaged  in  the  merchandise  trade  and 
milling  for  six  months,  then  to  Indiana, 
where  he  remained  until  August,  1861, 
when  he  enlisted  as  private  in  the  58th 
[nd.  V.  I.,  serving  as  private  two  months, 
when  he  was  detailed  as  Steward  in  the 
Union  hospitals  until  the  following  year, 
when,  on  account  of  ill-health,  he  received 
his  discharge.  He  then  located  in  Douglas 
Co.,  111.,  in  1863,  and  has  since  successfully 
followed  the  practice  of  medicine ;  he 
erected  his  fine  residence  in  Oakland  in 
1868;  he  also  owns  2'^0  acres  of  land,  a 
part  of  which  lies  within  the  corporation 
limits.  He  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in 
political  matters,  first  as  an  Old-Line 
Whig,  supporting  the  Republican  party 
from  its  organization  until  1876,  when  he 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  Greenback  party, 
and,  in  1878,  received  the  nomination 
from  the  above  party  as  representative  to 
the  State  Legislature  for  the  Thirty-second 
Illinois  District  and  made  the  canvass,  but 
was  defeated.  He  married  May  19,  1853, 
Eliza  Adams ;  she  was  born  in  Coles 
Co.,  111.,  April  22,1836,  her  parents  being 
among  the  early  settlers,  locating  in  1830  ; 
they  have  five  children  by  this  union — 
John  F.,  Kate  Iowa,  Lida,  Lena  Maud 
and  William  E. 

JOHN  RUTHERFORD,  Cashier  of 
the  Oakland  National  Bank,  Oakland ; 
born  in  Oakland,  Coles  Co.,  111.,  June  21, 
1844,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
attending  school  until  February,  1867, 
when  he  engaged  in   the  dry  goods  trade 


with  J.  J.  Pemberton,  which  business  he 
followed  until  1872;  he  was  then  em- 
ployed as  book-keeper  for  the  banking  firm 
of  L.  D.  Carter  &  Co.,  which  position  he 
held  until  Aug.  1,  1874,  at  which  time 
the  National  Bank  of  Oakland  was  formed 
and  he  was  chosen  Cashier,  which  position 
he  has  since  held ;  he  was  made  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Oakland  Lodge,  No.  219,  A., 
F.  &  A.  M.,  in  1869 ;  was  made  a  R.  A. 
M.  of  Kansas  Chapter,  No.  125,  in  1870  ; 
in  1871,  he  was  made  a  Knight  Templar 
and  joined  the  Palestine  Commandery,  No. 
27,  at  Paris;  he  was  the  1st  Chancellor 
Commander  of  the  Orion  Lodge,  No.  74, 
K.  P.,  which  was  organized  in  1874,  and 
of  which  he  was  a  charter  member. 

D.  A.  RICE,  station  agent,  telegraph 
operator  and  grain-dealer,  Oakland ;  born 
in  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  4,  1847, 
where  he  lived  until  9  years  of  age,  when 
he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Pickaway 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  commenced  the  study 
of  telegraphy,  living  there  three  years ; 
then  to  New  Lexington,  where  he  lived 
two  years,  the  last  year,  having  charge  of 
the  telegraph  ofiice  at  that  place  ;  he  lived 
in  Ohio  and  engaged  in  telegraphing  until 
1870,  when  he  removed  to  Illinois  and 
located  at  Effingham,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged at  telegraphing  for  a  short  time, 
when  he  changed  to  another  station  and 
was  employed  by  that  line  for  three  years  ; 
he  then  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  telegraphing  until  1876,  when 
he  came  to  Oakland  and  took  charge  of 
this  ofiice,  which  he  has  since  operated. 
He  was  married  July  12,  1868,  to  Alice 
J.  Hughes ;  she  was  born  in  Hamilton 
Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  6,  1852  ;  they  have  two 
children  now  living  by  this  union — Eva, 
born  Dec.  9,  1870,  and  Wilber,  born  Jan. 
6,  1872. 

THOMAS  ROBERTS,  farmer;  P  0. 
Oakland;  was  born  in  Loudoun  Co.,  Va., 
Oct.  12,  1802,  where  he  lived  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  1830,  when  he 
emigrated  to  Muskingum  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
engaged  in  farming  until  1860,  at  which 
date  he  removed  to  Illinois  and  located 
upon  his  present  place  in  East  Oakland  Tp., 
Coles  Co.,  where  he  lias  since  lived  and 
followed  farming.  He  married  Feb.  7, 
1828,  to  Alice  Mock  ;  she  was  born  in 
Virginia  Nov.  8,  1808;  they  have  nine 
children   now   living,  having  lost  three  by 


676 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


death  ;  the  names  of  the  living  are  Mary 
E.  (now  Mrs.  George  Geyer),  Matilda 
(now  Mrs.  Peter  Gobert),  William  H., 
Caroline  (^now  Mrs.  James  W.  Titus), 
Castaria  (now  Mrs.  Frank  Taylor),  Isaac 
N.,  Jane  (now  Mrs.  F.  M.  Parker),  John 
D.  and  Sherman  W. ;  the  names  of  the 
deceased  are  Jacob,  and  two  which  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roberts  have 
taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  re- 
ligion, having  been  active  members  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  since  1833,  for  a  period  of 
forty-six  years.  Their  married  life  extends 
over  a  ceriod  of  half  a  century. 

W.  H.  ROBERTS,  farmer,  Sec.  9,  T. 
13,  R.  U  W.;  P.  0.  Kansas  ;  born  in  Mus- 
kingum Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  17, 184U,  where  he 
followed  farming  until  20  years  of  age,  when 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois  with  his  parents, 
and  located  in  East  Oakland  Tp.,  Coles  Co., 
on  Sec.  6,  where  his  father,  Thomas  Rob- 
erts, now  lives  ;  here  he  assisted  his  father 
farming  until  Aug.  8,  1862,  when  he  en- 
listed in  the  79th  T.  V.  I.,  and  went  for- 
ward to  battle  for  the  Union  ;  going  to 
Louisville,  Ky.,  he  joined  the  army  of 
Gen.  Buell,  who  had  been  driven  back  by 
the  rebel  army  under  Gen.  Bragg;  moving 
south,  his  first  severe  engagement  was  at 
Stone  River,  where  the  regiment  suffered 
severely  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners, 
he  being  wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  but 
was  paroled  on  the  field  and  placed  in  the 
Union  hospital  for  two  months,  then  to 
the  Louisville  hospital  seven  weeks,  when 
he  was  sent  to  his  regiment,  at  Murfrees- 
boro,  Tenn.;  from  there  to  St.  Louis,  and, 
upon  being  exchanged,  he  joined  his  regi- 
•  ment  at  Chattanooga  ;  he  was  afterward 
engaged  in  the  following  severe  battles  : 
Buzzard  Roost,  Resaca  and  Allatoona ;  he 
was  with  Sherman's  army  until  after  the 
capture  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  when  he  was  sent 
to  Tennessee,  where,  at  the  battle  of 
Franklin,  the  rebels  being  defeated,  he  was 
sent  to  Decatur,  Ala.,  guarding  the  river 
for  several  weeks,  then  to  East  Tennessee, 
via  Chattanooga,  where,  after  scouting  sev- 
eral weeks,  they  were  sent  to  Nashville 
and  mustered  out  of  service,  then  to 
Springfield,  111.,  where  he  received  his  dis- 
charge June  23,  1865,  having  been  in 
service  three  years,  lacking  six  weeks.  He 
then  returned  to  Coles  Co.,  111.,  and  as- 
sisted his  father  farming  until  the  follow- 
ing spring,  when  he  rented  a  farm,  which 


he  worked  one  year,  when  be  moved  upon 
his  present  place,  which  he  rented  until 
1870,  when  he  purchased  ninety-seven 
acres,  and  has  since  farmed  his  own  land. 
He  married  April  24,  1866,  to  Mary 
Reeds;  she  was  born  in  Edgar  Co.  Feb. 
20,  1844;  she  is  the  daughter  of  J.  W. 
Reeds,  who  located  in  Illinois  in  1831  ; 
they  have  two  children  now  living  by  this 
union,  viz.,  Arminta  A.,  born  Dec.  28, 
1868,  and  James  B.,  born  July  6,  1875. 

SHERMAN  W.  ROBERTS,  farmer  ; 
P.  O.  Oakland  ;  born  in  Muskingum  Co., 
Ohio,  Jan.  11,  1852;  he  attended  school 
here  until  9  years  of  age,  when  he  emi- 
grated with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  lo- 
cated in  East  Oakland  Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  in 
September,  1860  (his  father  at  that  time 
purchasing  upward  of  two  hundred  acres 
upon  Sec.  6,  where  he  still  resides) ;  he 
attended  school  here  during  the  winter 
and  assisted  his  father  farming  io  the  sum- 
mer, until  he  attained  his  majority ;  he 
then  engaged  in  farming  a  part  of  his 
father's  farm  on  shares  for  three  years, 
when  he  bought  100  acres  where  he  now 
lives,  and  located  upon  his  present  place 
in  1876  ;  he  also  owns  ten  acres  of  tim- 
ber, his  home  farm  being  all  under  fence 
and  cultivation.  He  married  March  26, 
1874,  to  Sarah  A.  Dollar,  daughter  of 
John  and  Sarah  Dollar,  who  are  among  the 
early  pioneers  of  Coles  Co..  and  whose 
biography  appears  in  this  work  ;  she  wa^ 
born  in  Coles  Co.,  111..  Nov.  1,  1852  : 
they  have  two  children  by  this  union — 
Sarah  N.,  born  Nov.  5,  1875,  and  Lillie 
A.,  born  Nov.  22,  1877. 

HIRAM  RUTHERFORD,  retired 
physician  and  surgeon,  Oakland';  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Coles  Co.;  was 
born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Penu.,  Dec.  27, 1815; 
his  great-grandfather  emigrated  from  Ire- 
land in  1729,  and  settled  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Penn.,  upon  a  branch  of  the  Susquehanna, 
where,  with  his  wife,  he  lived  until  1755. 
when  he  removed  to  Great  Limestone 
Springs,  two  miles  east  of  where  the  city 
of  Harrisburg  now  stands,  and  near  which 
place  a  large  portion  of  his  descendants 
now  live ;  this  grand  old  patriarch  died 
100  years  ago,  and  lies  buried  in  the  Pax- 
ton  Church-yard,  the  oldest  burial-place  in 
that  country.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  the  eighth  member  of  his  father's 
family ;   he  was  raised  to  heavy  farm  labor. 


EAST  OAKLAND   TOWNSHIP. 


577 


and  at  the  age  of  18,  he  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine  with  an  older 
brother,  an  eminent  physician  of  Harris- 
burg,  and  graduated  from  the  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  in  the 
spring  of  1838  ;  with  $10,  a  horse,  saddle 
and  bridle,  he  set  out  to  seek  his  fortune ; 
his  first  location  was  at  Millersburg,  Penn.; 
in  the  latter  days  of  18-10,  he  emigrated 
to  Illinois,  and  located  at  Oakland,  Coles 
Co.,  where  he  has  since  resided  ;  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  in  a  new  country  is  a 
work  of  great  labor,  when  the  calls  are 
numerous  and  the  extent  of  territory 
covered,  as  in  this  case,  embraced  half  a 
degree  of  latitude  and  longitude  ;  the  roads 
at  that  time,  in  this  "  Ambraw  "  country 
were  mere  deer-paths,  and  the  streams 
were  allowed  to  flow  on  their  winding 
to  the  sea,  unvexed  by  bridges  or  ferries, 
except  such  of  the  latter  as  a  dug-out 
canoe  afforded  ;  canoe  ferriage,  now  one  of 
the  lost  arts,  was  then  a  distinguished  occu- 
pation in  high-water  times ;  the  traveler  led 
his  stripped  horse  in  the  water  on  the  upper 
side  of  the  canoe,  taking  for  himself  and  sad- 
dle a  position  mid- way  between  the  bow  and 
stern;  the  ferryman,  seated  on  the  stern, 
paddle  in  hand,  sent  the  unsteady  craft 
across  the  stream,  carefully  keeping  pace 
with  the  swimming  horse ;  the  small 
streams  had  to  be  forded,  in  which  case  a 
high  horse  was  a  valuable  help,  but  not 
unfrequently  a  glorious  ducking  was  the 
result  of  such  necessary  adventures.  The 
Doctor  has  been  married  twice,  and  has 
eight  children  living — two  girls  and  six 
boys.  He  has  now,  from  advancing  years, 
retired  from  the  practice  of  medicine,  and 
enjoys,  perhaps,  as  well  as  any  other  man, 
the  fruits  of  a  well  S})ent  and  prosperous 
life.  Of  petty  local  public  honors,  he  has 
had  his  full  share  ;  village,  town  and  school 
trusts  have  been  his  in  plenty,  seldom 
holding  less  than  two  ofiices  at  a  time;  as 
School  Treasurer,  he  has  held  and  success- 
fully managed  the  funds  of  Township  14,  R. 
10,  for  twenty-seven  years  ;  as  Supervisor, 
he  has  represented  East  Oakland  on  the 
(bounty  Board  many  years ;  further,  with 
a  conscience  void  of  offense,  he  trusts, 
with  Grod's  help  as  a  heritage  to  his  chil- 
dren, to  at  last  go  down  to  the  dark  valley 
like  unto  his  fathers  before  him,  without 
a  blot  or  stain ;  neither  a  great  nor  re- 
markable man,  but  one  whom  his  cotem- 


poraries   will    probably  admit    was   not    a 
failure  and  did  not  live  in  vain. 

S.  C.  SWINFORD,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  Sec.  7  ;  P.  0.  Oakland  ;  born  in 
Harrison  Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  4,  1825,  where  he 
attended  school  until  13  years  of  age,  when 
he  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Putnam 
Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  engaged  upon  his 
father's  farm  until  1844,  at  which  time  he 
engaged  for  two  years  farming  on  shares, 
and  early  in  the  winter  of  1847,  employed 
a  team  to  transport  himself,  family  and 
such  goods  as  he  was  possessed  of  to  Illi- 
nois, where  he  arrived  upon  the  17th  of 
February,  1847,  having  paid  out  his  last 
dollar  to  defray  expenses  on  the  trip,  his 
only  capital  then  being  an  old  blind  horse 
and  two  colts  ;  with  this  capital  he  com- 
menced farming,  renting  of  Robert  Gra- 
ham what  land  he  could  work  with  one 
team,  in  what  is  now  known  as  Ashmore 
Tp. ;  in  the  spring,  he  walked  back  to 
Indiana,  and  obtained  of  his  father  the 
loan  of  a  wild  horse,  which  he  worked  to 
get  in  his  crop,  when  he  returned  the  same 
well  broke,  and  for  four  years  was  obliged 
to  splice  teams  to  put  in  his  crop  ;  the  sec- 
ond year,  he  rented  a  farm  in  what  is  now 
known  as  Oakland  Tp.,  near  where  he  now 
lives,  and  in  this  neighborhood  rented  land 
until  1855,  since  which  time  he  has  had 
all  the  land  of  his  own  he  could  work  ;  in 
1852,  he  purchased  thirty  acres  of  prairie 
land,  upon  which  he  then  removed,  and 
where  he  has  since  continued  to  live  dur- 
ing a  period  of  twenty-seven  years  ;  he  has 
added  to  the  same  by  purchase  as  he  has 
been  able,  until  his  home  farm  now  con- 
tains 200  acres,  upon  which  he  has  erected 
good  buildings  ;  he  also  owns  upward  of 
600  acres  in  other  parts  of  the  county ; 
upon  commencing  housekeeping,  he  had 
neither  table,  chairs  nor  bedstead ;  his 
household  goods  consisted  of  a  feather  bed 
and  some  dishes  ;  his  first  bedstead,  fur 
which  he  paid  twenty-five  cents,  being  car- 
ried home,  a  distance  of  one  mile,  upon 
his  back.  He  married  Dec.  2,  1844,  to 
Mary  A.  Rush  ;  she  was  born  in  Tennes- 
see Oct.  31,  1824  ;  they  have  eight  chil- 
dren now  living,  having  lost  three  by 
death ;  the  names  of  the  living  are  Cole- 
man T.,  Francis  M.,  Henry,  James  M., 
John  W.,  George  R.,  Sarah  E.  and  Thomas 
J.  Mr.  Swinford  was  first  Assessor  of 
East  Oakland    Tp.,  which    office    he    has 


578 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


filled  for  several  terms,  as  well  as  the  office 
of  School  Director  and  Trustee. 

W.  H.  SWINFORD,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Oakland;  born  in  Putnam  Co.,  Ind.,  Aug. 
20,  1844,  where  he  followed  forming  until 
1871,  when  he  removed  to  Illinois  and 
located  in  Hickory  Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  until  1875,  when 
he  purcbased  sixty  acres  of  prairie  land  in 
East  Oakland  Tp.,  upon  which  he 
settled,  and  where  he  has  since  lived ;  he 
also  owns  forty  acres  in  Hickory  Tp.,  upon 
which  he  has  erected  good,  comfortable 
farm  buildings.  He  married  Nov.  10, 
1867,  to  Mary  A.  Cole  ;  she  was  born  in 
Putnam  Co.,  Ind.,  Jan.  12,  1846  ;  she  is 
a  sister  of  Richard  Cole,  whose  biography 
appears  in  this  work  ;  they  have  three  chil- 
dren now  living  by  this  union,  viz., 
Arthur  D.,  James  Matthew  and  William 
Theodore. 

N.  P.  SMITH,  dealer  in  books,  station-  ! 
ery,  etc.,  Oakland ;  born  in  Delaware  Co.,   ' 
Ohio,  Jan.    6,    1847,    where  he  attended 
school  until  16  years  of  age,  when  he  re-  | 
moved  to  Pickaway  Co.,  where  he  attended 
school  one  year  ;  he  then  attended  at  Dela- 
ware City,  where  he  entered  the  Wesleyan 
University,   where  he    remained  eighteen 
months  ;  in  1866,  he  located  in  Shelby  Co., 
111.,  and  for  five  years  engaged  from  four  to 
six  months  during  the  fall  and  winter  in 
teaching  school,    and    the  balance  of  the 
season  farming  and  dealing  in  farm  imple- 
ments and  machinery;  he  then  engaged  in 
the  book  and  stationery  trade   at  Shelby-   ' 
ville    with  T.  E.  Lapham  for  a  short  time,   | 
when,  in  1873,  he  located  at   Oakland  in   j 
the  above  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  I 
Lapham    &    Smith,    continuing  the  same 
for  six  months,  when  he  purchased  the  in- 
terest of  his  partner,  since  which  time  he 
has    continued    the    business    alone ;     his 
business  card  will  be  found  in  the  business 
directory  of  Oakland,  in   another   part    of 
this   work.     His  marriage  with    Minerva 
(iollogher  was  celebrated  Sept.  30,    1869  ; 
she  was  born  in  Shelby  Co.,  111.,   Sept.  9, 
1847  ;  they  have  four  children  now  living 
by    this    union,    viz.,     Orrin   L.,    Jennie, 
Edith  and  Lucy. 

W.  0.  SMITH,  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 
also  proprietor  and  superintendent  of 
Smith's  flour,  feed  and  saw  mills  ;  P.  0. 
Oakland;  born  in  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio, 
Oct.  8,  1824,   where  he  followed  farming 


until  25  years  of  age,  when  in  1849  he 
removed  West,  and  located  in  Coles  Co.,  111., 
purchasing  140  acres  of  land,  where  he 
lived  until  1869,  when  he  removed  to  Oak- 
land and  purchased  the  .steam  flour  and 
saw  mill,  which  business  he  has  since 
followed  ;  he  owns  his  mill  and  four  houses 
and  lots  in  Oakland,  besides  upward  of  700 
acres  of  land  in  Coles  and  Douglas  Counties, 
mostly  under  cultivation.  He  married 
Aug.  3,  1843,  Kezia  Chance;  she  was 
born  Oct.  19,  1821  ;  she  died  July  9, 
1872,  at  Oakland,  leaving  four  children 
now  living — John  P.,  Benjamin  F.,  Mary 
E.,  Theresa  ;  his  marriage  with  Mrs.  Mary 
E.  Ashmore  was  celebrated  Jan.  6,  1876  ; 
she  was  the  widow  of  George  W.  Ashmore, 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Coles  Co.  ; 
she  has  one  son  by  her  former  husband, 
Charles  C;  Mrs.  Smith  was  born  in  Ohio, 
March  30,  1830.  Mr.  Smith  has  filled 
the  office  of  School  Director  for  fourteen 
years  in  succession. 

L.  C.  THORNTON,  farm  implements, 
Postmaster,  Oakland ;  on€i  of  the  pioneers 
of  Edgar  Co.,  111. ;  born  in  Washington 
Co.,  Ind.,  Dec.  15,  1825 ;  he  removed 
with  his  parents  in  1829,  being  then  4 
years  of  age,  and  located  in  Edgar  Co., 
111.,  where  he  attended  school,  and  engaged 
in  farming  until  Sept.  10,  1861,  when  he 
enlisted  as  private  in  Co.  E,  66th  I.  V. 
I ;  this  regiment  was  composed  of  picked 
men  from  the  various  Northwestern  States, 
selected  for  their  skill  and  accuracy  in 
handling  the  rifle;  the  66th  was  known 
in  the  army  as  the  Western  Sharp-shooters, 
and  was  generally  thrown  out  in  the  ad- 
vance upon  any  important  engagement,  and 
was  often  detailed  in  squads  to  pick  ott" 
the  rebel  gunners;  Mr.  T.  served  as  private 
for  twenty-three  months,  when  he  was 
promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  then  to 
First  Lieutenant,  then  to  Captain,  which 
commission  he  held  at  the  close  of  the  war ; 
he  was  with  Sherman's  army  in  his  march 
to  Atlanta,  as  well  as  the  siege  and  capture 
of  the  same;  he  then  made  the  march 
through  Georgia  to  the  sea,  spending  the 
Christmas  of  1864  at  Savannah,  Georgia; 
he  then  made  the  march  north  through 
South  and  North  Carolina,  during  whicii 
they  had  many  severe  battles,  until  they 
reached  Morrisville  Station.  N.  C,  when 
his  regiment  was  selected  as  the  advance 
guard  of  Gen.  Sherman  when  he  went  out 


EAST  OAKLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


679 


to  receive  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Johnston; 
he  then   continued  his  march  through    to 
Washington,    when,    after    the   review   of 
the  army,  he  went  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  then  to 
Springfield,  111.,  where  the  regiment  was 
mustered  out  of  service ;  Capt. Thornton  was 
in  the   Union  army  three  years  and  ten 
months,  and  while  he  escaped  unhurt  he 
had  many  narrow  escapes,  both  of  his  life 
as   well  as  being  taken  prisoner  ;  in  one  en- 
gagement the  regiment  lost  thirteen  commis- 
sioned officers  ;  at  the  left  of  Atlanta,  he  re- 
ceived seven  bullets  through  his  blouse,  two 
through  his  pants,  one  through  his  under- 
clothing, and  two  struck  the  scabbard  of 
his  sword,  one   of  which  broke  the  same ; 
at  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  his  regi- 
ment was  detailed  in  squads  to  pick  off  the 
rebel  gunners  ;  while  performing  this  duty, 
a  shell  burst  between  him  and  another  com- 
missioned officer,  which  knocked  him  down 
and  nearly  buried  him  with  sand  ;  he  was 
once  sent   out  with  ten  men  and  returned 
alone,  the  others  being  taken  prisoners  ;  he 
owes  his  escape  at  this  time  to  his  presence 
of  mind  ;  as  the  rebels  advanced  up»n  him 
he  made  a  stand  behind  a  fence  and  com- 
menced firing  to  alarm  the  Union  camp, 
which  so  alarmed  the  rebels  that  they   re- 
treated with    their  other  prisoners,  and  he 
made   his    way  back   to   the  camp  of  the 
Union  army.  After  receiving  his  discharge, 
he  located  at  Ashmore,  Coles  Co.,  111.,  in 
the  lumber  business,  where  he  remained 
until  1871,  when   he  removed  to  Oakland 
and  engaged  in  the  above  business,  which 
he  has  since  followed  ;  he  received  his  ap- 
pointment as  Postmaster  in  December,  1871, 
which  office  he  has  since  held.     His  mar- 
riage -with  Annie  M.  Cox  was  celebrated 
Feb.  29,  1872;  she  was  born  in  Ashmore, 
her  parents  locating  there  in  1832;  they 
have    three    children   now   living  by  this 
union,  Mary  A.,  Annie  L.,  and  an  infant, 
W.    J.   TEMPLES,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser;   P.   0.    Oakland;  born  in   Monroe 
Co.,   Ind.,   March   6,  1841,  where  he  en- 
gaged in   farming    and    attending   school 
until  he  attained  his  majority,  when    he 
continued    farming    in   Indiana  until  the 
latter  part  of  the  year  of  1863,  when  he 
removed   to   Illinois,  and  located  upon  his 
present  place  on   Jan.   1,  1864,  where  he 
has  near  200  acres  of  laud  all  under  fence 
and  cultivation.     Mr.   Temple   arrived  in 
this  township  without  means,  and  during 


the  winter  cut  upward  of  20,000  rails 
under  contract,  and  the  following  spring 
commenced  farming  on  shares  for  one  sea- 
son, and  the  following  spring  removed 
upon  his  present  place,  where  he  had  pre- 
viously bought  forty  acres,  and  to  which 
he  has  since  added  by  the  fruits  of  his 
hard  labor,  in  which  his  wife  has  nobly  as- 
sisted him,  until  he  now  owns  nearly  200 
acres,  upon  which  he  has  good  buildings. 
He  married  March  15,  1866,  to  Susan 
Jones ;  she  was  born  in  Champaign  Co., 
Ohio,  March  16,  1847;  they  have  three 
children  living  by  this  union — Andrew  J., 
John  H.  and  William  A.  Mrs.  Temples 
lost  three  brothers,  fighting  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  Union;  George  W.  Jones, 
killed  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  the  others, 
William  A.  and  Robert  Jones,  both  died 
in  hospital  from  disease  contracted  in  the 
army,  all  of  the  above  belonging  to  Illinois 
regiments. 

JEREMIAH  TITUS,  farmer,  Sec.  6 ;  P. 
0.  Oakland ;  born  in  Loudoun  Co.,Va.,  Sept. 
13,   1810,  where    he   remained  with   his 
father,  Tunis  Titus,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  he  attained  his  majority,  and, 
for  the  first  few  years,   worked  at  $5  per 
month,  after  which  he  hired  by  the  year 
for  $100  per  year,  which  was  the  highest 
wages  he  received  until  30  years  of  age, 
at  which  time  he  rented  land  and  engaged 
in  farming  until  1855,  when  he  removed 
to    Muskingum     Co.,    Ohio,    and    rented 
land  until  1860,   when   he  came  to  Coles 
Co.,  111.,  by  team  in  company  with  Thomas 
Roberts,    and   located    upon    his    present 
place,  where  he  has  since  continued  to  live. 
He  owns  106  acres  upon  his  home  farm, 
which  he  has  made  by  his  own  hard  labor 
energy  and  industry,  in  which  he  has  been 
nobly  assisted  by  his  wife  ;  Mr.   Titus  is 
now  in  his   60tli  year  and,  although  ex- 
posed to  all  the  hardships  and  privations 
of  frontier  life,  is  now  in  possession  of  all 
his  faculties,  and  continues  in  good  health  ; 
in  1872,  he  sufi'ered  the  amputation  of  his 
right  arm,  since  which   time  he  has  not 
been  able  to  attend  to  all  the  duties  of  his 
farm ;  is  yet  able  to   saw  the  wood  and 
attend   to  most  of  the  light   la.bor.     He 
married,   Oct.  2,    1837,   to   Susan   Good- 
heart;  she  was  born  in  Loudoun  Co.,  Va., 
Jan.   6,   1817 ;    they  have  four  children 
now  living,  having  lost  two  by  death ;  the 
names  of  the  living  are    James  W.  (born 

5 


580 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


Feb.  22,  1839),  Joshua  Jonas  (born 
March  21,  1845),  John  A.  J.  (Sept.  14, 
1846),  Eliza  Jane  (April  6,  1854)  ;  the 
deceased  are  Jacob  J.  and  M^ry  Virginia ; 
Joshua  Jonas  Titus,  the  second  son  now 
living,  married  Louisa  E.  Blevins  April 
2,  1868;  she  was  born  in  Edgar  Co., 
March  30,  1850  ;  three  children  were  the 
fruit  of  this  union,  one  of  which  is  de- 
deceased  ;  the  names  of  the  living  are 
Martha  E.  (born  June  18,  1870),  "john 
(born  Feb.  3,  18*75) ;  the  deceased  was 
Sarah  Jane ;  Mr.  Titus  now  manages  the 
farm  of  his  father,  which  duty  he  has  per- 
formed for  the  past  four  years. 

WM.  TINSLEY,  farmer,  deceased; 
born  in  Anderson  Co.,  Ky.,  March  10, 
1807,  where  he  learned  the  cooper's  trade, 
which  business  he  followed  until  1831, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in 
Edgar  Co.,  where,  after  farming  several 
years,  he  removed  to  East  Oakland  Tp., 
Coles  Co.,  and  located  upon  Sec.  4,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death,  and  where  his 
widow  and  two  children  still  continue  to 
reside  ;  his  first  land  he  purchased  for  $3 
per  acre,  to  which,  during  his  life,  he 
added,  as  he  was  able,  until  at  the  time  of 
his  decease,  he  owned  upward  of  200  acres. 
He  married.  May  26,  1831,  to  Sarah  H. 
Reeds ;  she  was  born  in  Kentucky,  Nov. 
30,  1806;  she  died  Aug.  16,  1852,  leav- 
ing two  children  now  living,  viz.,  Maria 
E.  and  Lucy  K. ;  his  marriage  with  Mrs. 
Susannah  C.  Handley  was  celebrated  June 
11,  1853  ;  she  was  born  in  Virginia  Jan. 
1,  1826;  she  has  three  children  by  her 
previous  husband,  Michael  Handley,  viz., 
Justin  H.,  Malinda  J.  and  Susan  E. ;  by 
her  last  union,  she  has  four  children  now 
living,  viz.,  Mary  L.,  Martha  M.,  Thomas 
W.,  George  W.  Mr.  Tinsley  died  Nov. 
24,  1860  ;  he  was  held  in  high  esteem  by 
all  who  knew  him. 

M.  B.  VALODIN,  llirmer  and  stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Oakland  ;  born  in  Ports- 
mouth, Scioto  Co., Ohio,  March  28,  1828; 
at  8  years  of  ag6,  he  removed  with  his 
parents  to  New  Madrid,  Mo.,  living  there 
until  1838,  at  which  time  his  father  died, 
when  he  removed  with  his  mother  and  sis- 
ter to  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  until  1844,  with  the  exception  of 
one  year  in  which  he  attended  school  in 
Paris  ;  he  then  went  to  Wisconsin,  where 
he  was  engaged  at  work  in  the  shot  tower 


at  Helena,  six  months,  and  followed  min- 
ing the  same  length  of  time,  when  he  en- 
listed for  the  Mexican  war,  at  which  time 
the  Government  having  trouble  with  the 
Indians,  he,  with  his  regiment,  was 
employed  in  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  Min- 
nesota in  removing  the  Indians  to  their 
reservation,  until  1848;  he  then  returned 
to  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  and  followed  farm- 
ing until  1849,  when  he  removed  to  Coles 
Co.,  and  engaged  in  forming  and  raising 
and  dealing  in  stock  until  1864,  at  which 
date  he  located  in  Oakland,  and  to  the 
above  business  engaged  in  the  dry  goods 
trade  until  1866,  when  he  sold  his  store 
and  was  appointed  agent  of  the  Illinois 
Midland  Eailroad,  at  Oakland,  which  po- 
sition he  held  one  year,  and  at  the  same 
time  continued  his  farming  and  stock  bus- 
iness,  also  dealing  in  lumber  for  one  year  ; 
he  removed  upon  his  present  place  in  the 
spring  of  1878 ;  his  home  farm  contains 
455  acres,  upon  which  he  has  good  build- 
ings; he  also. owns  twenty  acres  of  timber 
and  one  block  and  seven  lots  in  Oakland, 
upon  which  he  has  several  buildings.  He 
married,  Dec.  30,  1849,  to  Sarah  A.  Red- 
den ;  she  was  a  daughter  of  Wm.  Redden, 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Coles  Co.  ;  she 
died  April  12,  1865,  leaving  seven  chil- 
dren now  living,  viz.,  Mary  F.,  Sarah  A., 
Clara,  John  F.,  William  A.,  Charles  M. 
and  Alice;  his  marriage  with  Mrs.  Nancy 
J.  Carter  was  celebrated  Sept.  13,  1865 ; 
she  was  the  daughter  of  Asa  Amos,  born 
in  Ola'io,  April  24,  1833  ;  three  children 
were  the  fruit  of  this  union,  one  of  which 
is  deceased ;  the  living  are  Covington 
B.  and  Loring. 

JOSEPH  H.  WINKLER,  firm  of 
Clark  &  Winkler,  lawyers,  Oakland  ;  born 
in  Coles  Co.,  Ill,  March  14,  1851,  where 
he  attended  school  during  the  winter  and 
learned  and  worked  at  the  blacksmith 
trade  during  the  summer  until  17  years 
of  age,  when  he  entered  the  State  Military 
College  at  Champaign,  111.,  where  he 
attended  nearly  two  years,  during  which 
time  he  worked  at  his  trade  Saturdays 
and  mornings  and  evenings,  from  which  he 
obtained  the  means  to  meet  all  of  his  bills 
contracted  while  attending  the  above  Col- 
lege; he  then,  in  the  fall  of  1873,  en- 
tered the  Law  School  at  Albany,  N.  Y., 
which  he  attended  nearly  one  year,  grad- 
uating and  receiving  his  diploma  May  5, 


EAST  OAKLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


581 


1874;  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the  bar 
of  the  State  of  New  York  May  8,  of  the 
same  year ;  coming  West  again,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  this  State  on  Sept. 
14,  1874;  the  following  winter  he  taught 
school  two  miles  south  of  Oakland,  board- 
ins  at  home  and  walking  to   and  from  his 


school  nisjht  and 


morning : 


the  spring  fol- 


lowing he  went  to  Mattoon  and  engaged  in 
the  law  ofi&ce  of  Horace  S.  Clark  for  sev- 
eral months,  where  he  obtained  more  prac- 
tical knowledge  of  law  than  in  any  term  of 
law  school  which  he  had  attended.  He 
then  associated  with  Mr.  Clark  in  the  law 
business  and  located  in  Oakland,  his  library 
at  that  time  consisted  of  three  law-books, 
his  office  furniture,  one  rickety  table  and 
two  old  chairs  ;  he  now  has  his  office  in 
rear  of  the  Oakland  Bank,  and  has  a  fine 
law  library  ;  has  built  up  a  very  extensive 
practice.  His  marriage  with  Emma  S. 
Crawford  was  celebrated  Dec.  23,  1876  ; 
she  was  born  in  Crawfordsville,  In^i.,  June 
29,  1854;  her  parents  removed  West  and 
located  in  Illinois  when  she  was  6  years  of 
age.  They  have  one  child  by  this  union 
—Frank  C. 

H.  D.  WILLIAMS,  firm  of  Williams 
&  Carter,  merchants,  Oakland  ;  born  in 
New  York  City  Feb.  10, 1846  ;  he  emi- 
grated West  with  his  parents  when  9  years 
of  age  and  located  in  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  where 
he  attended  school  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  August,  1862,  when  he  enlisted 
as  private  in  the  66th  I.  V.  I.,  and  was 
immediately  sent  to  the  front ;  he  was 
first  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Corinth, 
Miss.,  where  his  regiment  suffered  severely, 
losing  fully  one-third  of  its  men  in  killed 
and  wounded ;  he  then  went  to  Danville, 
Miss.,  where  he  remained  nearly  one  year, 
during  which  time  they  built  a  fine  stock- 
ade ;  he  then  went  to  Pulaski,  Tenn., 
where  he  was  placed  in  the  hospital  on 
account  of  sickness,  and  was  detailed  as 
hospital  druggist  for  two  months,  when  he 
returned  to  his  regiment  and  was  in  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  which  was  a  series  of 
battles  from  the  beginning  until  the  siege 
and  capture  of  the  above-named  place  ; 
among  the  more  important  battles,  the 
first  was  at  Snake  Creek  Gap,  May  9, 
1864,  when  the  66th,  being  in  the  ad- 
vance, fought  their  way  for  upward  of 
eight  miles  ;  afterward  were  the  battle  of 
Lay's  Ferry,  Rome    Cross  Roads,  Dallas, 


Kenesaw  Mountain  and  many  others,  ar- 
riving before  Atlanta  in  July,  where  he 
remained  during  the  siege,  which  lasted 
until  September  following ;  his  next  move 
was  with  Sherman  in  his  march  to  the  sea, 
where  he  arrived  and  spent  the  Christmas 
following  in  Savannah,  Ga. ;  from  there 
he  marched  north  with  the  army,  through 
South  and  North  Carolina,  fighting  a  large 
part  of  the  way  until  reaching  Morrisville 
Station,  N.  C.,when  Johnston  surrendered, 
and  his  regiment,  the  66th  I.  V.  I.,  was 
the  advance  guard  of  Gen.  Sherman  when 
he  went  to  receive  the  surrender  of  John- 
ston ;  he  continued  his  march  through  to 
Washington,  and  after  the  review  of  the 
army,  was  mustered  out  June  28,  1865 ; 
he  then  returned  to  Oakland,  where  he  has 
since  lived  the  most  of  the  time,  either 
being  in  business  for  himself  or  as  clerk 
for  other  firms ;  he  engaged  in  his 
present  business  in  1876,  which  he  has 
since  successfully  followed.  He  married, 
March  22, 1872,  to  Flora  Troxell ;  she  was 
born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Nov.  19,  1854; 
they  have  one  child  by  this  union — 
Charles  E.,  born  July  4,  1874. 

W.  B.  ZIMMERMAN,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Oakland ;  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Coles 
Co.,  111. ;  born  in  Augusta  Co.,  Va.,  Feb. 
4,  1826,  where  he  lived  until  eleven  years 
of  age,  when  he  emigrated  with  his  parents 
to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Edgar  Co.,  in 
1837  ;  in  the  fall  of  1838,  they  located  in 
what  is  now  known  as  East  Oakland  Tp., 
near  where  Mr.  Zimmerman  has  since 
lived ;  he  being  the  oldest  son  of  Martin 
Zimmerman  who  emigrated  from  Virginia 
at  the  above  date  •VYith  a  family  of  nine 
children  ;  and  the  year  following  their  ar- 
rival the  whole  family  was  prostrated  by 
malarial  disease  with  the  exception  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  who  had  the  labor 
of  managing  the  forty  acres  which  his 
father  had  purchased,  and  the  following 
spring  found  the  family  largely  in  debt; 
he  remained  with  his  father  until  20 
years  of  age,  when  he  worked  out  five 
months  at  $9  per  month,  giving  his  father 
half  of  his  earnings  and  being  himself  soon 
after  prostrated  by  sickness,  which  con- 
sumed his  own  earnings  for  doctor  bills 
and  medicine ;  the  following  year  he 
worked  out  by  the  month  at  $10  per 
month,  and  having  saved  about  $75,  and 
owning  a  two  year  colt,  he  hired  a  horse  to 


582 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


put  in  bis  crops,  and  commenced  farming 
on  his  own  account ;  in  1848,  he  purchased 
his  present  place  of  eiglity  acres  upon  time 
payments,  to  which  he  has  added  by  pur- 
cliase  as  he  has  been  able,  until  he  now 
owns  about  800  acres  of  land,  upon  which 
he  has  good  buildings  ;  he  is  also  a  stock- 
holder of  the  Oakland  National  Bank  to 
the  amount  of  §5,000  ;  all  of  the  above  be- 
ing accumulated  by  his  own  hard  labor. 
He  married,  March  1,  1848,  Louisa  J. 
Black ;  she  was  born  in  Clark  Co.,  111., 
March  13,  1827 ;  her  parents  located  in 
Illinois  about  1826  ;  they  have  two  children 
now  living  by  this  union,  viz.,  Sarah  L.,  born 
April  16,  1854,  and  Florence  I.,  born 
Feb.  18,  1859  ;  he  has  held  the  office  of 
School  Director  several  terms,  and  is  one 
of  the  Directors  of  the  Oakland  National 
Bank,  of  which  he  is  a  large  stockholder ; 
in  1842  he  took  by  team  to  Chicago  a  load 
of  oats  which  he  sold  at  12?  cts.  per  bushel, 
receiving  his-  pay  in  salt,  leather  and  gro- 
ceries, the  trip  consuming  about  eighteen 
days;  his  father  died  in  the  fall  of  1852, 
in  East  Oakland  Tp. 

JOHN  H.  ZARLEY,  miller,  Oak- 
land ;  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  April 
25,  1819,  where  he  attended  school  and 
engaged  in  farming  until  March  1837, 
when  he  located  in  Morgan  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
followed  farming  until  1848,  at  which  date 


he  located  in  Blackford  Co.,  Ind.,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  1851,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Moultrie  Co.,  111.,  and  engaged 
in  farming  until  1853,  at  which  time  he 
returned  to  Ohio  and  farmed  for  eleven 
years  ;  he  then  returned  to  Moultrie  Co., 
111.,  for  two  years,  and,  in  1866,  he  engaged 
in  the  milling  business  in  Lovington,  for 
one  year;  in  1867  he  erected  a  mill  in 
Macon  Co.,  which  he  ran  two  years,  and, 
in  1869,  he  located  upon  a  farm  for  one 
year  in  Macon  Co. ;  in  1871,  he  again  lo- 
cated in  Moultrie  Co.  for  one  year  in  the 
lumber  business,  when  he  engaged  in  mill- 
ing in  Oakland,  which  he  has  since  success- 
fully followed  ;  his  business  card  appears 
in  the  business  directory  of  Oakland  in 
this  work.  He  married  May  9,  1841, 
Euphemia  Coddington  ;  she  was  born  in 
Perry  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  14, 1822  ;  they  have 
three  children  now  living,  viz.,  Samuel. 
Abram  W.,  and  Robert  H.  Mr.  Zarley 
has  invented  a  corn-planter,  receiving  his 
patent  Oct.  29,  1878,  which  supersedes 
any  planter  the  writer  of  this  article  has 
yet  seen;  he  has  a  full-sized  one  on  hand 
for  inspection  ;  it  is  the  only  planter  in  the 
market  that  cultivates  the  soil  and  drops 
the  corn  at  the  same  time;  he  will  sell 
State  rights  or  allow  them  manufactured  by 
paying  him  a  royalty. 


PLEASANT    GROVE    TOWNSHIP. 


JOHN  JEFFERSON  ADAMS, 
farmer,  deceased,  Sec.  17  ;  P.  0.  Camp- 
bell ;  owns  1,240  acres ;  Mr.  Adams  was 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Coles  Co.;  he 
spent  nearly  half  a  century  in  Coles  Co., 
111.,  and  was  one  of  the  men  who  helped 
to  change  it  from  a  wilderness  waste  to  a  land 
of-  fruitful  fields,  of  bursting  barns, 
bending  orchards  and  happy  homes,  and, 
therefore,  deserves  more  than  a  passing 
notice  ;  he  was  born  Sept.  30,  1806,  in 
William.son  Co.,  Tenn.  Was  married  to 
Martha  Gammil  in  1829.  On  the  26th  of 
October,  1830,  he,  with  his  wife  and  first- 
born child  (W.  E.  Adams,  who  was  then 
11  days  old),  emigrated  to  what  was  then 
Clark  Co.,  and  after  twenty  four  days' 
march,  pitched  his  tent  near  the  spot  where 


he  died  ;  Mrs.  Adams  died  in  1844,  leav- 
ing six  children — William  E.,  of  Charles- 
ton ;  the  next  lived  to  be  a  soldier,  who 
died  in  a  hospital  during  the  late  rebellion  ; 
Mrs.  Brown,  of  Hillsboro  ;  Mrs.  Dr.  Reel, 
of  Oakland ;  Mrs.  West,  of  Texas,  and 
Mrs.  J.  S.  Grimes,  now  of  Kansas.  Mr. 
Adams  was  then  married  to  Nancy  Caroline 
Dryden  Jan.  29, 1845;  she  was  born  Jan. 
23,  1821;  died  Sept.  2,  1854;  he  was 
then  married  to  Sarah  E.  Dryden  Feb.  27, 
1855  ;  Sarah  E.  Dryden  was  born  Jan. 
14,  1827  ;  the  fruit  of  this  marriage  was 
eleven  children,  six  living,  five  dead  ;  the 
names  of  the  living  are  William  E.,  Eliz- 
abeth A.,  Eliza,  Martha  J.,  Margaret  M. 
and  David  ;  the  names  of  the  deceased  are 
Mary  J.,   James  H.,  Mary  D.,  Unity    E. 


PLEASANT  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 


583 


and  Johu  W.  David  Adams  was  born  in 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  June  26,  1849.  Was  mar- 
ried to  Hannah  J.  Harris  May  6,  1873 ; 
she  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Oct.  10, 
1853  ;  the  fruit  of  this  marriage  is  two 
children,  one  living  and  one  dead ;  the 
name  of  the  living  is  Grace. 

ANDREW  H.  ALLISON,  farmer, 
deceased,  Sec.  8  ;  P.  0.  Campbell ;  owned 
300  acres  of  land,  which  was  left  to 
the  heirs  ;  was  born  in  Mecklenburg  Co., 
N.  C,  Sept.  20, 1823  ;  came  from  Tennes- 
see to  this  county  when  13  years  of  age, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  Nov.  15,  186-4.  He  was  married 
to  Eveline  Dryden  Dec.  30, 1845  ;  she  was 
born  in  Bedford  Co.,  Tenn.,  June  7,  1822  ; 
they  have  had  eight  children — Mary  Ann, 
Emily  Frances,  Thomas  L.,  William  D., 
Nancy  C,  John  N.,  Henry  C.  and  Andrew 
B.  Mr.  Allison  was  School  Director  three 
years,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  when  he 
died.     His  father  was  in  the  war  of  1812. 

JAMES  ANDERSON,  former,  Sec. 
20  ;  P.  0.  Mattoon  ;  owns  133  acres  ;  was 
born  in  Monroe  Co.,  Md.,  Dec.  25,  1825, 
and  lived  with  his  parents  on  the  farm  in 
Maryland  until  7  years  of  age  ;  then  went 
with  them  to  Ohio,  where  he  resided  until 
the  year  1846,  when  he  went  to  the  Mex-  ' 
ican  war,  and  returned  in  1855.  He  was 
married  to  Lucinda  Knight  Dec.  29, 1847  ; 
she  was  born  in  Licking  Co.,  Ohio,  June  12, 
1826  ;  they  have  had  eight  children,  seven  ' 
of  whom  are  living,  viz.,  Mary  Ann,  Co- 
lumbia, William  H.,  Sarah  P.,  Emma, 
Martha,  Charles  W.  and  one  infant.  Mr. 
Anderson  enlisted  in  1846,  and  went  with 
his  regiment  to  Mexico  ;  he  was  in  the 
service  thirteen  months,  and  was  in  the 
skirmish  at  Ounsford.  Mr.  Anderson's 
father  is  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  his 
mother  of  Pennsylvania ;  the  parents  of 
Mrs.  Anderson  are  natives  of  Maine.  ! 

JAMES  M.  ANDERSON,  former, 
Sec.  3  ;  P.  0.  Charleston ;  owns  140 
acres;  was  born  in  Lewis  Co.,  Va., 
Jan.  27,  1835  ;  engaged  in  farming 
until  22  years  of  age.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Dorothy  A.  Leitch  Dec.  27, 
1860;  she  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  i 
April  16,  1842;  Mr.  Anderson  has  five 
children  living  and  one  dead ;  the  living 
are  named  Sumner,  Victoria,  Wesley, 
Emma  J.  and  Fannie  B.;  deceased,  infant. 
Mr.  Anderson  has  held  the  office  of  school 


Director  eight  years,  and  Road  Commis- 
sioner two  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson's 
parents  are  natives  of  Virginia. 

JOSEPH  ARMSTRONG,  farmer  and 
stockdealer,  Sec.  9;  P.  0.  Charleston; 
was  born  in  Pendleton  Co.,  Va.,  Aug.  11, 
1823;  he  lived  with  his  parents,  assisting 
his  father  on  the  form  until  23  years  of 
age,  when  he  married  Elizabeth  Leitch, 
Sept.  2,  1844;  Mrs.  Armstrong  was  born 
in  Pendleton  Co.,  Va.,  May  23,  1815; 
they  have  had  four  children,  three  living 
and  one  dead;  their  nanjes  are  Charles  E., 
Abel  T.  T.,  Margaret  J.,  and  Arametha 
L.,  who  died.  Mr.  Armstrong  has  held 
the  oflSce  of  Township  Collector  one  term, 
Road  Commissioner  one  term,  and  School 
Director  five  years.  He  was  in  the  late 
war;  enlisted  in  the  year  1862  in  Co, 
I,  123d  I.  V.  I.;  was  in  the  battles 
of  Perryville,  Farmington  and  Chicka- 
mauga;  served  three  years  and  was  mus- 
tered out  by  general  order.  Mr.  Arm- 
strong's father  was  in  the  war  of  1812. 
Mr.  Armstrong  owns  320  acres  of  very 
fine  river-bottom  land. 

JOHN  W.  BAKER,  farmer ;  P.  0. 
Campbell ;  owns  135  acres  in  Sec.  19  ;  was 
born  in  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  Feb.  17,  1840  ; 
lived  with  his  parents  until  the  age  of  6, 
when  they  died,  leaving  him  to  shift  for 
himself;  he  emigrated  to  this  State  in 
1861,  settling  in  Coles  Co.  Was  married 
to  Susan  D.  Rodgers  April  5,  1866;  she 
was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Feb.  9,  1851; 
the  fruit  of  this  marriage  is  three  children 
— Efiie  M.,  Mary  A.  and  Isaac  W.  Mr.  B. 
has  held  the  ofl&ce  of  School  Director  six 
years,  and  Commissioner  of  Highways  three 
years.  Was  in  the  late  rebellion  ;  enlisted 
in  1861,  Co.  B,  7th  I.  V.  I.;  served  three 
months ;  re-enlisted  Sept.  25,  1861,  in  Co. 
E,  5th  I.  V.  C,  and  served  four  months  in 
that  regiment ;  was  in  the  battle  of  Vicks- 
burg,  and  several  other  battles  and  skir- 
mishes. Mrs.  Baker's  grandfather  on  her 
mother's  side  was  in  the  Black  Hawk  war. 

JOHN  L.  BALCH,  deceased,  farmer 
and  author;  P.  0.  Charleston  ;  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  owned  120  acres  of  land,  on 
Sec.  14  ;  willed  to  the  four  sisters  who  now 
live  on  the  same ;  he  was  born  in  Logan 
Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  27,  1800,  and  died  October 
3,  1870.  He  lived  with  his  parents  on 
the  farm  until  married,  Nov.  10,  1829,  to 
MeHnda  N.  White  ;  she  was  born  in  Sulli- 


584 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


van  Co.,  Ind.,  May  4,  1808,  died  Jan.  5, 
1805.  Mr.  Balch  came  to  this  county  in 
1830,  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  the 
four  sisters  now  reside,  and  remained  until 
his  death  ;  he  was  the  father  of  eight 
children,  six  of  whom  are  livins;,  viz., 
Alfred  B.,  Albina,  Mary  M.,  William, 
Martha  and  Angeline  E.;  deceased,  Alex- 
ander H.  and  James.  ^  Mr.  Balch  was  a 
school-teacher  in  this  township  in  an  early 
day,  and  was  an  author  of  considerable 
note;  some  of  his  writings  were  published 
on  the  slavery  question.  He  was  a  Repub- 
lican. 

JESSE  BEALS,  farmer.  Sec.  20  ;  P. 
0.  Mattoon ;  owns  250  acres  ;  was  born 
in  Crawford  Co.,  Ind.,  April  26,  1826  ; 
lived  with  his  father  until  1836,  and  then 
lived  with  his  mother  until  he  married, 
Dec.  IZ,  1844,  to  Mary  Ann  Horton,  who 
was  born  in  Bedford  Co.,  Penn.,  Dec.  4, 
1 818  ;  they  have  had  five  children,  four  of 
whom  are  now  living,  viz.,  Amand  M., 
Emma  H.,  Nevada  and  Frank  W. ;  de- 
ceased— Cary.  Mr.  Beals  was  School 
Director  five  years.  Township  Super- 
visor of  this  township  one  term,  in  1866, 
and  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
in  1877,  which  office  he  now  holds.  Mr. 
Bcals  is  a  minister  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  has  had  charge 
of  the  Good  Hope  Church,  in  this  town- 
ship, for  a  number  of  years  ;  he  has  had 
several  discussions  on  questions  of  the- 
ology, and  has  had  one  debate  with  the 
Rev.  Roily  Martin,  of  Danville,  Vermilion 
Co.,  111.,  one  with  Rev.  Clark  Braden, 
President  of  Carbondale  University,  and 
several  other  ministers  of  considerable  note  ; 
Mr.  Beals'  parents  are  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

GEO.  B.  BALCH,  farmer.  Postmaster 
and  agent  G.  &  M.  R.  R.,  Lama ;  born 
in  Bedford  Co.,  Tenn.,  Nov.  1,  1828;  his 
father,  Alfred  M.  Balch,  was  born  in  Lo- 
gan Co.,  Ky.,  Jan.  23,  1798.  He  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  Gammil  July  1, 
1819;  she  was  born  Jan.  1,  1800;  they 
left  Tennessee  late  in  October,  1830,  and 
settled  in  Pleasant  Grove  Tp. ;  their  jour- 
ney and  settlement  are  fully  noted  in  the 
history  of  that  township ;  they  remained 
here  during  their  lives  ;  Mrs.  Balch  died 
Dec.  29,  1855  ;  Mr.  Balch  Dec.  2,  1856  ; 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Geo.  B.,  grew 
to  maturity  here,  receiving  only  a  moder- 


ate education.  He  was  married  March 
19,  1851,  to  Margaret  S.  Walker,  who 
was  born  in  Tennessee,  Oct.  1,  1832; 
they  became  the  parents  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  now  living ;  Mrs. 
Balch  died  Nov.  4,  1875,  leaving  her 
daughters  to  fill  her  place ;  the  names  and 
births  of  the  children  are  as  follows  :  Sam- 
uel W.  (bo'rn  Jan.  28,  1852  ;  married 
Nov.  25,  1875),  Elizabeth  J.  (born  Sept. 
18,  1853  ;  married  April  21,  1875),  Ann 
Minerva  (born  Aug.  10,  1855),  Thomas 
W.  and  Nancy  M.  (born  Oct.  8,  1858), 
Esther  R.   (born  June  20,   1861 ),  Ellen 

D.  (born  Jan.  31,1863),  Minnie  B.  (born 
March  30,  1865),  Eliza  J.  (born  June 
25,  1868),  Robert  E.  (March  26.  1871 ), 
Margaret  L.  (July  3,  1873).  Mr.  Balch 
has  just  established  the  post  office  and 
station  of  Larna,  both  of  which  ofiices  he 
fills  ;  it  is  the  intention  to  erect  necessary 
buildings,  open  a  store  and  shop  or  two 
here,  and  start  a  town ;  it  is  a  good  point. 

GOTTLIEB  F.  BIDLE,  farmer  and 
blacksmith.  Sec.  16;  P.  0.  Campbell; 
owns  230  acres;  was  born  in  Essling  Co., 
Germany,  Jan.  21,  1835;  his  parents  died 
when  he  was  quite  young  ;  he  came  to  this 
country  when  17  years  of  age,  and  located 
in  Coles  Co.,  Ill,  June  18,  1855,  and  was 
married  to  Sophrona  Walker  Oct.  30, 
1856,  who  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111., 
Sept.  13,  1839 ;  they  have  had  ten  chil- 
dren, nine  of  whom  are  living,  viz.,  Albert 
F.,  James  H.,  Mary  E.,  David,  George, 
Louisa  C,  Joseph,  Julia  and  Richard ; 
deceased — John  C.  Mr.  Bidle  has  been 
School  Director  nine  years,  Pathmaster  one 
term,  and  is  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  the 
present  time.  He  was  in  the  late  war  as 
blacksmith  for  the  123d  I.  V.  I.  (^afterward 
mounted). 

JAMES  GRAY  BOVELL,  farmer ; 
P,  0.  Larna;  owns  260  aci'es ;  was  born 
in  Washington  Co.,  Tenn.,  June  1,  1825, 
and  came  to  Edgar  Co.  with  his  parents 
when  only  4  years  old  ;  he  stayed  there  five 
years;  then  came  to  Coles  Co.,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  was  married  May 
6,  1846,  to  Eliza  Dryden,  who  was  born  in 
Bedford  Co.,  Tenn.,  July  24,  1825,  and 
has  had  four  children,  viz.,  Mary  E.  D., 
Nancy  C,  John  W.  and  one  infant ;  Mary 

E.  D.  is  the  only  one  living.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bovell's  parents  were  natives  of  Ten- 
nessee. 


PLEASANT  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 


585 


JAMES  R.  P.  CASSADAY,  farmer, 
Sec.  10;  P.  0.  Campbell;  was  born  in 
Edgar  Co.,  111.,  Auo-.  22, 1845;  lived  with 
his  parents  until  14  years  of  age,  when 
they  died,  leaving  him  to  shift  for  himself 
He  was  married  to  Catharine  Edmond  Oct. 
17,  1867;  she  was  born  in  Virginia  Feb. 
8,  1844;  died  Aug.  13,  1877;  they  had 
six  children — four  dead,  two  living ;  the 
names  of  the  living  are  Mary  E.,  William 
H.;  the  names  of  the  deceased  are  Jemima, 
Joanna,  Sarah  E.  and  one  infant.  Mr.  C. 
was  then  married  to  Mary  M.  Neal  July 
20,1878;  she  was  born  in  Cumberland 
Co.,  111.,  Sept.  7,  1841.  Mr.  Cassaday  has 
held  office  of  Pathmaster  one  term,  School 
Director  several  years.  He  was  in  the 
l^te  war ;  enlisted  in  1863  in  11th  Ind.  V. 
C,  Co.  I) ;  served  two  years,  and  was  in 
the  battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville,  and 
was  also  on  the  plains  fighting  the  Indi- 
ans six  months.  Mr.  Cassaday's  grand- 
father on  his  father's  side  was  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war.  Mr.  Cassaday  owns  77* 
acres  of  excellent  land. 

HENRY  CECIL,  farmer.  Sec.  10 ;  P. 
O.  Charleston ;  owns  215  acres  worth 
$40  per  acre;  he  was  born  in  Mercer 
Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  15,  1826  ;  lived  on  the 
farm,  engaged  with  his  father  in  farming 
until  21  years  of  age.  Was  then 
married  to  Hannah  E.  Robinson  Oct.  7, 
1847  ;  she  was  born  in  Shelby  Co.,  Ky., 
July  23,  1827 ;  they  have  had  seven  chil- 
dren— Keziah  F.,  Margaret  J.,  Henry 
H.,  Mary  R.  E.,  Adda,  Daniel  E.,and  John 
I.,  who  is  dead.  Mr.  Cecil  held  the  office 
of  School  Director  six  years,  and  Constable 
three  years  ;  Mrs.  Cecil's  parents  were  one 
of  the  first  families  of  Virginia ;  Mr.  Cecil 
is  one  the  best  farmers  in  the  township. 

SAMUEL  CHOWNING,  farmer.  Sec. 
19  ;  P.  0.  Campbell ;  owns  109  acres  ;  was 
born  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ky.,  June  4,  1827  ; 
came  with  his  parents  to  the  county  when 
only  4  years  old,  and  lived  with  his 
parents  until  18  years  of  age.  He 
was  married  to  Polly  Ann  McCann,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1849 ;  she  was  born  in  Logan  Co., 
Ky.,  July  25, 1824,  and  has  had  nine  chil- 
dren, viz  :  Nancy  I.,  Rebecca  D.,  Laura  A., 
Mary  L.,  Robert  P.,  Rachel  C,  deceased, 
John  B.,  Charles  P.,  and  one  infant ;  Mr. 
Chowning's  father  was  in  the  Black  Hawk 
war,  and  Mrs.  Chowning's  father  in  the 
war  of  1812. 


JAMES  W.  CRUME,  farmer.  Sec.  9  ; 
P.  0.  Mattoon ;  owns  eighty  acres ;  was 
born  in  Marion  Co.,  Ky.,  March  17,  1830, 
and  lived  with  his  parents  on  the  farm  un- 
til 21  years  of  age.  He  was  married  to 
Emily  J.  Maine,  Dec.  29,  1856,  who  was 
born  in  Dubois  Co.,  Ind.,  Aug.  25,  1834, 
and  died  Sept.  21,  1862.  He  then  mar- 
ried Mary  E.  Reynolds  Dec.  31,  1864, 
who  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  March  29, 
1834,  and  has  had  eight  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living,  viz.,  William  R.,  Ben- 
jamin R.,  James  H.  and  Emily  0. ;  the 
deceased  are  L.  D.,  F.  C,  E.  0.  and  one 
infant.  Mr.  Crume  was  Commissioner  of 
Highways  three  years,  School  Director  ten 
years.  Township  Trustee  three  years  and 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the 
year  1870,  which  office  he  held  for  seven 
years,  and  is  Township  Treasurer  at  the 
present  time. 

GEORGE  DIEHL,  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer,  Sec.  7 ;  P.  0.  Mattoon ;  owns 
278  acres ;  was  born  in  Bedford  Co., 
Penn.,  Oct.  12,  1811,  and  lived  with 
his  parents  on  the  farm  in  that  St  a 
until  the  year  1837,  when  he  ca  m 
to  Coles  Co.  He,  was  married  Feb.  23, 
1842,  to  Mary  E.  Jeffries,  who  was  born 
in  Grayson  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  23,  1824  ;  died 
Nov.  27,  1849.  Mr.  Diehl  was  then  mar- 
ried April  20,  1854,  to.  Catharine  Ful- 
ler, who  was  born  in  Virginia  about  the 
year  1821 ;  died  July  16,  1871.  Mr.  Diehl 
was  then  married  Dec.  12,  1873,  to  Sally 
Matthews,  who  was  born  in  Grayson  Co., 
Ky.,  Aug.  2,  1816.  Mr.  Diehl  has  had 
six  children,  viz.,  Margaret,  Thomas, 
Daniel,  Mary  E.,  John  H.  and  Jennie.  Mr. 
Diehl's  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Mrs.  Diehl's  of  Kentucky. 

THOMAS  JEFFRIES  DIEHL,  farm- 
er, Sec.  6 ;  P.  0.  Mattoon ;  owns  eighty 
acres  ;  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  17, 
1846,  and  lived  with  his  parents  on  the 
farm  in  this  township  until  22  years  of 
age.  He  was  then  married,  Feb.  26, 
1868,  to  Kittie  Brunk  Hankley,  who  was 
born  in  Grayson  Co.,  Ky.,  June  2,  1847, 
and  who  has  six  children,  viz.,  Anna  Lee. 
Charles  Redmond,  Mary  Alta,  George 
Edmond,  William  Angus  and  Ermie. 
Mr.  Diehl  was  School  Director  eight  years, 
and  Overseer  of  the  Road  one  year.  Mr, 
Diehl's  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylva- 
nia ;   Mrs.  Diehl's  of  Kentucky. 


586 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES; 


DANIEL  DIEHL,  farmer,  Sec.  22; 
P.  0.  Johnstown  ;  ovens  eighty  acres  ; 
was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  1.,  1848,  , 
and  lived  with  his  parents  until  21  years  i 
of  age.  He  was  married  to  Martha  M. 
Odell  Dec.  21,  1868;  she  was  born  in 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  Sept.  9,  1849,  and  has  had 
five  children,  three  of  whom  are  living, 
viz.,  Frank  E.,  Albert  L.  and  Mary  E.; 
deceased,  two  infants.  Mr.  Diehl's  par- 
ents are  natives  of  Pennsylvania;  Mrs. 
Diehl's,  of  Tennessee. 

JACOB  EDMON,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Charleston  ;  was  born  in  Highland  Co., 
Va.,  June  17,  1851,  and  lived  with  his 
father;  engaged  in  farming.  He  was 
married  to  Alwilda  Armstrong  Dec.  26, 
1877  ;  she  was  born  in  Highland  Co.,  Va., 
Nov.  9,  1852.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edmon's 
parents  were  natives  of  Virginia ;  Mr.  Ed- 
mon's father  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
in  this  county,  coming  here  in  an  early 
day  with  but  very  little  property.  He  now 
owns  168  acres  of  very  fine  farm  land  on 
Sec.  14  in  this  township. 

JAMES  THOMAS  EWING,  farmer. 
Sec.  8 ;  P.  0.  Mattoon ;  owns  247  acres ; 
was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Nov.  13,  1835; 
lived  with  his  parents  until  22  years  of 
age.  Was  married  Sept.  10,  1862,  to 
Rebecca  Jane  Walker,  who  was  born  in 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  Feb.  11,  1842;  moved  on 
this  farm  in  the  fall  of  1862,  and  has  had 
six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living,  viz., 
Nancy  J.,  Samuel  W.,  Gertrude  and 
Charles  M.;  the  deceased  are  Mary  L.  and  an 
infant.  Mr.  Ewing  was  Township  Col- 
lector of  La  Fayette  Tp.  in  1859  and 
1860,  and  Assessor  in  this  township  four 
years  ;  he  was  in  the  late  war,  and  went 
out  in  July,  1861,  as  a  private  in  Co. 
C,  1st  I.  V.  C. ;  elected  Corporal ; 
then  went  out  in  1864  in  the  135th 
I.  V.  I.;  was  promoted  to  1st  Lieu- 
tenant, and  served  four  months,  until  dis- 
charged ;  he  was  captured  at  the  battle  of 
Lexington,  and  eventually  mustered  out. 
Mr.  Ewing's  parents  were  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  Mrs.  Ewins's  of  Tennessee. 

NELSON  S.  FREEMAN,  M.  D., 
practicing  physician  in  Farmington  ;  P.  0. 
Campbell;  was  born  in  Orange  Co.,  Ind., 
Feb.  17,  1833,  and  lived  with  his  parents 
until  19  years  of  age.  He  was  married 
to  Mary  F.  Carman  Sept.  29,  1851 ;  she 
was  born  in  Tioga  Co.,   Penn.,  April  2, 


1832  ;  they  have  had  six  children — Caro- 
line M.,  Charles  E.,  Lizzie  A.,  William 
F.,  Frank  F.  and  Matthew  S.,  deceased. 
Dr.  Freeman  'has  been  practicing  medicine 
twenty-three  years  ;  his  practice  has  been 
quite  extensive  and  attended  with  good 
success.  Dr.  Freeman  was  Assistant  Sur- 
geon in  the  63d  I.  V.  I.  for  four  months, 
and  was  a  second  time  appointed  Assistant 
Surgeon  in  the  army  ;  he  was  Captain  of 
a  company  of  colored  troops,  has  been 
Postmaster  in  Farmington  ten  years,  was 
Township  Trustee  eight  years  and  Town- 
ship Treasurer  two  years,  which  office  he 
still  holds.  The  Doctor's  parents  are 
natives  of  Virginia,  and  Mrs.  Freeman's 
father  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  her  mother 
of  Connecticut.  The  Doctor  owns  a  house 
and  lot  in  Farmington. 

JAMES  FARIS,  farmer  and  nursery- 
man, Sec.  1  ;  P.  0.  Mattoon  ;  was  born  in 
Bourbon  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  22,  1808;  en- 
gaged with  his  father  in  farming  and 
nursery  business  until  30  years  of  age. 
He  was  then  married  to  Rachel  E.  Mc- 
Gahan  Aug.  17,  1843;  she  was  born  in 
Orange  Co.,  Ind.,  Jan.  4, 1826  ;  they  have 
had  ten  children,  four  living  and  six  dead  ; 
the  names  of  the  living  are  Thomas  C, 
John  D.,  Mary  E.  and  Charles  H.;  the 
names  of  the  dead  are  William  E.,  Sarah 
I.,  William  W.,  George  W.  and  Martha 
A.  and  one  infant.  Mr.  Faris  commenced 
the  nursery  business  in  the  year  1840, 
and  has  carried  it  on  ever  since ;  he  has  a 
good  variety  of  trees  on  hand  at  present ; 
he  has  also  farmed  quite  extensively  and 
dealt  considerably  in  cattle ;  he  owns  588 
acres  of  fine  fiirm  land,  and  has  accumulated 
nearly  all  this  property  in  a  few  years  by 
industry,  economy  and  perseverance. 

JOHN  D.  FARRIS,  farmer  and  nur- 
seryman, Sec.  2  ;  P.  0.  Charleston  ;  owns 
900  acres  ;  was  born  in  Edgar  Co.,  111., 
Sept.  30,  1827,  and  was  engaged  with  his 
father  in  farming  and  nursery  business 
until  29  years  of  age.  Was  married  to 
Eliza  J.  Manfort  Jan.  28,  1852;  she  was 
born  in  Henry  Co.,  Ky.,  March  16,1833; 
the  fruit  of  this  marriage  is  eight  children, 
viz.,  Caleb,  Mattie  M",  John  N.,  Olive, 
Israel  J.  (deceased),  William,  Anna  and 
one  infant.  Mr.  Farris'  father  started  the 
first  mill  to  grind  wheat  and  corn  in  this 
township ;  people  came  a  great  distance  to 
mill,   this   being   the   only  one  for  miles 


PLEASANT  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 


58T 


around ;  Mr.  Farris  has  carried  on  farm- 
ing and  nursery  business  very  extensively, 
and  has  still  a  great  variety  of  trees  yet 
on  hand ;  he  has  put  in  over  4,000  rods 
of  tiling  on  his  own  land  in  the  last  few 
years;  raised  at  one  time  162  bushels  of 
grain  on  one  acre  of  land. 

BENJAMIN  G.  GLENN,  farmer,  Sec. 
17;  P.  0.  Mattoon ;  owns  sixty  acres; 
was  born  in  Lawrence  Co.,  111.,  June  10, 
1832,  and  lived  with  his  parents  until  23 
years  of  age.  He  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Jeffries  March  22,  1855;  she  was  born  in 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  in  1834;  died  Feb.  19, 
1862.  He  was  then  married  to  Elizabeth 
Wheatstone  March  19,  1869  ;  she  was 
born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  and  has  had  six 
children,  viz.,  Margaret  E.,  Ethel  L., 
Joseph  J. ;  three  infants  (deceased).  Mr. 
Glenn  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  two  years. 
Supervisor  one  term,  and  School  Director 
six  years.  He  was  in  the  late  war  eighteen 
months,  his  regiment  being  the  5th  I.  V. 
C. ;  he  went  out  as  private  and  was  pro- 
moted to  Sergeant  Major  and  Captain  ;  his 
parents  are  natives  of  Kentucky. 

SAMES  TILFORD  GORDON,  farmer, 
Sec.  13  ;  P.  0.  Larna;  owns  seventy  acres; 
was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Oct.  14,  1832, 
and  lived  with  his  parents  until  21  years 
of  age.  He  was  married  to  Sarah  Jane 
Rogers  June  5,  1855;  she  was  born  in 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  July  7,  1838  ;  they  have 
had  nine  children,  viz.,  Mary  M.,  Luella, 
Willie  A.,  Sylvester,  Lizzie,  Laura  M., 
Bundy  and  Maddora ;  deceased — H.  A. 
Mr.  Gordon  has  been  School  Director 
eight  years,  and  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways three  years ;  his  father  is  a  native  of 
Virginia  and  his  mother  of  North  Caro- 
lina ;  Mrs.  Gordon's  parents  were  natives 
of  Alabama. 

ELI  PERRY  GORDON,  farmer.  Sec. 
24  ;  P.  0.  Campbell ;  owns  eighty  acres  ; 
was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  Ill,  March  30, 1839, 
and  lived  with  his  parents  on  the  farm  un- 
til married  to  Louisa  Hays  Nov.  28,  1859  ; 
she  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  April  26, 
1841,  and  has  had  seven  children,  six  of 
whom  are  living,  viz.,  Charles  W.,  Elme 
D.,  Byron  R.,  Mary  A.,  Clara  B.  and  H. 
Clay ;  deceased — Cora  E.  Mr.  Gordon 
was  Collector  in  this  township  two  terms, 
Pathmaster  two  terms  and  School  Director 
six  years.  He  was  in  Co.  E,  5th  I.  V.  I., 
and  served  nineteen  months  in  the  late  war, 


when  he    was  mustered   out     by   general 
order. 

JAMES  C.  GRAY,  farmer,  deceased, 
Larna;  was  born  in  Washington  Co., 
Tenn.,  Nov.  18,  1818;  lived  with  his 
parents  on  the  farm  until  30  years  of 
age,  engaging  with  his  father  in  farming 
until  he  married  Mary  A.  Mitchell  Nov. 
9, 1848  ;  she  was  born  in  Marshall  County, 
Tenn.,  May  30,  1828;  they  have  had 
nine  children — Robert  M.,  David  L.,  Mary, 
Alexander  D.,  William  N.,  John  H.,  Lizzie 
J.,  Naomi  R.,  and  Charles.  Mr.  Gray 
held  the  office  of  Road  Commissioner  two 
terms,  was  Constable  two  years  and  Town 
Clerk  one  term.  Mr.  Robert  Gray  is  County 
Attorney,  and  held  the  officeof  City  Attor- 
ney. Mr.  A.  Gray  is  Collector  in  this 
township  at  present. 

GEORGE  HALBROOKS,  M.  D., 
physician,  Sec.  23,  Larna  ;  owns  160  acres; 
was  born  in  Gibson  Co.,  Ind.,  Feb.  14, 
1814,  and  lived  with  his  parents  on  the 
farm  until  24  years  of  age  ;  was  then  mar- 
ried to  Eliza  Ann  Beels  Feb.  22,  1838; 
she  was  born  in  Gibson  Co.,  Ind.,  Aug.  18, 
1817,  and  has  had  nine  children,  viz., 
Sylvester,  William  H.,  Nancy  E.,  Thomas, 
Samuel  and  George  A.;  deceased,  Colum- 
bus, Catharine  and  George  L.  Dr.  Hal- 
brooks  was  Surgeon  for  six  months  in  the 
late  war ;  he  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  in  1842,  and  has  been  practicing 
ever  since  ;  he  has  been  practicing  in  this 
county  twenty-seven  years,  and  has  a  very 
extensive  practice,  and  been  very  successful. 

JAMES  L.  HACKLEY,  farmer.  Sec. 
10;  P.  0.  Mattoon;  owns  seventy-four 
acres  ;  was  born  in  Grayson  Co.,  Ky.,  Nov. 
25,  1842,  and  lived  with  his  parents  on 
the  farm  until  1855,  when  he  came  with 
parents  to  this  county  in  1856,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  was  married  Feb. 
14,  1867,  to  Martha  Jeffries  ;  she  was 
born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  28, 1847,  and 
has  five  children — Katie,  Emma,  Olga, 
Harden,  Oren ;  Mr.  Hackley  has  been 
School  Director  six  years,  and  Overseer  of 
roads  two  years  in  this  township  ;  Mr. 
Hackley's  parents  were  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky ;  Mrs.  Hackley's  father  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  her  mother  of  Virginia. 

J.  W.  HILL,  farmer  and  stock-dealer, 
deceased ;  deceased  owned  342  acres ; 
was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Va.,  May 
7,    1814;    died    March    13,    1875;    he 


588 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES; 


lived  with  his  parents  on  the  farm  until 
20  years  of  age.  He  was  married  to  Eliz- 
abeth Fudge  Feb.  28,  1833  ;  she  was  born 
in  Washington  Co.,  Va.,  Jan.  15,  1814; 
they  had  twelve  children — Barbara  A., 
Samuel  H.,  Benjamin  11.,  Noah  W.,  Eliz- 
abeth, Zachariah  T.,  Emma,  Jonah,  Napo- 
leon and  three  infants,  deceased  ;  Jonah 
Hill  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  April  22, 
1853,  and  lived  with  his  father  until  21 
years  of  age.  He  then  married  Mattie  A. 
Barr  Oct.  17,  1878;  she  was  boru  in 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  G,  1864.  Mr.  J.  W. 
Hill  commenced  business  on  the  farm 
where  he  died,  in  this  township,  with  only 
$2.50,  and  in  a  few  years  of  industry 
and  economy,  he  accumulated  and  left  at 
his  death  a  large  amount  of  property. 

WILLIAM  F.  HORTON,  farmer, 
Sec.  17  ;  P.  0.  Mattoon  ;  owns  231  ^  acres  ; 
was  born  in  Bedford  Co.,  Penn.,  Jan.  31, 
1824;  moved  to  this  county  with  his  par- 
ents in  1837  ;  went  to  Cumberland  Co.,  in 
1838,  and  returned  to  Coles  Co.  in  Novem- 
ber, 1861,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
was  married  to  Emeline  Dryden  Feb.  1, 
1849;  she  was  born  in  Tennessee  Sept.  15, 
1821,  and  has  had  seven  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living,  viz.,  Mary  E.  and  Will- 
iam D.  ;  deceased  are  B.  H.,  Alice, 
Amarintha  and  two  infants  not  named. 
Mr.  Horton  has  been  School  Director  and 
Pathmaster  several  years,  and  was  one  of 
the  first  and  most  extensive  manufiicturers 
of  sorghum  molasses  in  this  county,  and 
has  been  in  the  business  for  twenty  years. 
Mr.  Horton's  parents  are  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and    Mrs.    Horton's,   of  Tennes- 

JAMES  JEFFBIS,  farmer,  Sec.  7 : 
P.  0.  Mattoon ;  owns  240  acres  ;  was 
born  in  Grayson  Co.,  Ky.,  March  17, 
1821  ;  moved  to  this  county  with  his  par- 
ents when  10  years  of  age,  and  lived  with 
them  vintil  married  to  Matilda  Jane  John- 
ston, Oct.  6,  1842  ;  she  was  born  in  Bus- 
sell  Co.,  Va.,  Nov.  28,  1822,  and  has  had 
eleven  children,  six  of  whom  are  living, 
viz.,  Mary  E.,  ^lartha,  Johnston,  Stephen 
D.,  Joanna  and  Kitty  C. ;  deceased — G.  D., 
Leah,  S.  M.  and  two  infants.  Mr.  JefFris 
was  Constable  four  years.  School  Director 
five  years  and  School  Trustee  twenty  years  ; 
his  father  is  a  native  of  Virginia  and  his 
mother  of  Tennessee  ;  Mrs.  JeffVis'  par- 
ents are  natives  of  Virginia. 


JOHN  JEFFRIS,  farmer,  Sec.  10 ; 
P.  0.  Mattoon ;  owns  340  acres ;  was 
born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  26, 
1831,  and  lived  with  his  parents  on 
the  farm  in  this  township  until  21  years 
of  age ;  then  went  to  California,  returned 
and  was  married  to  Mary  Vandierer,  March 
22,  1859  ;  she  was  born  in  Indiana  March 
1,  1836.  They  have  five  children,  viz., 
Balph,  Bell,  Hershel,  Isaac  and  Abba. 
Mr.  Jeffries  was  School  Director  for  nine 
years.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia and  Mrs.  Jeffries'  parents  natives 
of  Kentucky. 

JOHN  GAUNT  JEFFRIS,  farmer,  Sec. 
16;  P.  0.  Johnstown;  owns  ninety-three 
acres;  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  March 
10,  1836,  and  lived  with  his  parents  on 
the  farm  until  30  years  of  age.  He  was 
married  Aug.  12,  1866,  to  Rachel  Ellen 
Miller,  who  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111., 
Oct..  18, 1849.  They  have  had  seven  chil- 
dren, viz.,  Margaret  E.,  Mary  B.,  Anna  L., 
Robert  W.,  Henry  S.,  Oscar  M.  and  Mat- 
tie  B.  Mr.  Jeffris  has  been  School  Director 
one  term.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jeffris'  parents 
are  natives  of  Kentucky. 

AZARIAH  JEFFRIS,  farmer,  Sec. 
15  ;  P.  0.  Mattoon  ;  owns  660  acres  ;  was 
born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  April  29,  1836,  and 
lived  with  his  parents  on  the  farm  in  this 
county  until  24  years  of  age.  Was  married 
March  10,  1860,  to  Ann  M.  Hackley,  who 
was  born  in  Grayson  Co.,  Ky.,  March  2, 
1841,  and  moved  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides.  Mr.  Jeffries  has  three  chil- 
dren, viz.,  Zaraba,  Shelton  and  Laura.  Has 
been  Commissioner  of  Highways  three 
years  in  this  township.  School  Trustee  three 
years.  School  Director  nine  years,  Repre- 
sentative of  Coles  Co.,  111.,  one  term.  Su- 
pervisor of  this  township  two  terms  in 
1875,  1876, 1878  and  1879,  and  was  Fore- 
man of  the  grand  jury  two  sessions.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  his 
mother  of  Tennessee.  Mrs.  Jeffris'  par- 
ents were  natives  of  Kentucky. 

LARB  KELLY,  farmer.  Sec.  2  ;  P.  0. 
Charleston ;  owns  300  acres.  Mr.  Kelly 
lived  with  his  parents,  engaging  with  his 
father  in  farming  until  20  years  of  age. 
Mr.  Kelly  was  married  to  Mary  L.  Sulli- 
van about  the  year  1848 ;  she  was  born  in 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  in  1830  ;  died  in  1858.  The 
fruit  of  this  marriage  was  two  children — 
Lura  A.  and    Sarah  E.,  deceased.    He  was 


PLEASANT  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 


589 


then  married  to  Sarah  F.  Sullivan,  in 
1860 ;  she  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111. 
The  fruit  of  this  marriage  was  six  children 
— Susan,  Elso  J.  and  Larbia ;  deceased, 
Mary  M.,  Samuel  V.  and  one  infant.  Mr. 
Kelly  has  held  the  office  of  School  Direct- 
or three  years.  Mr.  J.  Kelly,  his  father, 
was  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  Mr.  Kelly's 
parents  are  natives  of  Kentucky,  and 
Mrs.  Kelly's  natives  of  Tennessee.  Mr. 
Kelly  is  regarded  as  a  public  benefactor  by 
all  who  know  him.  His  farm  is  in  excel- 
lent condition,  well  cultivated,  with  good 
buildings  on  same. 

CHARLES  E.  LEITCH,  farmer.  Sec. 
2;  P.O.Charleston;  owns  117  acres  ;  was 
born  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  April  16,  1836  ; 
resided  with  his  parents  on  the  farm  until 
22  years  of  age.  He  was  married  to 
Mahalia  Baker  March  18,  1858  ;  she  was 
born  in  Highland  Co.,  Va.,  Dec.  19, 1837. 
Mr.  Leitch  has  seven  children  living  and 
two  dead ;  the  names  of  the  living  are 
Lizzie,  Grant,  John,  Charles  E.,  Jacob, 
Samuel  and  Allen  ;  the  deceased  were  two 
infants.  Mr.  Leitch  has  held  the  office  of 
School  Director  ten  years  ;  he  now  holds 
the  offices  of  School  Trustee  and  Road 
Commissioner.  Mr.  Leitch's  father  was 
Captain  of  a  company  of  State  militia  in 
this  county  in  an  early  day. 

SAMUEL  L.  MORRIS,  farmer  and 
stock-dealer.  Sec.  8 ;  P.  0.  Mattoon  ; 
owns  eighty  acres  ;  was  born  in  Logan  Co., 
Ohio,  April  3,  1855,  and  lived  with  his 
parents  on  the  farm  until  he  married 
Phoebe  C.  Lucas,  Feb.  12,  1875  ;  she  was 
born  in  Logan  Co.,  111.,  Oct.  16,1857; 
they  have  one  child — Rosetta.  His 
parents  are  natives  of  Ohio  ;  Mrs.  Mor- 
ris's father  is  a  native  of  Ohio. 

WILY  MATTHEWS, farmer.  Sec.  21  ; 
P.  0.  Johnstown  ;  owns  forty  acres  ;  was 
born  in  Morgan  Co.,  Ind.,  June  27,  1842, 
and  lived  with  his  parents  on  the  farm 
until  the  year  1859,  when  he  came  to  this 
county  and  has  resided  here  since.  He 
was  married  Oct.  27,  1863,  to  Margaret 
Jackson  ;  she  was  born  in  Owens  Co..  Ind., 
Oct.  17,  1844,  died  Jan.  1,  1871.'  He 
then  married  Eliza  T.  Balch  Aug.  13, 
1871 ;  she  was  born  in  Madison  Co., 
Miss.,  Jan.  15,  1857,  and  has  had  seven 
children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  viz.,  Os- 
car M.,  Lizzie,  Cary,  Esther  M.,  Grertrude 
and  Mary  A.     Mr.  Matthews  has  been  As- 


sessor in  this  township  two  terms.  He 
was  in  the  late  war  three  years,  and  subse- 
quently in  the  hundred-day  service. 

J.  L.  F.  MILLER,  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer.  Sec.  9  ;  P.  0.  Mattoon ;  owns  337 
acres  ;  was  born  in  Trimble  Co.,  Ky.,  Jan. 
9,  1829,  and  engaged  with  his  father  in 
farming  until  23  years  of  age.  He  was 
married  to  Rachel  P.  Gray  Nov.  27,  1857 ; 
she  was  born  in  Tennessee  April  19, 1829, 
died  May  2,  1860  ;  the  fruit  of  this  mar- 
riage was  two  children — George  L.  and 
Rachel'  E.  Mr.  Miller  then  married  Mary 
J.  Romine  Feb.  25,  1866;  she  was  born 
in  Vigo  Co.,  Ind.,  July  3,  1841 ;  the  fruit 
of  this  marriage  is  eight  children — Lola, 
Mattie,  Clara,  Mary  T.,  Bertha,  Katie  and 
Clinton,  and  one  infant  deceased.  Mr. 
Miller  commenced  with  but  little  property 
and  by  his  honesty,  industry  and  econ- 
omy has  accumulated  considerable  prop- 
erty. 

CEPHAS  MILLER,  farmer,  Sec.  3 ; 
P.  0.  Mattoon ;  was  born  in  Coles  Co., 
111.,  Nov.  6,  1852  ;  engaged  with  his 
father  in  farming,  until  he  married  Alice 
Denman,  Feb.  19,  1873  ;  she  was  born  in 
Jasper  Co.,  Ill,  Dec.  19, 1852  ;  they  have 
had  three  children,  viz. :  Santa  Clara,  she 
was  born  Jan.  7,  1874 ;  Denman,  was 
born  July  16,  1875,  died  Nov.  20,  1877  ; 
Katie,  born  Dec.  3,  1877.  Mrs.  Miller's 
father  was  in  the  late  war ;  enlisted  in  the 
97th  I.  V.  C. ;  served  three  months.  Mr. 
Miller's  father,  J.  W.  Miller,  is  one  of  the 
largest  landholders  in  the  township.  Mrs. 
Miller's  father,  J.  B.  Denman,  was  killed 
in  the  city  of  Charleston  by  a  horse  run- 
ning away. 

JOHN  W.  MILLER,  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer.  Sec.  1  ;  P.  0.  Charleston ;  owns 
800  acres,  worth  $40  per  acre ;  he  was 
born  in  Trimble  Co.,  Ky.,  March  13, 1825  ; 
he  lived  in  Kentucky  until  12  years  of 
age ;  then  emigrated  to  Coles  Co.,  111., 
where  he  lived  with  his  father  on  the  farm  ; 
engaged  in  farming  until  he  married 
Rebecca  A.  Tremble,  June  26,  1851 ;  she 
was  born  in  Harrison  Co.,  Ind.,  July  15, 
1828  ;  the  fruit  of  this  marriage  was  eight 
children,  five  living  and  three  dead;  the 
names  of  the  living  are  Cephas,  Horana, 
Armantha,  John  and  James ;  the  names 
of  the  deceased  are  George,  Elizabeth  and 
Quitman.  Mr.  Miller  went  to  California 
in  1849,  returning  in  1851  ;  he  also  went 


590 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  : 


to  Pike's  Peak ;  he  is  highly  respected  in 
his  neighborhood. 

PATRICK  NICHOLSON,  farmer,  Sec. 
12;  P.  0.  Charleston;  owns  380  acres 
was  born  in  Jetferson  Co.,  Tenn.,  Nov.  6, 
1809 ;  resided  with  parents  on  farm,  helping 
his  father  until  21  years  of  age;  came 
to  this  State  in  November,  1830,  to  what 
is  now  Douglas  Co. :  Mr.  N.  made  several 
thousand  rails  for  $1  per  hundred  ;  worked 
six  months  for  $8  per  month  ;  had  nothing 
but  one  saddleiiiare  ;  sold  mare  and  saddle 
and  bridle  for  $8.  Was  married  to  Eliza- 
beth Ashmore,  May  17,  1832;  she  was 
born  in  Jeiferson  Co.,  Tenn.,  March  4, 1814  ; 
they  are  the  parents  of  eleven  children, 
seven  living ;  Patrena  A.  (now  widow  of 
James  Ealch,  deceased),  William  A.,  Dor- 
otha  (now  Mrs.  F.  A.  Endsley,  of  Green- 
up), Harriet  N.,  Albert  B.,  Margaret  M. 
(now  wife  of  Thomas  Newman,  of  Hickory 
Tp.),  Ella  E.;  deceased — Joseph  B.,  born 
May  30,  1833,  died  May  24, 1873;  James 
M.,  born  March  26,  1841,  died  March  28, 
1847;  Mary  P.  C,  born  Mar.  6,  1839, 
died  June  4,  1864;  Amos  E.,  born  May 
8,  1845,  died  while  in  5th  Illinois  Cavalry, 
in  the  fall  of  1863.  Mr.  N.  has  held  of- 
fice of  Supervisor  of  Township  one  term;  he 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  county, 
and  bore  his  part  in  the  hardships  of  those 
days.  He  commenced  in  this  township 
with  almost  nothing;  has  by  hard  labor, 
economy  and  industry  accumulated  several 
thousand  dollars  worth  of  property.  For 
benevolent  purposes  his  gifts  have  averaged 
about  $100  a  year  for  forty  years,  for  church 
and  missionary  objects  ;  he  is  a  man  much 
respected  in  the  communitywhere  he  resides. 

ALBERT  H.  ODELL,  farmer,  Sec.  9  ; 
P.  0.  Mattoon ;  owns  eighty  acres ;  was 
born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Aug.  5,  1844, 
and  lived  with  his  parents  on  the  form  in 
this  county  until  married  Sept.  9,  1874,  to 
Louisa  E.  Miller,  who  was  born  in  Coles 
Co.,  111.,  Oct.  8,  1849  ;  they  have  three 
children — Lola  A.,  Milla  M.  and  Gertrude. 
Mr.  Odell  was  Township  Collector  two 
terms.  He  was  also  in  the  late  war  four 
months.  Mr.  Odell's  father  was  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war,  and  also  in  the  late  war 
four  months.  Mr.  Odell's  eldest  brother 
was  the  first  child  born  in  the  city  of 
Charleston,  Coles  Co.,  111.  Mr.  Odell's  pa- 
rents were  natives  of  Tennessee,  and  Mrs. 
Odell's  of  Kentucky. 


FRANCIS  POPHAM,  farmer  and 
stock-dealer.  Sec.  10;  P.  0.  Campbell; 
was  born  in  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  June  2, 1838; 
lived  with  his  parents  on  the  farm ;  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  married  to  Sarah 
E.  Babbs,  Dec.  11,  1862;  she  was  born 
in  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  8,  1844  ;  the 
fruit  of  their  marriage  has  been  four 
children — William  C.,"Fred  D.,  Minnie 
A.  and  Clarence  E.  Mr.  P.  owns  lOO 
acres  of  excellent  river-bottom  land,  which 
he  farms  ;  he  also  deals  largely  in  horses  ; 
he  is  a  very  liberal-hearted  man,  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  know  him. 

CARSON  PORTER  REED  ROD- 
GERS,  merchant,  Farmington ;  P.  0. 
Campbell;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Nov.  1,  1840,  and 
lived  with  his  parents  until  26  years  of 
age.  He  then  married  Catharine  Winford 
Richey  Oct.  30,  1866,  who  was  born  in 
Gallatin  Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  30, 1847,  and  died 
April  14,  1869 ;  he  afterward  married 
Martha  Jane  Veatch  March  8,  1874,  who 
was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  111.,  Oct.  26, 
1837,  and  has  had  three  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living,  viz.,  Isaac  Walter,  Kate 

Winford;     deceased Martha    H.      Mr. 

Rodgers  was  Assessor  one  term.  Township 
Collector  three  terms.  Supervisor  one  term 
and  School  Treasurer  ten  years.  He  is 
now  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Farm- 
ington and  owns  100  acres  in  Cumberland 
Co.,  111. 

JOHN  WHITE  RODGERS,  farmer, 
Sec.  18;  P.  0.  Campbell;  owns  seventy 
acres ;  was  born  in  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  Feb. 
10,  1831,  and  lived  with  his  parents  on  the 
farm  until  23  years  of  age.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Margaret  Elizabeth  Gillinnater 
April  5,  1854  ;  she  was  born  in  Effingham 
Co.,  111.,  Jan.  18,  1836;  they  have  had 
six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living,  viz., 
James  F.,  Mary  L.,  William  B.,  Hiram  M. 
and  Henry  G.;  deceased — Isaac  E.  Mr. 
Rodgers  was  Overseer  of  the  Road  one 
term  and  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
which  office  he  now  holds.  His  parents 
were  natives  of  Kentucky  ;  hers,  of  Tenn- 
essee ;  Mrs.  Rodgers'  father  was  in  the 
Mexican  war  thirteen  months. 

GEORGE  THOMAS  RODGERS, 
farmer.  Sec.  20  ;  P.  0.  Campbell ;  owns 
114  acres;  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Sept. 
13,  1849,  and  lived  on  the  f\irm  with  his 
parents  until  married  to  Mary  Ella  Brunk 


PLEASANT  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 


591 


Wright  Nov.  25,  1876 ;  ste  was  born  in 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  Sept.  11,  1856  ;  they  have 
one  child — Mary  Blanche.  Mr.  Rodgers' 
father  is  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  his 
mother  of  Indiana.  Mrs.  Rodgers'  father 
is  a  native  of  New  York,  and  her  mother 
of  Tennessee.  Mr.  Rodgers'  father  made 
the  first  brick  ever  layed  in  the  city  of 
Charleston,  Coles  Co.,  111. 

JULIUS  E.  SMITH,  farmer,  Sec.  19; 
P.  0.  Etna;  owns  the  undivided  fourth 
of  eighty  acres ;  was  born  in  Coles  Co., 
111.,  Jan.  10,  1852,  and  lived  with  his 
parents  on  the  farm  until  20  years  of  age, 
when  he  married  Louisa  Woolery  Oct.  2, 
1872 ;  she  was  born  in  Putnam  Co.,  Ind., 
July  19,  1856  ;  they  have  three  children 
— Mina  L.,  Edna  0.  and  Ueorge  M.  Mr. 
Smith  has  been  School  Director  two  years. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  Mrs.  Smith's  of  Indiana. 

ISAACTAYLOR,farmer,  Sec.  20;  P. 
O.  Campbell;  was  born  in  Rutherford  Co., 
Tenn.,  March  16, 1829,  and  lived  with  his 
father  on  the  farm,  engaged  with  his 
parents  in  farming  until  married  to  Eliza  J. 
Erwin  April  12,  1860  ;  she  was  born  in 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  Oct.  5,  1841  ;  they  have 
eight  children,  viz.,  Marian  W.,  Willie  E., 
Oscar  E.,  Margaret  E.,  Perry  S.,  Isaac  V., 
Balas  B.  and  Cary  A.  Mr.  Taylor  was 
School  Director  fifteen  years  and  has  held 
the  oSice  of  Assessor  one  term.  He  is  a 
Primitive  Baptist.  Mr.  Taylor  is  liked  by 
all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  is  a  minister  of  considerable 
ability,  living  up  to  what  he  preaches. 

JONATHAN  WILSON  WALKER, 
farmer  and  stock-dealer.  Sec.  21  ;  P.  0. 
Mattoon ;  owns  400  acres ;  was  born  in 
Bedford  Co.,  Tenn.,  July  26,  1828  ;  lived 
with  his  parents  on  the  farm  until  27 
years  of  age.  Married  April  3,  1857,  to 
Mary  Sell;  she  was  born  in  Preble  Co., 
Ohio,  March  8,  1831,  and  has  had  six 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living — Joseph 
W.,  James  A.,  Emma  0.,  Mary  I.  and 
Sarah  E.  Mr.  Walker  has  been  School 
Director  ten  years  and  School  Trustee  five 
years.  His  father  is  a  native  of  North 
Carolina  and  his  mother  ot  Virginia  ;  Mrs. 
Walker's  father  is  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  her  mother  of  Ohio. 

AMZI  ALEXANDER  WALKER, 
farmer,  Sec.  14  ;  P.  0.  Larna ;  owns  240 
acres  ;  he  was  born  in  Bedford  Co.,  Tenn., 


May  2,  1830,  and  lived  with  his  mother 
on  the  farm  until  23  years  of  age.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Johnston  April  21, 
1853,  who  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Sept. 
29,  1823,  and  moved  on  to  the  farm  where 
he  now  resides ;  they  have  had  five  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  living,  viz.,  Nancy 
M.,  William  I.  and  Mail  E.;  deceased — I. 
C.  and  one  infant.  Mr.  Walker  was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  one  term, 
when  he  resigned  and  was  School  Director 
six  years.  He  has  in  his  possession  a  let- 
ter written  by  his  grandfather  (Josiali 
Walker)  to  James  Walker,  bearing  date 
1802.  and  written  in  North  Carolina. 

JOHN  CRAIG  WHITE,  farmer  and 
blacksmith.  Sec.  15 ;  P.  0.  Campbell ; 
owns  120  acres ;  was  born  in  Scott  Co., 
Ky.,  Dec.  5,  1830,  and  lived  with  his  par- 
ents on  the  farm  until  19  years  of  age.  He 
was  married  to  Louisa  Beckum  Feb.  25, 
1855;  she  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111., 
Feb.  25,  1836;  died  Aug.  10,  1859;  he 
then  married  Sarah  Elizabeth  Kemper 
May  8,  1862  ;  she  was  born  in  Fayette  Co., 
Ky.,  Jan.  10,  1833,  and  has  had  eight 
children,  viz.,  John  I.,  Katie,  Edward  and 
Coleman  ;  deceased — Ida  F.,  Charles, 
George  0.,  Sarah  A.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
White's  parents  are  natives  of  Kentucky. 
ISAAC  WHITE,  farmer,  Sec.  19; 
P.  0.  Mattoon  ;  owns  120  acres;  was  born 
in  Clark  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  12,  1819  ;  lived 
with  his  parents  on  the  farm  until  23 
years  of  age.  He  married  Mary  Lay- 
bourn  Nov.  5,  1843;  she  was  born  in 
Clark  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  10,  1825;  they 
have  had  eight  children,  seven  of  whom 
are  living,  viz.,  Sarah  E.,  William  B., 
Frances  F.,  Charles  H.,  James  P.,  Alice 
I.  and  Flora  0.,  and  Amos  H.,  deceased. 
Mr.  White  was  Township  Trustee  seven 
years,  and  School  Director  four  years. 
His  parents  are  natives  of  Ohio;  Mrs. 
White's  father  was  English  and  her 
mother  a  native  of  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
White  are  both  Cumberland  Presbyte- 
rians.  ■ 

MONROE  WHITE,  farmer,  Sec.  10; 
P.  0.  Charleston ;  owns  238  acres ;  was 
born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Aug.  9,  1844,  and 
lived  with  his  parents  on  the  farm  ;  en- 
gaged with  his  father  in  farming  until  21 
years  of  age.  He  was  married  to  Mary 
E.  Hall,  Nov.  16,  1865  ;  she  was  born  in 
Coles  Co.,  Ill,  Aug.  28,  1848;  they  have 


592 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  : 


four  children — Sarah  F.,  Hannah  A.,  Mil- 
lie E.  and  Lucy  E.  Mr.  White  has  held 
the  office  of  School  Director  five  years. 
Mr.  White's  parents  are  natives  of  Ohio, 
and  Mrs.  White's,  natives  of  Kentucky. 

DAVID  BEELS  WILLIAMS,  flirm- 
er,  Sec.  23;  P.  0.  Johnstown;  owns 
fifty-five  acres;  was -born  in  Coles  Co.,  111., 
March  25,  1836,  and  lived  with  his  par- 
ents on  the  farm  until  21  years  of  age. 
He  was  married  to  Phoebe  Landrus  Nov. 
13,  1856,  who  was  born  in  Crawford  Co., 
Ind.,  Feb.  14,  1837,  who  has  had  eight 
children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  viz., 
Lewis  W.,  Christopher  C,  Flora  E., 
Henry  S.,  Emma  F.  and  Edmond  C;  de- 
ceased, L.  W.  and  L.  M.  Mr.  Williams 
was  Overseer  of  the  Road  two  terms, 
elected  Constable  two  terms,  Justice  of 
the  Peace  one  term,  and  School  Director 
two  terms.  He  was  a  volunteer  in  Com- 
pany H,  123d  I.  V.  I.,  who  were  in  the 
late  war  in  1862    (afterward   mounted)  ; 


served  six  months  and  was  discharged  in 
consequence  of  disability ;  re-enlisted 
March,  1864,  and  served  eighteen  months, 
and  was  mustered  out  by  general  order. 

GEORGE  A.  WHITNEY,  farmer. 
Sec.  3 ;  P.  0.  Mattoon ;  owns  thirty-six 
acres ;  was  born  in  the  State  of  Wiscon- 
sin Sept.  4,  1854;  lived  with  his  parents 
on  the  farm  until  20  years  of  age.  Was 
then  married  to  Emma  D.  Hill,  May  10, 
1874;  she  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111., 
June  7,  1852.  Mr.  Whitney's  parents 
are  natives  of  York  State,  and  Mrs.  Whit- 
ney's, natives  of  Virginia.  Mr.  Whitney's 
father  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this 
county,  and  one  of  the  men  who  helped  to 
change  this  country  from  a  wilderness  to 
its  present  condition  of  prosperity.  Mrs. 
Whitney's  father  (Mr.  Jas.  W.  Hill)  was 
also  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  town- 
ship, coming  to  this  township  with  only 
$2.50,  and  leaving  at  his  death  about  $20,- 
000  worth  of  property. 


ASHMORE    TOWNSHIP. 


HEZEKIAH  J.  ASHMORE,  de- 
ceased, late  of  Ashmore,  and  for  whom 
the  township  and  village  was  named,  was 
born  in  Kentucky  Sept.  30,  1802 ;  he 
was  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Letitia  (Guthrie) 
Ashmore ;  his  parents  removed  to  Mur- 
ray Co.,  Tenn.,  when  he  was  a  child,  and 
when  he  was  about  12  years  old  to  Illinois, 
settling  on  the  Wabash  River,  about  twelve 
miles  south  of  Terre  Haute.  He  was 
married  May  24,  1825,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Black,  a  daughter  of  John  Black ;  she 
was  born  in  Muhlenburg  Co.,  Ky.,  Dec. 
10,  1807,  and  came  at  the  age  of  4  years 
to  the  then  Territory  of  Illinois.  About  the 
year  1828  he  removed  to  Vermilion  Co., 
where  he  remained  till  February  1831, 
when  he  removed  to  Coles  Co.  His  mother 
had  died  several  years  before  in  the  Wabash 
country,  and  his  father  having  married 
Miss  Ruth  Cowan,  had  removed  in  1829 
to  Coles  Co.  and  settled  in  what  is  now 
East  Oakland  Tp.,  whore  he  died  in  1836, 
and  his  wife  some  four  years  afterward.  Mr. 
Ashmore  also  located  in  the  same  town- 
ship, and  putting  up  a  log  cabin  as  he  had 
done    twice  before,  he   began    to  open   a 


farm  ;  after  a  residence  there  of  about  five 
years,  he  sold  his  farm,  and  removing  to  a 
point  about  two  and  a  half  miles  north- 
west of  the  present  village  of  Ashmore ; 
he  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land,  and 
became  the  largest  land-owner  in  the 
township,  owning  at  one  time  some  1,600 
acres  ;  he  engaged  largely  in  stock-raising, 
and  continued  that  during  his  residence 
on  the  farm;  he  laid  oft'  a  part  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Ashmore  in  1855 ;  in  1866,  he 
retired  from  the  fiirm  and  removing  to  the 
village,  there  resided  till  his  death,  Dec.  9, 
1872,  at  the  age  of  70  years;  he  left  a 
family  often  children,  viz. :  Samuel  C,  of 
Ashmore;  James  M.,  of  Charleston;  Mar- 
tha J.,  wife  of  Rodney  A.  Phelps,  of  Kan- 
sas ;  Hezekiah  M.,  of  Charleston;  Sarah 
C,  wife  of  Jacob  Zimmerman,  of  Ash- 
more; Elizabeth  S.,  wife  of  I.  N.  Van 
Dyke,  of  Charleston ;  Rebecca,  wife  of 
William  P.  Ferriss,  of  Decatur,  111. ;  Or- 
lando F.,  of  Ashmore;  Mary  M.,  wife  of 
Jacob  Collom,  of  Paris,  111. ;  and  Harvey 
B.,  of  Ashmore.  Mr.  Ashmore  held  sev- 
eral offices  of  public  trust,  among  which 
may  be  mentioned  that  of  Justice  of  the 


ASHMORE  TOWNSHIP. 


593 


Peace,  for  several  years,  Constable  and 
County  Commissioner.  He  was  a  man  of 
enterprise  and  unusual  business  ability, 
and  a  liberal  supporter  of  churches, 
schools,  and  whatever  pertained  to  the 
public  welfare. 

ORLANDO  F.  ASHMORE,  son  of 
Hezekiah  and  Elizabeth  Ashmore,  was 
born  about  two  and  a  half  miles  northwest 
of  the  village  of  Ashmore,  June  10, 1845. 
He  was  raised  on  the  farm  until  he  was  of 
age,  and  then  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness in  Ashmore,  and  has  been  engaged 
alternatel}"  in  the  grocery  and  dry  goods 
business  until  a  s^ort  time  ago.  He  was 
married  Oct.  12,  1865,  to  Miss  Margaret 
J.  Barnett,  a  daughter  of  James  Barnett  of 
Lincoln  Co.,  Ky.  She  was  born  near 
Stanford,  in  that  county,  Nov.  27,  1842. 
They  have  had  five  children,  three  of  whom 
are  living,  Ores  L.,  Iva  E.  and  Emma  B. 

HARVEY  B.  ASHMORE,  farmer 
and  stock-raiser ;  P.O.  Ashmore;  was  born 
in  this  township  Nov.  1,  1849,  being  a  son 
of  Hezekiah  J.  and  Elizabeth  Ashmore. 
When  about  15  years  old,  he  engaged 
in  mercantile  business  in  Ashmore,  in 
which  he  continued  about  two  years.  He 
then  engaged  in  dealing  in  stock,  which 
he  has  followed  ever  since.  In  1871,  he 
settled  on  his  present  farm  adjoining  the 
village  of  Ashmore,  containing  510  acres 
of  land,  with  fine  improvements.  He  also 
owns  another  farm  of  80  acres  two  and  a 
half  miles  northwest  of  the  village.  Mr. 
Ashmore  is  largely  engaged  in  stock  rais- 
ing, feeding  not  less  than  500  hogs,  and 
from  100  to  200  cattle  annually.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  Poland-China  hogs 
of  which  he  ships  a  large  number  every 
year.  He  was  married  Nov.  IC,  1870,  to 
Miss  Emma  J.  Carter,  a  daughter  of  John 
L.  Carter,  of  Oakland.  She  is  a  native 
of  Gallia  Co.,  Ohio.  They  have  five 
children — Herbert  K.,  Leon  B.,  Leftridge 
L.  and  Lloyd  C.  The  youngest,  a  daugh- 
ter, is  not  named  at  the  present  writing. 

WILLIAM  F.  AUSTIN,  of  the  firm 
of  Austin,  Brown  &  Kimball,  dealers  in 
hardware,  lumber,  agricultural  implements, 
furniture,  etc. ;  P.  0.  Ashmore ;  is  a 
native  of  Coles  Co.,  being  a  son  of 
John  and  Susan  (Carterj  Austin ;  his 
father  was  born  near  Nashville,  Tenn., 
Sept.  9,  1809,  and  came  with  his  father's 
family  to    the    county    in    about    1828 ; 


his  father,  William  Austin,  took  up  a 
farm,  comprising  the  site  of  the  present 
village  of  Ashmore.  Mr.  Austin  was  mar- 
ried Oct.  15,  1835,  to  Miss  Susan  Carter, 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Carter,  both 
natives  of  East  Tennessee ;  she  was  born 
in  East  Tennessee  Sept.  24,  1815  ;  re- 
moved with  her  parents  to  Kentucky  in 
early  childhood,  and  came  to  Coles  Co.,  in 
1830,  landing  in  Ashmore  April  10,  where 
her  father  took  up  a  farm  east  of  and 
adjoining  the  present  village,  and  where 
Mxs.  Austin  still  resides ;  Mrs.  Austin's 
father,  John  Carter,  was  born  in  1790,  and 
died  July  19,  1841  ;  her  mother,  Mary 
Carter,  was  born  Dec.  24,  1792,  and  died 
Nov.  11,  1857  ;  Mr.  Austin  remained  a 
substantial  and  highly-respected  citizen  till 
his  death,  Sept.  9,  1845  ;  he  left  five  chil- 
dren— James  M.,  born  March  13,  1837, 
and  died  July  23,  1866 ;  Mary  C,  now 
Mrs.  Thomas  White,  of  Ashmore,  born 
Aug.  13,  1838;  William  F.,  born  Nov. 
12,  1840  ;  Edith,  born  Sept.  22,  1842, 
married  F.  M.  Waters,  of  Ashmore,  and 
died  Jan.  4,  1862  ;  Thomas,  born  Oct.  10, 
1844.  William  F.  Austin  remained  on 
the  homestead  until  the  age  of  22,  and 
then  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  wagons 
and  carriages,  in  company  with  A.  J.  Wa- 
ters ;  this  he  continued  two  years,  after 
which  he  followed  carpentering  until  he 
entered  upon  his  present  business  in  1872. 
Mr.  Austin  has  been  a  member  of  the  vil- 
lage Council  for  the  past  five  or  six  years. 
He  was  married  Nov.  10,  1864,  to  Miss 
Mary  A.  Sousley,  who  was  born  in  Ash- 
more Tp.  Aug.  5,  1843;  she  is  a  daughter 
of  David  and  Lucinda  (Groves)  Sousley, 
who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the 
county  ;  her  father  was  born  Sept.  1,  1816, 
came  to  Coles  Co.  with  his  parents  in  about 
the  year  1832  and  died  Nov.  26,  1847. 
Mr.  Austin  has  two  sons — Alcephus  L. 
and  Thomas  E. 

REV.  STEPHEN  J.  BOVELL,  Pas- 
tor of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Ashmore  ; 
was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  East 
Tenn-,  May  27,  1827.  His  father,  Rev. 
J.  V.  Bovell,  was  a  native  of  Virginia; 
removed  to  Tennessee  at  an  early  age  ; 
graduated  at  Washington  College  at  the 
age  of  20  years,  and,  when  26  years  old, 
became  President  of  that  institution,  and 
occupied  the  position  three  years.  In 
June,  1829,  he  received  a  call  to  thePres- 


594 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


byterian  Churcli,  in  Paris,  111.,  and  re- 
moved to  that  place,  where  he  died  but  a 
few  months  afterward,  leaving  a  wife  and 
four  children  ;  Mr.  Bovell's  mother,  Chris- 
tiana Gray  Bo  veil,  was  a  native  of  Tennes- 
see, and  now  resides  with  her  son ;  in 
1835,  the  mother,  with  her  family,  re-, 
moved  to  Coles  Co.,  near  Charleston';  Mr. 
Bovell  remained  on  the  farm  until  the  age 
of  20,  then,  in  1847,  returned  to  Paris, 
where  he  spent  two  years  as  a  student  in 
the  Edgar  Academy,  then  under  the  con- 
trol of  Rev.  H.  R.  Venable.  In  1849, 
he  entered  Hanover  College,  where  he 
graduated  in  1852;  he  then  went  to  Mis- 
sissippi and  engaged  in  teaching,  but  at  the 
end  of  one  year,  he  received  an  attack  of 
paralysis,  which  disabled  him  from  work 
for  a  year  and  a  half;  in  the  fall  of  1854,  he 
entered  the  New  Albany  Theological  Semi- 
nary, where  he  spent  one  year,  when,  owing 
to  a  relapse  of  his  former  paralysis,  he  was 
obliged  to  discontinue  his  studies  ;  recov- 
ering partially  in  the  spring  of  1856,  he 
engaged,  by  the  advice  of  his  physician, 
in  farming,  which  he  continued  two  years  ; 
he  then  went  to  Palestine,  111.,  where  he 
taught  for  eight  years,  pursuing  his  theo- 
logical studies  in^the  mean  time  ;  he  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  April,  1861,  and  or- 
dained in  April,  1865;  he  came  to  Ash- 
more  the  same  year,  and,  in  1869,  was 
elected  Superintendent  of  Schools  of  Coles 
Co.,  holding  that  office  four  years.  He 
was  married  March  6,  1856,  to  Miss  Mar- 
tha J.  Howe,  of  Flemingsburg,  Ky., 
and  has  two  children  living — Henry  P. 
and  Luella. 

JOBE  VV.  BROWN,  retired,  Ashmore; 
this  gentleman  was  born  in  Chatham,  Mid- 
dlesex Co.,  Conn.,  July  15,  1809 ;  his 
father  was  Jonathan  W.  Brown,  and  his 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth 
Aiken,  the  former  being  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, and  the  latter  of  the  island  of 
Nantucket ;  when  he  was  but  a  child,  his 
parents  removed  to  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
thence  to  Milton,  Ky.,  and  in  1822  to 
Lawrence  Co.,  111.;  in  January,  1825,  they 
removed  to  Walnut  Grove  in  Edgar  Co., 
then  on  the  very  outskirts  of  civilization  ; 
at  that  time  there  was  not  a  single  white 
inhabitant  in  the  present  limits  of  Coles 
Co.;  his  father  resided  there  until  his 
death  June  17,  1867,  at  the  age  of  79 
years.     In    1840,  Mr.   Brown  removed  to 


Ashmore  Tp.,  where  he  had  entered  eighty 
acres  of  land,  borrowing  for  that  purpose 
$100;  to  illustrate  the  struggles  of  those 
early  days,  we  may  mention  that  Mr.  Brown 
was  thirteen  years  in  taking  up  this  first 
note ;  he  has  hauled  wheat  to  Chicago, 
taking  his  provisions  and  horse  feed  along 
with  him,  and  sleeping  in  his  wagon  at 
night ;  the  journey  occupied  sixteen  days, 
and  on  arriving  there,  has  sold  his  wheat 
at  50  cents  a  bushel.  In  1838,  he,  with 
his  father  and  brother,  took  a  contract  to 
build  two  sections  of  the  old  Terre  Haute 
&  Alton  R.  R.,  which  they  completed  in 
1840.  Mr.  Brown  added  to  his  farm  until 
he  owned  at  one  time  400  acres,  a  part  of 
which  he  still  retains  ;  in  January,  1877, 
he  removed  to  the  village  of  Ashmore, 
where  he  now  lives  in  the  quiet  enjoy- 
ment of  the  fruits  of  his  years  of  toil. 
He  was  married  Jan.  1,  1833',  to  Miss 
Martha  R.  Archer,  who  was  born  in  Bour- 
bon Co.,  Ky.,  March  4,  1808,  and  was 
raised  in  Bloomington,  Ind ;  of  twelve 
children,  eleven  grew  to  adult  age,  viz.- 
Warren  E.,  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Nelson  Green  ; 
Eliza  J.,  now  Mrs.  Wm.  P.  Green ;  George 
A.,  Jerome  A.,  Lucy  A.,  now  deceased; 
Sarah  R.,  wife  of  James  Wiley  ;  Caroline 
A.,  wife  of  A.  J.  Waters;  Melissa  E.,  wife 
of  Robert  May  field  ;  Henrietta  M.,  wife  of 
Richard  Waters ;  Susan  M.,  now  Mrs. 
Thomas  Sublet;  of  the  ten  now  livins,-.  all 
are  residents  of  Coles  Co.,  except  Warren 
E.,  who  is  a  physician  in  Andrew  Co., 
Mo.  Mr.  Brown  has  served  seven  years 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  one  year  as 
Supervisor  ;  he  was  an  officer  of  the  Coles 
County  Agricultural  Society  for  several 
years. 

GEORGE  A.  BROWN,  dealer  in  hard- 
ware, lumber,  furniture,  etc.  ( firm  of  Aus- 
tin, Brown  &  Kimball),  Ashmore;  was 
born  at  the  Walnut  Grove,  in  Edgar  Co.,  111., 
Oct.  17,  1837  ;  he  came  with  his  parents, 
Job  W.  and  Martha  R.  Brown,  to  Coles 
Co.  in  1840  ;  he  remained  on  the  farm 
until  the  age  of  23  years,  receiving  his 
education  in  the  little  log  schoolhouse  in 
the  neighborhood ;  after  arriving  at  age, 
he  taught  school  one  winter ;  at  23,  lie 
engaged  in  contracting  and  buildinij;  in 
Ashmore,  building  most  of  the  village,  in- 
cluding the  Methodist  Church  and  many 
of  the  business  houses  and  private  dwell- 
ings ;  also  helped  to  build  the  Presbyterian 


ASHMORE   TOWNSHIP. 


595 


Church.  Among  the  business  houses  may 
be  mentioned  those  of  Austin,  Brown  & 
Kimball,  F.  M.  Waters,  Thomas  O'Brien, 
Dr.  Robertson,  Joshua  Ricketts,  A.  J.  & 
R.  Waters  &  Co.,  etc.;  in  1872,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business,  Mr.  W.  F*. 
Austin  afterward  becoming  a  partner ; 
they  added  hardware,  undertaking,  furni- 
ture, etc.;  in  1875,  Mr.  W.  C.  Kimball 
became  a  member  of  the  firm.  Mr.  Brown 
has  been  a  member  and  President  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  and  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation a  number  of  years  ;  he  is  at  present 
Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  He 
was  married  Jan.  25,  1861,  to  Miss  Arden 
O'Brien,  a  daughter  of  the  late  John 
O'Brien,  of  Ashmore;  they  have  three 
children — Walter  M.,  Owen  E.  and  Job  W. 
WM.  H.  BROWN,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser;  P.  0.  Ashmore  ;  was  born  in  Oneida 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  23,  1813,  being  a  son 
of  Jonathan  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Aiken) 
Brown,  and  accompanied  his  parents  in 
their  removal  to  Milton,  Ky.,  to  Lawrence 
Co.,  III.,  and  to  the  Walnut  Grove,  Edgar 
Co.,  in  January,  1825.  He  remained  at 
home  until  he  was  nearly  21,  when  he  be- 
gan working  on  a  farm  ;  he  worked  at  va- 
rious employments  in  different  places  until 
he  was  married,  Nov.  4,  1835,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  McGhan,  of  Clark  Co.;  he 
then  settled  on  a  farm  in  Clark  Co.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1838,  he  was  associated 
with  his  father  and  brother  in  grading  a 
portion  of  the  old  Terre  Haute  &  Alton 
Railroad.  His  wife  died  Sept.  14,  1838, 
leaving  one  son,  William  W.,  who,  in  the 
late  war  was  Orderly  Sergeant  of  Co.  H, 
lOtli  I.  V.  C;  and  was  killed  at  the  capt- 
ure of  Little  Rock,  Ark.  In  the  spring 
of  1839,  Mr.  Brown  came  to  Coles  Co., 
and  on  the  13th  of  June,  1839,  married 
Mrs.  Emily  Buck,  a  daughter  of  John  T. 
Olmsted,  an  old  pioneer  of  Edgar  Co.,  set- 
tling in  G-rand  View  about  1828,  and 
afterward  came  to  Coles  Co.-  Of  nine 
children  of  this  marriage,  six  are  now  liv- 
ing— John  0.  (now  a  resident  of  Charles- 
ton, Harriet,  wife  of  James  Bull,  of  Ed- 
gar Co.),  Frederick,  James  H.,  Edwin  W. 
and  Francis  A ;  their  eldest  daughter,  Mary 
Elizabeth,  died  April  19,  1849,  at  the  age 
of  72  years ;  Emma  A.  died  Nov.  18, 
1870,  at  nearly  20  years  of  age  ;  George 
W.  died  March  15,  1862,  at  16  years  of 
age.     Mr.    Brown   settled  on   his  present 


farm  in  January,  1842,  where  he  owns 
336  acres  of  land  well  improved  ;  he  began 
life  a  poor  man,  and  by  his  industry,  econ- 
omy and  good  management  has  acquired  a 
comfortable  fortune,  and  is  considered  one 
of  the  most  substantial  citizens  of  Coles 
Co. 

WILLIAM  S.  CHILDRESS,  farmer 
and  stock-raiser  ;  P.  0.  Ashmore  ;  wa§  born 
in  Knox  Co.,  East  Tenn.,  April  1 1, 1827  ;  he 
is  a  son  of  Richard  and  Rebecca  Childress. 
In  1831,  his  father  removed  to  Edgar  Co., 
and  settled  just  on  the  line  between  Illinois 
and  Indiana.  In  1848,  Mr.  Childress  came 
to  Coles  Co.,  being  the  first  of  the  family 
to  settle  here,  his  father  following  in  the 
spring  of  1849  ;  his  father  died  about 
1862  ;  his  mother  still  survives,  and  now 
resides  in  Farmington,  in  Coles  Co.,  at  the 
age  of  78  years.  Mr.  C.  was  married 
April  30,  1848,  to  Miss  Temple  A.  Barnes, 
a  daughter  of  Enos  Barnes,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  county;  she  died  Sept.  17, 
1874,  leaving  nine  children — Elizabeth  J. 
(wife  of  Washington  Moody,  of  Ashmore 
Tp.)  ;  Luciiida  E.  (wife  of  H.  Ph.  Good- 
night, of  Ashmore  Tp.),  Richard  M.,  Re- 
becca A.,  Florence  A.,  (wife  of  George 
Honn,  of  East  Oakland  Tp.),  John  F., 
William     A.,     Melinda    and     Viola.     A 


stranger. 


viewing 


Mr.    Childress'     fixrm, 


comprising  over  1,000  acres,  his  large  and 
beautiful  residence,  his  herds  of  over  a 
hundred  cattle,  fifteen  to  twenty  horses, 
a  hundred  and  fifty  sheep,  and  a  hundred 
and  twenty-five  hogs,  would  find  it  difiicult 
to  realize  the  hardships  through  which  he 
has  passed  in  accumulating  them.  When 
he  came  to  the  county  his  total  possessions 
would  not  amount  to  $200  ;  he  has  chopped 
cordwood  at  30  cents  a  cord,  and  made  rails 
at  50  cents  a  hundred;  he  made  about 
7,000  rails  the  first  winter  he  spent  in  the 
county.  To  illustrate  the  gradual  manner 
in  which  he  has  acquired  his  land,  we  give 
the  following,  showing  the  amount  pur- 
chased at  difi"erent  times,  and  the  price  per 
acre.  His  first  purchase  was  liO  acres,  at 
SI. 25  per  acre;  next  80  acres,  of  Govern- 
ment at  $1.25  per  acre;  then  at  intervals 
as  follows  ;  40  acres  at  $15  per  acre  ;  50 
acres,  at  $22  per  acre;  40  acres  at  $17.50 
per  acre  ;  80  acres,  at  $30  per  acre  ;  120 
acres,  at  $25  per  acre;  20  acres,  at  $40  per 
acre ;  20  acres,  at  $27.50  per  acre ;  40 
acres,  at  $18.75  per  acre ;  40  acres,  at  $40 

(i 


596 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


per  acie;  40  acres  at  $8.75  per  acre;  43i    i 
acres,  at  $10  per  acre;  240  acres,  at  $20  | 
per  acre ;  30   acres,  for  $50  in  all,  and  20 
acres  at  $10  per  acre.     He  has   made  it  a 
practice   to    buy   but  never     sell,  conse-  j 
quently  all  of  his  original    purchases    are 
still  in  his  possession,  and  what  is,  perhaps, 
more  remarkable,  there    never  has  been  a 
mortgage  on  an  acre  of  it.     Mr.  Childress 
was  married    a  second  time,  Dec.  1,  1874, 
to  Mrs.   Nannie   Shoemaker,  a  native  of 
Kentucky. 

W.  K.  COMSTOCK,  dealer  in  groceries, 
drugs,  medicines,  etc.,  Ashmore  ;  was  born 
in  Clark  Co.,  111.,  Feb.  1,  1850  ;  he  is  a 
son  of  Levi  and  Lucy  Comstock ;  his  father 
was  born  in  Indiana,  and  his  mother  in 
Kentucky ;  they  both  came  to  Illinois  in 
childhood  with  their  parents,  who  were 
among  the  early  pioneers  of  the  State ; 
when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  about 
4  years  of  age,  his  father  removed 
with  his  family  to  Coles  County,  and  set- 
tled about  three  miles  northeast  of  Ash- 
more  village,  where  he  still  resides.  Mr. 
Comstock  remained  on  the  farm  until 
1872,  after  which  he  read  medicine  and 
attended  one  course  of  lectures  in  Eush 
Medical  College,  Chicago;  in  1874,  he 
engaged  in  his  present  business  in  Ash- 
more.  He  was  married  Nov.  2,  1876,  to 
Miss  Ella  Hogue,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
\V.  Hogue,  of  Ashmore. 

ELI  DUDLEY,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Ashmore ;  was  born  in  Coles 
Co.  Jan.  17,  1840,  being  a  son  of  Guil- 
ford and  Mary  (Wiley)  Dudley:  to  trace 
the  genealogy  of  the  Dudley  family  from 
its  origin,  it  would  be  necessary  to  begin 
with  the  Earl  of  Dudley,  of  Dudley  Cas- 
tle, in  Staifordshire,  England,  in  the  four- 
teenth century,  and  Ibllow  down  through  a 
long  line  of  earls,  barons,  etc.;  this  is  not 
our  purpose,  but  we  can  say  that  the 
genealogy  is  complete  and  authentic  from 
that  point  to  the  subject  of  the  present 
sketch  ;  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to 
America  was  Thomas  Dudley,  Governor  of 
the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  ;  many 
of  his  descendants  held  prominent  posi- 
tions in  the  early  history  of  the  country ; 
assisted  in  the  struggle  for  independence, 
and  are  now  leading  citizens  in  various 
parts  of  the  country  ;  the  first  to  come  to 
Coles  Co.  were  three  brothers — Moses, 
James  and  Guilford ;  Guilford  Dudley  was 


born  in  Raymond,  N.  H.,  Dec.  7,  1795  ; 
the  day  he  was  21,  he  left  home,  and,  going 
to  Ohio,  worked  on  a  farm  for  a  year  ;  then 
went  to  New  Orleans,  from  which  place  he 
came  to  Coles  Co.,  as  early  as  1825  or 
1826  ;  he  worked  at  first  on  his  brother's 
farm,  and  afterward  entered  eighty  acres  of 
land.  He  was  married  in  1829  to  Miss 
Mary  Wiley,  who  was  born  in  Lexington, 
Ky.,  April  22,  1812,  and  came  to  Coles 
Co.  in  1828  ;  putting  up  a  log  cabin  on  his 
farm,  Mr.  Dudley  lived  there  till  the  fall 
of  1839,  when  he  erected  the  frame  house 
now  occupied  by  his  youngest  son — J. 
Elbridge  Dudley.  He  held  the  office  of 
Justice  of  the  Peace  a  number  of  years, 
and  also  Township  Treasurer  several  terms  ; 


he    was    a    quiet    man,      never 


seeking 


notoriety ;  he  followed  farming  till  his 
health  failed,  when  he  opened  a  store  on 
his  firm,  which  he  continued  until  the 
starting  of  Ashmore;  he  was  a  successful 
man,  acquiring  a  handsome  property  and 
about  900  acres  of  land.  He  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1864,  leaving  nine  children — Flor- 
ence (wife  of  James  Routledge,  of  Doug- 
las Co.),  Hannah  (married  Jarrot  Phelps, 
and  died  in  1866),  John  (now  of  Charles- 
ton), Eli,  Elizabeth,  Nancy  J.  (wife  of  S. 
H.  Reed,  of  Douglas  Co.),  Phiiena  S. 
(wife  of  Thomas  Walton,  of  Ashmore), 
Moses  G.  (who  died  in  June,  1868),  and 
J.  Elbridge  (of  Ashmore  Tp).  Eli  Dud- 
ley was  married  Dec.  11,  1866,  to  Miss 
Margaret  N.  Brown,  a  daughter  of  Wm. 
E.  Brown ;  she  was  born  in  Madison,  Jef- 
ferson Co.,  Ind.,  July  5,  1842  ;  they  have 
three  children — Gleason  A.,  Mary  0.  and 
Gerry  B.  Mr.  Dudley  owns  400  acres  of 
land,  with  a  beautiful  residence,  and  is 
quite  largely  engaged  in  stock-raising. 

MRS.  THURZA  EPPERSON ;  P.  0. 
Westfield ;  among  the  pioneers  of  Coles 
Co.,  who  came  in  the  year  1834,  was 
Green  Epperson,  who  was  born  in  Madison 
Co.,  Ky.,  about  the  year  1800.  He  was 
'married  Dec.  22,  1829,  to  Miss  Thirza 
Woods,  a  daughter  of  Adam  and  Mary 
Woods ;  she  was  also  a  native  of  Madison 
Co.,  Ky.,  born  Dec.  6,  1807.  After  their 
marriage,  they  removed  to  Estill  Co.,  Ky., 
thence  to  Clark  Co..  and  from  there  to 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  in  1834,  where  they  settled 
on  the  farm  still  in  the  hands  of  the  fam- 
ily, and  which  contains  200  acres  in  the 
home  place,  besides  80  acres  in  Clark  Co. 


ASHMORE  TOWNSHIP.3 


597 


Mr.  Epperson  was  a  man  of  integrity  of 
character,  industrious  and  economical  in 
his  habits,  and  possessed  of  the  requisite 
qualifications  of  success,  and,  had  he  lived, 
would  undoubtedly  have  become  one  of 
the  wealthiest  citizens  of  the  county  ;  he 
died  Jan.  29,  1850,  leaving  a  wife,  who 
still  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  Of  a 
family  of  eleven  children,  nine  are  living, 
as  follows  :  Brutus  C,  was  born  Oct.  27, 
1830,  in  Estill  Co.,  Ky.,  and  is  now  a 
farmer  in  Bear  Valley,  Cal.,  to  which 
State  he  removed  in  1852  ;  Cassius  C, 
was  born  in  Clark  Co.,  Ky.,  June  24, 
1834,  and  also  removed  to  California  in 
1852,  and  is  now  a  farmer  in  Sutter  Co.; 
Sidney  K.,  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111., 
Jan.  28,  1836,  served  in  the  late  war,  en- 
listing in  Co.  H,  59th  I.  V.  I.,  was  pro- 
moted to  Quartermaster,  and  is  now  a  Gov- 
ernment Inspector  at  Omaha,  Neb. ; 
Rhodes  was  born  April  4,  1838,  was  a 
member  of  Co.  A,  123d  I.  V.  I.,  was 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Selma,  Ala,  and 
is  now  a  farmer  in  Edgar  Co.,  111.;  Green 
was  born  May  2,  1840,  removed  to  Cali- 
fornia in  1877,  and  is  now  engaged  in 
farming  in  Bear  Valley ;  Mattie  was  born 
Jan.  25,  1842,  and  is  now  wife  of  J.  F. 
Lawson,  of  Mattoon,  111.;  Joseph  was 
born  Oct.  8,  1844,  married  Sept.  2,  1869, 
to  Miss  Mattie  Morris,  a  daughter  of 
William  Morris,  of  Edgar  Co.;  she  was 
born  in  Kentucky  Dec.  26,  1851,  and 
died  Dec.  3, 1875,  leaving  three  children 
—John  F.,  Thurza  I.  and  Alvy  G.;  Mr.  I 
Epperson  resides  on  the  homestead  ;  Kate  ' 
was  born  April  6,  1848,  and  resides  at 
home  ;  John  C.  was  born  in  1849,  studied 
medicine,  and  went  to  California  in  1875,  : 
graduated  from  the  National  Surgical  In- 
stitute, in  San  Francisco,  and  is  now  a  ! 
practicing  physician  in  Weston,  Oregon.       ! 

B.  J.  FARRIS,  farmer  and  stock-raiser  ; 
P.  0.  Westfield;  was  born  in  Edgar  Co., 
111.,  March  24, 1831,  being  a  son  of  James 
and  Nancy  Farris,  who  were  among  thei 
earliest  pioneers  of  that  county.  His 
father  was  born  in  Virginia,  in  the  year 
1785;  received  a  liberal  education,  being 
designed  for  the  Presbyterian  ministry, 
and  leaving  home  at  the  age  of  18,  he 
went  to  Warren  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Nancy  Downs,  a  native  of 
South  Carolina,  born  in  1799,  and  lived 
there    till    he    came    to    Edgar  Co.     He 


was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812 ;  fought 
at  Lundy's  Lane  and  Chippewa,  and  was 
a  witness  of  Perry's  victory  on  Lake  Erie. 
Arriving  in  Illinois  he  took  up  640  acres 
of  land  in  Edgar,  Coles  and  Clark  Coun- 
ties. He  was  a  man  of  the  strictest  integ- 
rity, and  dealt  honestly  with  every  man. 
He  had  a  powerful  constitution  and  was  a 
hard  worker.  Although  the  son  of  a 
wealthy  Virginia  family,  he  never  owned 
slaves ;  was  a  Whig  in  politics  and  joined 
the  Republican  party  on  its  organization. 
He  was  a  stanch  Union  man  during  our 
late  war,  and  the  defeat  of  the  Union  army 
at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  which  occurred 
during  his  last  illness,  greatly  affected  him. 
He  died  Sept.  27,  1861,  leaving  eight 
children ;  his  widow  died  Dec.  9,  1877. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  continued  to  re- 
side in  Edgar  Co.  until  he  was  married, 
Aug.  12, 1852,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Bishop, 
a  daughter  of  John  W.  Bishop ;  she  was 
born  m  Rush  Co.,  Ind.,  Sept.  18,  1832, 
and  first  came  to  Clark  Co.,  111.,  when 
5  years  of  age.  They  have  eight  chil- 
dren :  James,  Sarah  A.,  John  W.,  Florence, 
George  Grant,  Albert,  Benjamin  F.  and 
Ida.  The  year  of  his  marriage,  Mr.  Farris 
removed  to  Coles  Co.,  where  he  lived 
till  March,  1876,  and  then  removed  to 
Nebraska.  At  the  end  of  three  months, 
however,  he  returned  to  Coles  Co.,  and 
in  1877,  purchased  the  farm  of  120  acres 
where  he  now  resides. 

ISAAC  FLENNER,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Kansas ;  was  born  in  Butler 
Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  25,  1825;  his  father, 
Daniel  Flenner,  was  among  the  pioneers  of 
that  State,  coming  from  Maryland  in  1809. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
was  a  prominent  citizen,  holding  many  of- 
fices of  trust  in  his  county.  His  mother, 
Hannah  (Andrews)  Flenner,  was  a  native 
of  Ohio,  and  a  descendant  of  an  old  Penn- 
sylvania family.  Mr.  Flenner  removed  to 
Coles  Co.,  in  1856 ;  his  father  remov- 
ing to  Clark  Co.,  111.,  at  the  same  time ; 
he  purchased  200  acres  of  land  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  stock-raising,  and 
during  the  past  five  years  has  devoted  his 
attention  to  fine  stock,  having,  at  present 
writing,  thirty-nine  head  of  thorough-bred 
short-horn  cattle.  He  also  makes  a  spe- 
cialty of  the  breeding  of  Berkshire  hogs, 
of  which  he  has  seventy-five  now  on  hand. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  thorough  and  sue- 


598 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


cessful  farmers  in  the  township.  From 
the  raih'oad,  whicli  passes  a  short  distance 
in  front  of  his  residence,  the  view  is  most 
beautiful.  His  fine  buildings,  with  the 
large  yard  set  to  evergreens  and  shrub- 
bery, the  orchards  of  fruit  of  all  kinds, 
the  rolling  prairie  "  Stretching  in  billowy 
undulations  far  aica?/"  present  a  sight 
not  surpassed  in  this  part  of  the  country. 
Mr.  Flenner  was  married  Sept.  30,  1847, 
to  Miss  Rachel  A.  Hughes,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland,  but  removed  in  early 
childhood  to  Butler  Co.,  Ohio.  She  died 
in  1852,  leaving  two  children,  one  of 
whom  is  living — Albert  W.  Flenner.  Mr. 
Flenner  was  married  a  second  time  Jan. 
12,  1858,  to  Miss  Hopy  A.  Hollingsworth, 
a  daushterof  Jacob  Hollingsworth.  Her 
father  came  to  Illinois  in  1830  and  resided 
in  Coles  Co.  till  his  death  in  1875. 
They  have  one  son  living — Martin  Flen- 
ner. 

ALBERT  W.  FLENNER,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  ;  P.  0.  Kansas  ;  was  •  born  in 
Butler  Co..  Ohio,  March  17,  1850,  being 
a  son  of  Isaac  and  Rachel  A.  (Hughes) 
Flenner;  in  1856,  he  came  with  his  fa- 
ther's familv  to  Coles  Co.,  his  mother 
having  died  in  1852.  He  was  raised  on 
the  farm,  and  on  arriving  at  his  majority, 
he  purchased  the  farm  of  his  uncle,  M.  B. 
Flenner,  adjoining  his  father's  place,  and 
containing  160  acres  of  land,  and  he  still 
resides  there.  He  was  married  Jan.  17, 
1871,  to  Miss  O'Kalla  Breeding,  the  fifth 
daughter  of  Hutchinson  and  Elizabeth  M. 
Breeding  ;  she  was  born  in  Edgar  Co., 
111.,  March  16.  1850  ;  her  parents  came 
to  Edgar  Co.  about  thirty-sis  years  ago ; 
her  father  died  there  in  1866,  and  after  his 
death  her  mother  removed  with  her  fam- 
ily to  Ashmore,  and  there  lived  till  1876, 
when  she  returned  to  Edgar  Co.  where 
she  now  resides.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren— Rachel  Annie  and  Isaac  B.  Mr. 
Flenner  has  been  a  member  and  Clerk  of 
the  Board  of  School  Directors  for  the  past 
three  years. 

J.  H.  GREEN,  farmer  and  stock-raiser; 
P.  0.  Ashmore ;  was  born  in  3Iiami  Co., 
Ohio,  Oct.  27,  1826  ;  he  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Elizabeth  (Heminway)  Grreen,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  King  and  Queen 
Co.,  Va. ;  both  removed  to  Kentucky 
when  young,  married  and  moved  to  Ohio; 
in  184:0,  his  parents  removed  to  Coles  Co., 


but  returned  in  a  few  years  to  Ohio  ;  Mr. 
Green  removed  permanently  to  the  county 
in  the  fall  of  1855,  and  settled  on  his 
present  farm ;  he  purchased  120  acres  of 
land,  paying  therefor  $18  an  acre ;  he 
owed  on  this  place,  $1,500  ;  he  now  owns 
513  acres  of  land,  well  improved,  and  is 
out  of  debt;  he  keeps  usually  about  100 
head  of  cattle ;  he  owes  his  success  in  life 
to  the  fact  that  he  has  always  been  a  tem- 
perance man,  never  drinking  a  glass  of 
whisky  or  beer  ;  has  always  kept  his 
agreements ;  and  when  he  promised  to  pay 
a  man  money,  has  paid  it  on  the  very  day 
agreed  upon.  He  was  married  on  the 
12th  of  October,  1851,  to  Miss  Mary  F. 
Pottenger,  a  daughter  of  Dennis  R.  Pot- 
tenger,  of  Preble  Co.,  Ohio ;  she  was 
born  there  Aug.  1,  1834;  they  have  had 
twelve  children,  eleven  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing— Alice  E.  (wife  of  Lafayette  Bates, 
of  Hutton  Tp.),  William  S.,  Granville  D., 
Commodore  D.,  Hester  S.,  Seymore,  Sher- 
man, May,  Norman,  Ettie  and  Ernest. 
Mr.  Green  has  served  several  terms  as 
School  Director. 

W.  P.  GREEN,  farmer  and  stock- raiser ; 
P.  0.  Ashmore;  was  born  in  Miami  Co.. 
Ohio,  Sept.  8,  1827,  being  a  son  of  James 
and  Elizabeth  (Heminway)  Green ;  when 
he  was  about  10  years  old,  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Randolph  Co.,  Ind.,and,  in  18-tO, 
to  Coles  Co.,  returning  a  few  years  later 
to  Ohio,  and  lived  awhile  in  Darke 
Co.,  from  which  county  they  removed 
again  to  Randolph  Co.,  Ind.,  and  thence 
to  Grant  Co.;  his  father  opened  no  less 
than  seven  farms  in  Ohio  and  Indiana ; 
the  year  the  ftimil^  returned  to  Ohio,  Mr. 
Green  made  four  trips  between  the  two 
States ;  on  becoming  of  age,  he  went  to 
Preble  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  married  Nov. 
2,  1851,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Wilkinson,  a 
daughter  of  Charles  Wilkinson,  of  Preble 
Co.,'"Ohio;  she  died  Feb.  20,  1862,  leav- 
ing three  children,  two  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing— Charles  E.  and  James  0.  In  the 
spring  of  1863,  Mr.  Green  came  again  to 
Coles  Co..  making  seven  trips  during  the 
summer.  He  was  married  Aug.  20, 
1863,  to  Miss  Eliza  J.  Brown,  a  daughter 
of  J.  W.  and  Martha  R.  Brown,  of  Ash- 
more ;  she  was  born  at  the  Walnut  Grove, 
in  Edgar  Co.,  Sept.  20,  1836;  they  have 
six  children — Leona,  Clarence  E.,  Miner 
E.,  Jennie,  Thomas   L.   and   Nora.     Mr. 


ASHMORE  TOWNSHIP. 


599 


Green  owns  a  farm  of  1 60  acres,  on  which 
he  settled  in  1864. 

NELSON    R.    GREEN,   farmer   and 

stock-raiser  ;  P.  0. ;  was  born  in 

Miami  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  25,  1830  ;  he  is  a 
son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Heminway) 
Green,  and  accompanied  his  parents  in 
their  various  removals  given  above,  and 
in  1850,  came  permanently  to  Coles  Co.; 
he  worked  at  various  employments  until 
185-4,  when  he  was  married  on  the  19th 
of  January,  to  Miss  Mary  P].  Brown,  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Jobe  W.  and  Martha 
R.  Brown,  of  Ashmore  ;  she  was  born  at 
the  Walnut  Grove,  in  Edgar  Co.,  Sept.  7, 
1834;  they  have  nine  children — Jona- 
than W.,  George  A..  Letitia  M.,  Willie 
A.,  Leonard  W.,  Caroline  A.,  Claude  0., 
Charlie  and  Eugene  D.  Mr.  Green  set- 
tled on  his  present  farm  in  1865,  where 
he  owns  163  acres  of  land. 

ELDER  PETER  K.  HONN,  retired; 
P.  0.  Ashmore ;  was  born  in  Nich- 
olas Co.,  Ky.,  July  22,  1814;  he  is 
a  son  of  Daniel  and  Anna  Honn ;  he 
passed  his  early  years  upon  a  farm,  and  at 
the  age  of  18  years,  began  the  trade  of  a 
blacksmith;  in  1835,  he  decided  to  follow 
Horace  Greeley's  advice,  "  Go  West, 
young  man,  go  West,"  and  accordingly 
joined  the  family  of  Jeremiah  Powell,  and 
with  them  made  the  journey  to  Illinois, 
with  a  horse-team  and  two  ox-teams ;  they 
stopped  in  Edgar  Co.,  where  Mr.  Powell 
settled,  and  where  many  of  his  descend- 
ants still  reside;  after  spending  a  short 
time  in  Edgar  Co.,  and  about  six  months 
in  Sangamon  Co.,  working  at  his  trade,  he 
came  in  1836  to  Hitegville,  and  opened  a 
blacksmith-shop;  about  five  years  later,  he 
purchased  a  quarter-section  of  land,  which 
he  began  to  improve  in  connection  with 
his  trade ;  after  a  number  of  years,  he 
abandoned  his  shop  and  devoted  his  entire 
attention  to  farming ;  he  continued  on  the 
farm  until  1875,  when,  having  accumu- 
lated a  comfortable  competence,  he  retired 
to  his  present  home  where  he  enjoys  the 
harvest  gathered  in  the  summer  of  life. 
During  his  whole  life,  Mr.  Honn  has  al- 
ways been  ready  to  assist  in  carrying  for- 
ward any  public  enterprise  ;  he  has  served 
the  public  in  various  offices  of  trust — hav- 
ing held  four  commissions  as  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  covering  a  ■  period  of  sixteen 
years  ;  he  was  Postmaster  for  three  years, 


and  has  served  one  term  as  Chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  ;  he  takes  an  active 
interest  in  educational  matters,  and  has 
been  School  Director  most  of  the  time 
since  the  organization  of  the  public-school 
system  in  the  county.  He  has  never 
failed  to  meet  an  obligation  as  agreed 
upon,  and  was  never  before  a  court  as 
plaintiff  or  defendant  in  a  suit  at  law ;  it 
has  been  a  rule  of  his  life  not  to  become 
security  for  any  one,  a  course  which  has 
proved  beneficial  not  only  to  himself  but 
to  others.  About  five  years  after  coming  to 
the  county,  he  was  ordained  a  minister  of 
the  Christian  Church,  and  has  devoted 
himself  more  or  less  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry  ever  since.  He  was  married 
June  22,  1837,  to  Miss  Matilda  Woods, 
who  was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  Ky.,  April 
19,  1817,  and  came  to  Coles  Co.  with  her 
mother's  family  in  1835.  They  have 
raised  a  family  of  six  children — William  S., 
now  occupying  the  old  homestead  in  Ash- 
more Tp. ;  Martha  A.,  wife  of  D.  R.  Bain, 
of  Edgar  Co..;  Peter  K.,  who  died  in 
1872  ;  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  F.  M.  Shaver,  of 
Monroe  Co.,  Ind. ;  Samuel  H.,  a  practi- 
cing physician  in  Ashmore,  and  Mary  E., 
wife  of  R.  L.  Tremble,  of  Coles  Co. 

THOMAS  W.  HALLOCK,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Ashmore;  was  born 
in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  20,  1811  ;  he 
was  raised  on  a  farm  until  he  was  15  years 
old,  and  then  went  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  learned  the  trade  of  a  coachmaker  ;  he 
worked  for  Eaton  &  Gilbert,  at  that  time 
one  of  the  largest  coachmaking  firms  in 
the  country ;  he  helped  to  build  the  first 
railway-coach  in  this  country,  in  1829; 
this  coach  was  run  on  the  Amboy  &  Bur- 
tontown  R.  R.,  and  was  drawn  by  horses. 
Going  to  New  York  City  in  1  833,  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  John  Stephenson,  then 
located  on  Bleecker  St.,  near  the  Bowery, 
and  continued  with  him  after  he  went  to 
Harlem,  and  put  up  his  large  manufactory 
tb^re ;  he  remained  in  New  York,  and 
Newark,  N.  J.,  until  1837,  when  he  came 
to  Coles  Co.,  and  entered  400  acres  of  land 
on  the  Embarrass  ;  he  then  rented  a  farm 
of  H.  J.  Ashmore  for  five  years,  but  ow- 
ing to  a  lack  of  rain  his  farming  venture 
proved  an  unfortunate  one,  and  at  the  end  of 
three  years  he  abandoned  it,  and  removing 
to  Charleston,  engaged  in  carpentering, 
wagon-making  and  blacksmithing.  On  the 


600 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


restarting  of  the  Terre  Haute,  Alton  & 
St.  Louis  Railroad,  he  returned  to  Ash- 
more  Tp.,  and  settled  on  his  present  farm ; 
at  that  time  it  was  all  Government  land  to 
the  east,  except  around  the  groves ;  there 
was  but  one  house  on  the  prairie,  that  be- 
ing on  Wolf  Hill ;  he  could  see,  any  day, 
from  20  to  30  deer  in  the  vicinity ;  not- 
withstanding his  first  failure  in  farming, 
he  has  since  been,  and  is  now  one  of  the 
most  successful  farmers  in  the  county. 
He  owns  340  acres  of  land,  well  improved, 
with  a  large,  fine  house,  seven  acres  of 
orchard  and  shrubbery,  etc. ;  he  has  made 
a  specialty  of  raising  and  shipping  hay — 
shipping  a  few  years  ago  about  400  tons, 
annually.  Like  most  other  successful  farm- 
ers, he  has  attended  strictly  to  his  farm, 
leaving  public  offices  to  those  having  more 
leisure  and  inclination  to  attend  to  them. 
His  first  marriage  was  in  May,  1840,  to 
Miss  Jane  Johnson,  of  Coles  Co. ;  she  died 
a  few  years  later,  leaving  one  daughter — 
Alice,  wife  of  Benjamin  Honold,  of  Edgar 
Co.  Mr.  Hallock  was  married  again  Nov. 
19,  1846,  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Tuttle ;  her 
maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Clark ;  she 
was  born  in  Pulaski  Co.,  Ky.,,May  14, 
1820;  her  ftither,  James  Clark,  was  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Coles  Co.,  coming  with 
his  family  in  1829 ;  they  have  five  chil- 
dren living — Greorge  E,.,  James  H.,  Aldora 
A.,  wife  of  R.  M.  Childress,  Thomas  L., 
and  William  H. ;  Mrs.  Hallock  has  one 
daughter  of  her  former  marriage — Marga- 
ret T.  Tuttle,  wife  of  Charles  S.  Olmsted, 
of  Charleston. 

0.  D.  HAWKINS,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  Ashmore ;  was  born  in  Fleming 
Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  28,  1822  ;  he  is  a  son  of 
Gregory  R.  and  Elizabeth  (Ballard)  Haw- 
kins, the  former  a  native  of  Maryland  and 
the  latter  of  Kentucky ;  when  he  was 
about  8  years  old,  his  parents  removed 
to  Scott  Co.,  Ind.,  and.  in  1841,  to  Coles 
Co.,  settling  about  two  and  one-half  miles 
west  of  Ashmore  ;  they  lauded  here  on  Uie 
4th  of  March,  the  day  on  which  Gen.  Har- 
rison Wiis  inaugurated  President  of  the 
United  States ;  his  father  died  here  in 
18G8,  and  his  mother  in  1873.  They  had 
a  family  of  fifteen  children,  twelve  of 
whom  grew  to  adult  age,  and  five  of  whom 
are  now  living.  Oliver  D.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  started  in  life  for  himself  at 
13    years    of   age,    working    out    by    the 


month  and  by  the  day;  he  is  now  one  of 
the  most  substantial  citizens  of  the  town- 
ship ;  his  farm  of  287  acres,  adjoining  the 
village  of  Ashmore,  is  one  of  the  best  im- 
proved in  the  vicinity.  In  1852,  Mr. 
Hawkins  contracted  to  clear  about  ten 
miles  of  the  Terre  Haute,  Alton  and  St. 
Louis  Railroad,  and,  also,  for  several  years, 
was  engaged  in  supplying  ties  and  wood 
for  the  road,  clearing  for  that  purpose  some 
150  acres  of  land.  He  served  nine  years 
as  Constable.  In  1860,  he  removed  to 
the  village  of  Ashmore,  and  in  April,  the 
same  year,  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace ;  he  still  holds  the  office,  having 
been  re-elected  every  four  years  to  the 
present  time  ;  he  was  the  first  Police  Mag- 
istrate in  Ashmore,  serving  several  years  ; 
he  was  also  Postmaster  from  1861  to  1866, 
when  he  resigned ;  he  has  served  one 
term  on  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and 
one  term  as  Coroner  of  the  county  ;  in 
1870,  he  became  Superintendent  of  the 
County  Alms-house  and  Poor-farm,  re- 
maining in  charge  of  that  institution  until 
1873,  when  he  removed  to  his  present 
farm  ;  he  also  held  the  office  of  Township 
School  Treasurer  a  short  time.  He  was 
married  March  21,  1844,  to  Miss  Mary 
Laffler,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
(Hurd)  Laffler  ;  she  was  born  in  Wayne 
Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  6,  1823,  and  came  with 
her  parents  to  Coles  Co.  in  1837  ;  her 
father  died  in  1843,  and  her  mother  in 
1853.  Mr.  Hawkins  has  four  children,  all 
living  in  Ashmore,  viz.,  William,  John, 
Albert  and  Ellen,  wife  of  William  N. 
Austin. 

WM.  C.  KIMBALL,  of  the  firm  of 
Austin,  Brown  &  Kimball,  dealers  in  hard- 
ware, lumber,  furniture  and  undertaking, 
Ashmore  ;  has  been  a  resident  of  Ashmore 
since  1867  ;  he  was  born  in  Cambridge, 
Guernsey  Co.,  Ohio,  June  14,  1838  ;  was 
educated  at  the  Cambridge  Union  Schools, 
and,  in  1857,  began  teaching  school  ;  he 
continued  in  that  profession  in  Ohio  till 
March,  1863,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  H, 
122d  0.  V.  I.,  and  served  in  the  6th  Army 
Corps  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  until 
Jan.  1,  1864  ;  he  was  then  detailed  as  a 
clerk  in  the  office  of  the  Provost  Marshal 
General  of  Ohio,  at  Columbus,  and  served 
in  that  capacity  till  the  close  of  the  war  ; 
he  was  mustered  out  July  1,  1865.  After 
the    war,  he    came  to   Illinois  and  taught 


ASHMORE  TOWNSHIP. 


601 


school  one  winter  in  Monticello,  Madison 
Co.;  in  March,  1867,  he  took  charge  of  the 
pubUc  schools  in  Ashmore,  and  remained 
in  charge  most  of  the  time  until  the  spring 
of  1876.  In  1875,  he  became  a  partner 
in  the  firm  of  Austin,  Brown  &  Kimball. 
Mr.  Kimball  was  Village  Clerk  from 
April,  1875,  to  April,  1878,  and  has 
been  School  Director  for  the  past 
three  years.  He  was  married  April 
10,  1860,  to  Miss  Lizzie  Speers,  of 
Guernsey  Co.,  Ohio ;  she  died  March  16, 
1866.  Mr.  Kimball  was  married  again 
Sept.  20,  1868,  to  Miss  Rowena  A.  Gra- 
ham, of  Ashmore ;  she  died  Sept.  30, 
1877,  leaving  three  children — Clarence  0. 
L.,  Mary  C'and  Gertie  R. 

JEREMIAH  LANE,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  ;  P.  0.  Ashmore  ;  was  born  in 
Muskingum  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  17,  1844; 
his  father,  George  W.  Lane,  was  a  pioneer, 
coming  from  his  native  State,  Maryland, 
at  the  age  of  13  ;  his  mother,  Sarah  Lane, 
was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a  descendant  of 
a  Maryland  family ;  his  parents  both  died 
in  Ohio ;  Mr.  Lane  was  raised  on  the 
farm,  and  has  followed  that  avocation  all 
his  life;  he  came  to  Coles  Co.  in  1873, 
and  settled  on  his  present  farm,  one  mile 
east  of  the  village  of  Ashmore,  where  he 
owns  134  acres  of  land,  with  good  brick 
house,  commodious  barn,  outbuildings, 
etc.;  he  makes  a  specialty  of  breeding  fine 
horses,  having  ten  now  on  hand ;  also  has 
160  hogs.  He  was  married  March  10, 
1870,  to  Miss  Cornelia  Swartz,  who  was 
born  in  Campbell  Co.,  Ky.,  July  12,1 854 ; 
they  have  two  children  living — Minnie 
L.  and  Henry  L. 

WILLIAM  H.  MACK,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser ;  P.  0.  Ashmore ;  was  born 
in  Kentucky  April  11,  1828,  and  came 
to  Illinois  when  he  was  5  years  old, 
with  the  family  of  his  father,  William 
Mack ;  after  spending  one  winter  in 
Coles  Co.,  his  father  settled  in  Clark 
Co.,  where  he  died  about  eight  years 
ago ;  Mr.  Mack  lived  in  Clark  Co.  until 
he  became  of  age,  and  then  came  to  Coles 
Co.;  he  began  life  by  working  out  by  the 
month,  and,  after  accumulating  some 
money,  he  purchased  120  acres  of  land, 
on  which  he  settled  in  the  fall  of  1853; 
he  now  owns  790  acres  in  his  home  farm, 
and  100  acres  in  Clark  Co.;  his  farm  is 
one   of  the   best  in  the   county,  is  well 


fenced,  under   good    cultivation,  and    im- 
proved   with    a    fine    two-story   dwelling, 
barns,  outbuildings,   etc.,  costing  not  less 
than    $6,000 ;    his   residence    occupies    a 
beautiful    eminence,  and  from   it   can  be 
plainly  seen  the  village  of  Kansas,  in  Ed- 
gar Co.,  while  the  church-spires  of  West- 
field,  in    Clark   Co.,  and   of  Ashmore,  in 
Coles  Co.,  are  visible.    Mr.  Mack  has  given 
considerable    attention    to    the    raising  of 
stock,  keeping  from  50  to  150  head  of  cat- 
tle ;  having  no  leisure  nor  inclination  for 
official  life,  he  has  never  sought  nor  held 
public  office,  but  has  devoted  himself  ex- 
clusively to  the  management  of  his  large 
farm.     He  was  married  Dec.  19,  1850,  to 
Miss  Elvira  Anderson,  a  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert Anderson,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Edgar  Co.;  she  was  born  in  that  county 
Feb.    25,    1832,   and    removed  with    her 
parents  to  Coles  Co.  when  about  8  years 
old  ;  they  have  five  children — Joseph  A., 
William   A.,  Catherine  P.,  Oscar  A.  and 
Charles  A. 

ELIAS  MONROE,  Postmaster  and 
dealer  in  dry  goods,  notions,  boots,  shoes, 
etc.  (firm  of  Zimmerman  &  Monroe),  Ash- 
more ;  was  born  in  Shelby  Co.,  111.,  Feb. 
7,  1842,  but  removed  in  childhood  to 
Moultrie  Co.,  where  he  lived  until  1861  ; 
his  mother  then  removed  with  her  family 
(the  father  having  died  years  before)  to 
Hitesville,  Coles  Co.  In  December,  1863, 
he  entered  the  Union  army  as  a  member  of 
Co.  H,  59th  I.  V.  I.;  he  participated,  among 
other  engagements,  in  the  battles  of  Look- 
out Mountain,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Re- 
saca  (where  he  received  a  slight  wound), 
Peach-Tree  Creek,  Marietta,  siege  of 
Atlanta,  Jonesboro,  Lovejoy  Station,  Big 
Shanty,  Spring  Hill,  FrankHn  and  Nash- 
ville, where  he  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  right  leg  during  the  first  day's  fight, 
Dec.  15",  1864,  necessitating  the  amputa- 
tion of  his  leg  in  the  field  hospital ; 
he  was  mustered  out  in  June,  1865  ;  re- 
covering from  his  wound,  in  1867,  he 
entered  the  Soldiers'  College,  in  Fulton, 
111.,  where  he  remained  two  years,  and  then 
came  to  Ashmore,  and  was  appointed 
Postmaster  in  August,  1869.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1877,  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Zimmerman  &  Monroe. 

J.  B.  MOORE,  farmer  and  stock-raiser  ; 
P.  0.  Ashmore;  was  born  in  Butler  Co., 
Ohio,  July  22,  1836  ;  he  is  a  son  of  Will- 


602 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


iani  S.  and  Julia  A.  (Eddingfield)  Moore ; 
his  fatlier,  an  early  settler  of  Butler  Co., 
having  come  from  his  native  State,  New 
Jersey,  at  the  age  of  4  years ;  his 
mother  was  born  in  Ohio,  her  parents 
being  from  Pennsylvania.  In  18G2,  his 
father  removed  West  with  his  family, 
spending  the  summer  in  Vigo  Co.,  Ind., 
and  coming  to  Coles  County  in  the  fall ;  he 
resided  in  Ashmore  until  his  death,  Feb. 
8, 1875  ;  his  father  was  a  Universalist,  and 
his  mother  a  Baptist,  and  both  led  blame- 
less Christian  lives,  and  were  highly  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  them  ;  his  father 
was  especially  noted  for  his  generous,  char- 
itable course  toward  the  poor,  and  all  in 
distress ;  his  mother  now  lives  in  Ohio,  to 
which  State  she  returned  two  years  ago. 
There  are  four  of  the  family  living,  viz., 
Lucinda  C.  fwife  of  A.  K.  Miner,  of  Cedar 
Rapids,  Iowa),  James  B.,  Martha  J.  (wife 
of  John  Mell,  of  Ashmore),  and  William 
T.  James  B.  Moore,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  married  Nov.  4,  1869,  to  Miss 
Martha  J.  Lane,  a  daughter  of  George  W. 
and  Sarah  Lane  ;  she  was  born  in  Mus- 
kingum Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  1,  1842  ;  they 
five  children,  as  follows:  Delia  May,  Mary 
Lela,  Ora  Leslie,  Halla  Florence  and 
Francis  Burrell.  Mr.  Moore  owns  a  farm 
of  130  acres,  located  one  mile  east  of  Ash- 
more village. 

THOMAS  O'BRIEN,  farmer  and  stock 
raiser ;  P.  0.  Ashmore ;  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Philadelphia  Feb.  18,  1830;  he  is 
a  son  of  John  and  Mary  O'Brien  ;  his 
father  was  born  in  Mt.  Maleck,  Queens 
Co.,  Ireland,  in  February,  1801  ;  up  to  the 
age  of  18  years,  he  worked  in  his  father's 
tailor-shop ;  he  then  went  to  London, 
Eng.,  and  afterward  to  Leeds,  spending 
seven  years  in  the  two  cities  ;  after  paying 
a  brief  visit  to  his  native  place,  he  came  to 
America  at  the  age  of  25  ;  his  first  settle- 
ment was  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  was 
married  March  18,  1828,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Campbell  a  native  of  Philadelphia;  she 
was  born  May  1,  1808;  he  worked  as  a 
journeyman  in  Philadelphia  until  1832, 
when  he  removed  to  Cincinnati,  and  there 
followed  his  trade  five  years  ;  he  then  re- 
moved to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  where  he  be- 
gan business  for  himself;  in  1849,  he  came 
to  Ashmore  and  settled  on  a  farm,  con- 
taining 435  acres  of  wild  land  which  he 
had    purchased    the  year    before.     About 


twenty  years  ago,  he  removed  to  the  village 
of  Ashmore,  where  he  resided  till  his 
death,  Sept.  20,  1873,  and  where  his 
widow  still  resides.  He  was  a  man  of  the 
strictest  commercial  integrity,  and  highly 
respected  as  a  citizen  ;  he  left  seven  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  living;  the  eldest 
son,  Thomas,  was  employed  in  his  fiither's 
shop  in  Terre  Haute  for  about  three  years 
before  the  family  removed  to  Coles  Co. ;  he 
I  remained  on  the  farm  until  1855,  when  he 
came  to  the  village  and  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising, in  which  he  continued  till 
1873,  since  which  time  he  has  devoted  his 
attention  to  stock  business  ;  he  owns  a  farm 
of  130  acres  in  the  corporation  and  forty- 
three  acres  in  another  part  of  the  township. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Town  Board 
of  Trustees  or  Board  of  Education  most  of 
the  time  during  his  residence  here.  He 
was  married  Jan.  10,  1855,  to  Miss 
Amanda  Wells,  a  daughter  of  James 
Wells,  of  Ashmore ;  they  have  two  chil- 
dren— Capitola  and  Grace. 

CAPT.  CHARLES  D.  PHELPS,  de- 
ceased, late   of  Ashmore   Tp.,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  CH!»les  Co. ;   was  born  in  Madi- 
son Co.,  Ky.,  Jan.  26, 1801  ;  he  was  a  son 
of  Jarrot    and    Millie    (Duncan J    Phelps, 
both  natives  of  Virginia.     He  was  married 
March  3, 1825.  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Coons,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Polly  (Crosswhite) 
Coons ;  she  was  born  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ky., 
about    eight  miles  from  Lexington,   July 
29,  1809.     In  1830,  he  removed  to  Coles 
Co.,  arid  settled  on  the  farm  now  occupied 
by  his  widow  and   youngest  son ;  he  pur- 
chased and    entered   about    300    acres    of 
land,   was    an    industrious    and  successful 
man,  a  leading  member    of  the    Christian 
Church,  and  led  a  life  consistent  with  his 
professions.   Coming    to   Coles  Co.   before 
the  Black   Hawk  war,  they  had  the  Kick- 
apoos  and  Pottawatomies   for  their  neigh- 
bors.    On    the  breaking-out  of  the  Black 
Hawk  war  he  volunteered  as  a  soldier,  was 
commissioned  a   Captain,   and  assisted    in 
the  capture  of  the  Chief,  Black  Hawk.    He 
died  Dec.  2,  1864 ;  of  nine  children  eight 
were  living  at  the  time  of  his  death,    and 
six  are  living   at  the    present  time,    viz., 
Josiah,  now  a  resident    of  this   township ; 
Jarrot,  of  Shell  City,  Mo.;  Mildred  A.  wife 
of  Addison  Bowen;  of  Johnson  Co.,  Kan. ; 
Mary  A.,  wife  of  Thomas  Adair,  of  John- 
son Co.,   Kan.  ;  Samuel  W.,  who  served  in 


ASHMORE  TOWNSHIP. 


603 


the  late  war,  aud  now  lives  in  Schuyler 
Co.,  Mo.,  and  Charles  D.,  residing  on  the 
homestead ;  John  C,  a  member  of  the 
123d  I.  V.  I.,  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
in  February,  1863 ;  Susan  E.,  wife  of  Will- 
iam O'Brien,  died  April  19,  1866  ;  Foun- 
tain served  in  the  late  war,  and  died  in 
1871,  in  Schuyler  Co.,  Mo.  Mrs.  Phelps 
still  resides  on  the  old  place,  about  two 
miles  south  of  Ashmore  ;  she  has  passed 
through  many  and  severe  hardships  of 
those  pioneer  days,  and  is  now  hale  and 
strong  at  nearly  70  years  of  age. 

W.  K.  PAYNE,  retired,  Ashmore; 
although  not  an  early  settler  of  Coles  Co., 
is  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  adjoining 
county  of  Edgar,  where  he  was  a  promi- 
nent citizen  for  forty-six  years.  He 
was  born  in  Shelby  Co.,  Ky.,  May  17, 
1807,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Wright)  Payne,  both  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky and  descendants  of  old  Virginia 
families.  His  early  education  was  limited 
to  such  as  the  schools  of  that  region  af- 
forded. In  1822,  his  father  removed  with 
his  family  to  Owen  Co.,  Ind.  In  1831, 
Mr.  Payne  came  to  Edga»  Co.,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  in  Grand 
View  ;  he  built  a  store  in  that  place,  and 
after  his  marriage  occupied  it  both  as  a 
store  and  dwelling ;  he  afterward  erected  a 
substantial  store  and  a  fine  residence  on 
the  same  spot ;  both  of  these  were  re- 
cently destroyed  by  fire.  Mr.  Payne  con- 
tinued in  the  mercantile  business  in  Grand 
View  for  thirty-five  years,  during  which 
time  he  held  the  oflBce  of  Postmaster  for 
twelve  years.  In  1866,  he  retired  from 
active  business,  and  in  October,  1877, 
he  removed  to  Ashmore,  where  he 
now  lives  in  the  quiet  enjoyment  of 
the  results  of  a  long  and  successful 
business  life.  He  was  married  Jan* 
2,  1834,  to  Miss  Matilda  Wampler, 
who  was  born  in  Steubenville,  Jeffer- 
son Co.,  Ohio,  July  22,  1815;  she  is  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Stephens) 
Wampler,  both  natives  of  Baltimore,  Md. ; 
she  came  in  1831  to  Illinois  with  her 
parents,  who  settled  in  Hickory  Grove, 
Edgar  Co.  ;  her  father,  Rev.  Joseph 
Wampler,  was  a  well-known  minister  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  In  his  early  life, 
he  was  a  civil  engineer,  and  in  that  capacity 
assisted  in  the  survey  of  the  State  of  Mich- 
igan.  Mr.  Payne's  family  consists  of  two 


sons  and  two  daughters — Joseph  W.,  a 
merchant  in  Paris,  111. ;  Sarah  E.,  wife  of 
Wm.  S.  Van  Meter,  of  Neosho  Co.,  Kan. ; 
John  W.,  of  Oakland,  Cal.,  and  Mary  E., 
wife  of  Joel  S.  Cary,  of  Ashmore  Tp. 

CALEB  REED,  farmer  and  stock-rais- 
er ;  P.  0.  Ashmore ;  was  born  in  Spencer 
Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  1,  1818,  and  was  11  years 
old  when  he  came  to  Coles  Co.;  his  father, 
Thomas  Reed,  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  removed  to  Kentucky  with  his 
parents  when  a  boy,  and  there  married 
Miss  Anna  Kirkham,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  the  1st  of  December,  1829,  left 
that  State  with  his  family,  consisting  of  a 
wife  and  five  children,  to  found  a  new  home 
in  the  wilderness  of  Illinois.  They  came 
with  a  five-horse  team,  the  journey  con- 
suming nearly  a  month  ;  arriving  in  Edgar 
Co.,  they  spent  a  few  days,  and  about  New 
Year's,  1830,  came  to  Coles  Co.,  and  set- 
tled on  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son 
Caleb  Reed  ;  he  entered  quite  a  tract  of 
land,  owning  at  one  time  about  a  thousand 
acres.  He  was  a  strong  Whig,  although 
he  never  sought  to  lead  or  hold  oflBce ;  he 
was  a  quiet,  industrious  man,  attending 
strictly  to  his  own  affairs  ;  conservative  in 
his  operations,  not  given  to  speculation  ;  a 
man  who  enjoyed  in  an  eminent  degree  the 
esteem  of  his  neighbors  and  townsmen  ;  he 
died  in  December,  1854,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  living.  Caleb 
Reed,  the  only  living  son,  has  always  re- 
sided on  the  homestead  ;  like  his  father, 
he  has  never  sought  official  positions,  his 
farm  of  430  acres  requiring  his  entire  at- 
tention. He  was  married  Feb.  22,  1844, 
to  Miss  Jane  Carter,  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Mary  Carter  ;  she  was  born  in  Wayne 
Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  15,  1824,  and  came  to 
Coles  Co.  with  her  parents  in  1 830  ;  of 
eleven  children,  eight  are  living — Samuel 
H.  of  Douglas  Co.;  Martha  A.,  wife  of 
James  T.  Wright,  of  Ashmore  Tp.;  George 
R.;  Emma  J.,  wife  of  J.  Elbridge  Dudley^ 
of  Ashmore  Tp.;  John  C,  Thomas  L., 
Ida  M.  and  Albert  M. 

A.  T.  ROBERTSON,  M.  D.,  physician 
and  surgeon,  dealer  in  drugs,  medicines, 
etc.,  Ashmore  ;  was  born  in  Sumner  Co., 
Tenn.,  June  30,  1834;  his  father.  Rev. 
John  H.  Robertson,  was  born  in  Virginia, 
and  removed  to  Tennessee  with  his  parents 
when  but  a  boy ;  in  1829,  he  came  to 
Coles  Co.,  and  engaged  in  teaching  school 


604 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES : 


near  the  present  city  of  Charleston ;  his 
name  appears  on  the  records  as  the  second 
person  to  whom  letters  of  administration 
were  granted  in  Coles  Co.;  in  1832,  he  re- 
turned to  Tennessee,  where  he  was  ordained 
a  minister  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  where 
he  married  Miss  Sarah  Carr,  of  Sumner 
Co.;  about  1838,  he  removed  to  Camden 
Co.,  Mo.,  and  is  now  a  prominent  and  well- 
to-do  farmer  of  Laclede  Co.,  in  that  State. 
Dr.  Robertson,  at  the  age  of  21,  engaged 
in  teaching  in  Choctaw  Nation,  pursuing 
his  medical  studies  in  the  mean  time  ;  this 
he  continued  two  years;  in  1858,  he  at- 
tended his  first  course  of  lectures  in  the 
medical  department  of  the  State  University 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.;  he  then  located  in 
Carroll  Co.,  Ark.,  "and  began  practice ; 
during  the  winter  of  186U-61,  he  attended 
lectures  in  the  JeiFerson  Medical  College, 
Philadelphia,  where  he  graduated  and  re- 
<3eived  his  degree  in  the  spring  of  1861  ; 
returning  to  Arkansas,  he  practiced  medi- 
cine there  till  1864,  and  then  removed  to 
Ashmore ;  after  teaching  school  a  part  of  the 
first  year,  he  began  practicing  medicine  in 
July,  1865,  and  has  had  a  large  and  lucra- 
tive practice  ever  since.  He  was  elected 
Town  Clerk  in  1866,  and  served  till  1877; 
during  the  past  two  years,  he  has  been 
Notary  Public  and  Police  Magistrate.  He 
was  married  in  the  Choctaw  Nation  Jan. 
30,  1858,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Mitchell,  a  na- 
tive of  Tennessee;  they  have  three  chil- 
dren living — Leonidas  C,  Ashley  H.  and 
Sarah  A.  Dr.  Robertson  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  about  four  years  ago. 

JOSHUA  RICKETTS,  dealer  in  grain 
and  produce,  groceries,  glassware,  queens- 
ware,  etc.,  Ashmore;  was  born  in  Mus- 
kingum Co.,  Ohio,  March  13,  1821.  He 
is  a  son  of  Joshua  and  Sarah  (Taylor) 
Ricketts.  He  remained  at  home  until  he 
was  13  years  old,  when  he  went  to  Knox 
County,  Ohio,  and  engaged  in  study 
with  a  view  to  preparing  for  the  ministry, 
but  meeting  with  a  change  in  his  religious 
belief  he  abandoned  the  idea  and  engaged 
in  farming,  afterward  learning  the  trade 
of  a  marble  cutter.  At  the  age  of  23 
he  went  to  Coshocton,  Ohio,  and  fol- 
lowed farming  for  a  while,  afterward 
removing  to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  marble  business.  In  1849, 
he  came  to  Illinois,  remained  one  year  in 
Clark  County,    and    removed    thence    to 


Charleston,  Coles  County,  in  1850.     There 
he  carried  on  the  marble  business  till  1861, 
when   he   enlisted  as  a  private  m  J.  W. 
Bissell's  Engineer  Regiment  of  the  West  ; 
was  promoted  to  Second  and  afterward  to 
First  Lieutenant.     He  served  in  this  regi- 
ment twenty  months ;    when    Gen.  Mor- 
gan made  his  raid  into  Indiana  Mr.  Rick- 
etts again  enlisted  in  the  109th  Ind.  Vols. 
and  was   commissioned  by  Gov.   Morton, 
Adjutant  of  the  regiment.     After  a  brief 
service   of   eight  days   the  regiment  was 
mustered  out,  the  occasion  for  their  enlist- 
ment having  ceased.     On  thecallfor  100- 
day  men,  in  1864,  Mr.  Ricketts,  not  wait- 
ing for  a  commission,  again  volunteered  in 
the  143d  111.  Vols.,  and  served  as  Sergeant 
of  Co.  "A."     He  took  part  in  the  capture 
of  Island  Number  Ten,  siege  of  Corinth, 
and  the  battle  of  Corinth  on  the  3rd  and 
4th  of  October,  1862.  Returning  toCharles- 
ton   he   continued    in  business   till  1873, 
when  he  was  appointed  Superintendent  of 
the   Coles   County  Alms-house  and   Poor- 
farm,   and   still   remains  in  charge  of  the 
institution.     He    engaged   in  his  present 
business  in    Ashmore   in    1875.     During 
the  past  year  he  has  served  as  Collector  of 
the  township.     He  was  one  year  Assessor 
of  Charleston,  and  has  twice  been  elected 
Justice  of  the    Peace.     He  was  married 
Dec.  29,  1846,  to  Miss  Catharine  D.  Rob- 
erts, of    Coshocton   County,    Ohio.     She 
died  in  1854,  leaving  three  children — Sa- 
rah  M,,  now  wife  of  Wm.    Killough,  of 
Kansas  ;  Wm.  VV^.  and  Cornelia  M..  wife  of 
Geo.  B.  Shinn,  of  Coles  County.     Mr.  R. 
was  married  again  Sept.  4,  1855,  to  Miss 
Melvina  Jones,  of  Clark  County,  111.  They 
have  nine  children — Thomas  A.,    Fannie 
B.,  John  T.,   James  E.,   Frank  H,,  Oscar 
J.,  Charles  W.,  Nettie  M.  and  Elizabeth. 
A.  J.  SHULSE,  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 
P.  0..  Kansas ;  was  born  in  Nicholas  Co., 
Ky.,  Oct.  17,  1827,  being  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Winnifred  Shulse,  the  former  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and   the   latter  of  Virginia. 
He   was    married   Aug.  5,  1852,   to  Miss 
Martha    J.   Honn,    a    daughter  of  David 
and  Anna  Honn,  of  Nicholas  County,  Ky. 
She  was  born  in  that  county  May  9,  1826. 
In  November,  1859,  they  removed  to  Coles 
County,  and  the  following  spring  settled  in 
their  present  home.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shulse 
are    well   pleased    with    the    change  from 
Kentucky  to  the  prairies  of  Illinois.     For 


ASHMORE   TOWNSHIP. 


605 


nearly  three  years  past,  they  have  been 
traveling  in  the  West,  visitino-  the  States  of 
Missouri,  Kansas  and  Colorado,  spending 
over  a  year  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and 
although  well  pleased  with  the  Western 
country,  have  returned  fully  satisfied  with 
their  present  home.  Mr.  Shulse  owns  a 
fine  farm,  improved  with  good  buildings, 
shrubbery,  orchards  and  miles  of  Osage 
hedge,  which  in  summer  time  presents  a 
most  beautiful  appearance.  It  occupies  a 
commanding  location,  affording  a  fine  view 
of  the  surrounding  country.  Mr.  Shulse 
has  devoted  his  attention  exclusively  to 
his  business  of  farming,  in  which  he  has 
been  very  successful.  His  aim  has  been  to 
farm  in  a  thorough  manner  rather  than  to 
acquire  large  quantities  of  land,  and  the 
result  fully  demonstrates  the  wisdom  of 
his  course.  His  home  farm  contains  80 
acres,  besides  which  he  has  20  acres  of 
timber.  In  1868,  he  was  ordained  an 
Elder  in  the  Christian  Church,  since  which 
time  he  has  served  in  that  capacity. 

A.  T.  STEELE,  M.  D.,  physician  and 
surgeon,  Ashmore,  is  a  native  of  Illinois  ; 
he  was  born  in  Clark  Co.  June  28,  1844 ; 
he  is  a  son  of  Oliver  P.  Steele,  a  native  of 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  who  came  to 
Clark  Co.  in  1837,  where  he  resided  till 
his  death,  which  occurred  Oct.  2,  1872  ; 
his  mother  was  Nancy  K.  Twilley,  who 
was  bora  in  Kentucky,  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  her  in  1832.  Dr.  Steele  was 
raised  on  the  farm  ;  in  1863,  he  enlisted 
in  Co.  C,  62d  111.  Vols.,  serving  till  Feb. 
1865  ;  he  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Little  Rock,  Pine  Bluffs  and  Fort  Smith, 
Ark.,  and  Fort  Gibson,  Indian  Territory  ; 
returning  from  the  war,  he  spent  one  year 
in  farming,  and,  in  1867,  entered  West- 
field  College,  where  he  remained  two 
years;  during  the  winter  of  1869-70,  he 
attended  lectures  in  Rush  Medical  Col- 
lege, Chicago,  reading  medicine  the  fol- 
lowing summer  in  the  ofl&ce  of  Dr.  Van 
Dyke,  in  Ashmore;  in  the  fall  of  1871, 
he  returned  to  the  college  in  Chicago,  but 
the  buildings  of  that  institution  being  de- 
stroyed in  the  great  fire  in  that  city,  he 
went  to  the  University  of  Michigan  in 
Ann  Arbor,  and  there  pursued  his  second 
course  in  medicine  ;  he  began  practice  as  a 
physician  in  Ashmore,  in  1872,  and,  in  the 
fall  of  1874,  returned  to  Rush  Medical 
College,  where  he  graduated  and  received 


the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  February  1875  ; 
as  a  physician,  he  has  been  successful,  hav- 
ing a  large  and  steadily-increasing  practice. 
He  was  married  May  14,  1872,  to  Miss 
Anna  M.  Duncan,  of  Westfield,  111.,  and 
has  three  children — Perry  L.,  Binnie  A. 
and  Clifford  B. 

JONATHAN    SHAVER,  farmer 
and   stock-raiser ;    P.   0.   Ashmore ;     the 


above  -  named    gentleman    was    born 


in 


Ladoga,  Montgomery  Co.,  Ind.,  July  22, 
1836;  his  father,  Jonathan  M.  Shaver,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  was  an  early  settler  in 
Montgomery  Co.,  having  come  thereabout 
the  year  1830,  his  mother,  Susan  Shaver, 
being  also  a  native  of  Virginia ;  Mr. 
Shaver  was  raised  on  a  farm.  He  was 
married  Sept.  30,  1856,  to  Miss  Mary  J. 
Stratton,  of  Greene  Co.,  Ohio ;  she  died 
Jan.  8,  1860,  leaving  two  children — 
Rosella  and  Emma  J.  Mr.  Shaver  was 
then  poor ;  he  worked  at  the  time  of  the 
war  for  $12  per  month  during  half 
of  the  year,  and  the  balance  of  the 
year  for  his  board  ;  to  illustrate  the  habits 
of  economy  which  he  practiced,  after  sup- 
porting his  two  children,  he  had  some- 
thing left.  He  was  married  again  Aug. 
1,  1865,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Trickey,  a 
daughter  of  George  W.  and  Hannah 
Trickey;  she  was  born  in  Boone  Co., 
Ind.,  Sept.  5,  1842;  they  have  five  chil- 
dren— Laura  V.,  John  E.,  Herbert  I., 
Gracie  M.  and  Ralph.  In  1867,  he  re- 
moved to  Coles  Co.,  and  settled  on  his 
present  farm  ;  he  has  worked  hard,  and 
now  owns  140  acres  of  land  under  a  good 
state  of  cultivation,  a  barn  costing  nearly 
a  thousand  dollars,  and  no  incumbrance 
on  any  of  it.  He  is  a  man  of  the  strictest 
integrity,  and  a  prosperous  citizen. 

FOUNTAIN  TURNER,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser ;  P.  0.  Ashmore ;  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Coles  Co. ;  was  born  in  Madi- 
son Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  3,  1795,  being  the  son 
of  Thomas  and  Anna  Turner,  and  the  sec- 
ond in  age  of  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren ;  his  father  was  from  South  Carolina, 
and  his  mother  from  Virginia  ;  he  was  but 
3  years  of  age  when  his  father  died.  He 
was  married  Dec.  7,  1818,  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Phelps,  a  daughter  of  Jarrot  and 
Millie  Phelps  ;  she  was  born  in  Madison 
Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  12, 1803  ;  her  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Virginia.  Mr.  Turner  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  Madison  Co.,  and  there 


606 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


resided  until  1834,  when  he  sold  out,  and 
■with  his  wife  and  four  children  started  in 
an  emigrant-wagon  for  the  wilds  of  Illi- 
nois, arriving  in  Coles  Co.  after  a  journey 
of  fifteen  days  ;  he  settled  on  the  very  spot 
where  he  now  resides,  and  bought  about 
300  acres  of  land ;  he  now  owns  a  fine 
farm  of  400  acres  ;  they  have  had  nine 
children,  as  follows  :  Samuel,  who  died  July 
13, 18G5  ;  Jarrot,  who  died  Nov.  28, 1875  ; 
Thomas,  who  now  resides  on  the  home 
farm  just  in  the  edge  of  Button  Tp ; 
George  A.  C,  who  died  Oct.  26,  1854  ; 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  S.  C.  Ashmore,  of  Ash- 
more  ;  Ann,  wife  of  Riley  Davis,  of  Hut- 
ton  Tp.  ;  Mildred  A.,  who  died  Aug.  2f!, 
1828  ;  Oliver  S.,  who  died  Feb.  1,  1853  ; 
and  Martin,  who  was  a  soldier  of  the  123d 
111.  Vols.,  and  was  killed  in  his  first  battle, 
that  of  Perryville,  Ky.  Mr.  Turner  and 
wife  have  lived  together  over  60  years, 
and  are  both  hale  and  strong  for  persons  of 
their  age  ;  they  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  and  have  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  all  who  know  them. 

FRANCIS  M.  WATERS,  Ashmore; 
dealer  in  dry  goods  and  notions,  boots  and 
shoes,  hats,  caps  and  clothing  ;  was  born 
in  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  March  16,  1838,  and 
is  a  son  of  Baker  and  Mary  Waters  ;  in 
1847,  his  parents  removed  to  Coles  Co., 
and  settled  in  Charleston,  where  his  father 
carried  on  the  wagon  and  carriage  making 
business  about  ten  years  ;  he  then  removed 
to  a  farm  in  Ashmore  Tp.,  where  he  lived 
till  his  death,  in  1875  ;  Mr.  W^aters'  moth- 
er died  the  year  before  ;  the  family  con- 
sisted of  eight  sons  and  one  daughter,  all 
residents  of  Coles  Co. ;  when  he  was  12 
years  old,  Mr.  Waters  entered  his  father's 
shop  to  learn  the  wagon-maker's  trade. 
He  was  married  Feb.  14,  1861,  to  Miss 
Edith  Austin,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Susan  Austin,  of  Ashmore;  she  died  Jan. 
4,  1862,  leaving  one  child— Edith  E.  ; 
in  1862,  he  entered  the  123d  111.  Vols,  as 
principal  musician,  and  on  the  re-organiza- 
tion of  his  regiment  as  mounted  infantry, 
he  was  made  regimental  bugler  ;  he  served 
with  his  regiment  till  the  close  of  the  war, 
participating  in  all  of  its  engagements — 
numbering  over  one  hundred  and  twenty  ; 
among  them,  Perryville,  Ky. ;  Milton, 
Tenn. ;  Hoover's  Gap,  Chattanooga ; 
Chickaraauga,  Farmiugton,  Peach-Tree 
Creek,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Resaca,  siege 


of  Atlanta,  Selma,  Ala.,  Columbus  and 
Macon.  Returning,  he  carried  on  the  car- 
riage-making business  one  year,  and  at  the 
same  time  started  his  present  business. 
He  was  married  a  second  time  Aug.  12, 
1869,  to  Miss  Eliza  O'Brien,  of  Ashmore  ; 
she  died  March  6,  1877,  leaving  one  child 
— George  H. 

NATHANIEL  WICKER,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  ;  P.  0.  Ashmore  ;  was  born  in 
Pike  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  21,  1820  ;.  he  is  a 
son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Wicker,  the 
former  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  the 
latter  of  Kentucky;  in  1838,  the  family 
came  to  Illinois,  spending  a  part  of  the 
winter  in  Indiana,  and  arriving  in  Edgar 
Co.,  in  February,  1839  ;  they  (^settled  at  the 
Walnut  Grove,  where  his  parents  resided 
till  their  death  ;  in  1848,  Mr.  Wicker,  tak- 
ing the  younger  members  of  his  father's 
family,  removed  to  Coles  Co.,  and  settled 
in     Ashmore     Tp. ;     his     first 


marriage 


occurred  March  31,  1851,  to  Miss  Han- 
nah E.  Law,  a  native  of  Madison  Co., 
Ohio  ;  she  came  to  Edgar  Co.,  at  the  age 
of  9  years ;  she  died  Feb.  9,  1878, 
leaving  three  children — Lydia  V.,  now 
wife  of  James  A.  Wright,  of  Ashmore  Town- 
ship, George  A.,  and  Albert  H. ;  he  was 
married  again,  Dec.  24,  1878,  to  Miss 
Sarah  H.  Wright,  a  daughter  of  Robert 
and-  Catharine  Wright ;  she  was  born  in 
Campbell  Co.,  Kentucky,  Sept.  28,  1840; 
Mr.  Wicker  settled  on  his  present  farm  in 
1851,  where  he  owns  94  acres  of  land. 

THOMAS  WOODS,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser;  P.  O.  Westfield,  Clark  Co.,  was  born 
in  Coles  Co.,  on  the  homestead,  where  he 
now  resides,  July  12,  1848 ;  his  father, 
William  Woods,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
the  county,  was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  Ky., 
Nov.  28,  1808,  and  settled  in  Coles 
Co.  in  the  year  1834,  with  the  family  of 
his  mother,  Mrs.  Mary  Woods ;  like  most 
of  the  early  settlers,  he  came  here  a  poor 
man,  to  build  him  a  home  in  the  then  wil- 
derness ;  he  purchased  at  first  forty  acres 
of  land  ;  he  was  an  energetic,  hard- working 
man,  who  commanded  the  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  his  neighbors ;  to  his  farm  of 
forty  acres  he  added  at  various  times,  until 
he  owned  at  one  time  240  acres  of  land 
situated  in  Coles  and  Clark  Cos.,  which 
amount  he  left  at  the  time  of  his  death  ; 
Thomas  Woods,  the  only  son,  has  always 
remained  on  the  old  homestead.     He  was 


HUTTON  TOWNSHIP. 


607 


married  oq  the  17th  of  February,  1876,  to 
Miss  Mollie  A.  Arterburn,  a  dauo;hter  of 
William  Arterbura,  of  Edgar  Co.,  111. ;  she 
was  born  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  Feb.  11, 1846, 
and  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents  in 
infancy  ;  they  have  one  child — Alta. 

JACOB  ZIMMERMAN,  of  the  firm 
of  Zimmerman  &  Monroe,  dealers  in  dry 
goods,  notions,  boots,  shoes,  etc.,  Ashmore; 
was  born  in  , Augusta  County,  Va.,  Sept. 
19,  1836;  in  1837,  his  father,  Martin 
Zimmerman,  removed  with  his  family  to 
Edgar  Co.,  111.,  where  he  resided  one  year, 
and  then  settled  in  the  edge  of  what  is  now 
Oakland  Township,  in  1838;  in  common 
with  most  of  the  pioneers,  he  began  life  in 
the  West  with  an  empty  pocket,  but  with 
that  unconquerable  determination  to  suc- 
ceed before  which  all  obstacles  recede  and 
vanish  away  ;  he  entered  some  land  from 
the  Government,  to  which  he  added  until 
he  owned  a  fine  fiirm  of  400  acres,  and 
was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  reliable 
and  substantial  farmers  in  the  vicinity  ;  he 
died  in  1852,  leaving  a  family  of  eight 
children.  Jacob  Zimmerman  remained  on 
the  home  farm  about  two  years  after  his 
father's  death,  and  then  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  himself ;  a  few  years  later,  he 
started  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Ash- 
more  ;  he  has  been  the  agent  of  the  Ameri- 
can Express  Co.,  for  the  past  eighteen 
years  ;  he  served  about  two  years  on 
the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  a  term  or 
two  as  Assessor  ;  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the  village  of  Ash- 
more  seven  terms,  and  several  years,  of  the 
Board  of  School  Directors.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  September,  1855,  to  Miss  Sarah  C. 
Ashmore,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Hezekiah 


J.  Ashmore,  of  this  town,  and  has  three 
children — Lillian,  Norman  L.  and  Ver- 
nona. 

JAMES  ZIMMERMAN,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser ;  P.  0.  Ashmore ;  a  son  of 
Martin  and  Sarah  Zimmerman  ;  was  born 
in  Augusta  Co.,  Va.,  Dec.  8,  1827,  and 
came  to  the  State  of  Illinois  with  his  par- 
ents in  1837,  at  the  age  of  10  years;  his 
father,  after  spending  one  year  in  Edgar 
Co.,  removed  to  Coles  Co.,  in  1838,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  the  edaie  of  Oakland 
Tp.;  this  farm  is  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  John  B.  Zimmerman,  one  of  his  sons. 
On  the  12th  of  January,  1854,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  A.  McDavitt,  a  daughter  of  Nortley 
McDavitt,  of  Edgar  Co.,  111.  ;  she  was 
born  in  Hampshire  Co.,  Va.,  Jan.  13, 
1830,  and  came  to  Edgar  Co.  with  her 
parents  in  1832  ;  of  seven  children  of  this 
marriage  five  are  living— William  R.,  Roley 
0.,  Mary  I.,  Ella  E.  and  Cora  N.  Mr.  Zim- 
merman began  life  for  himself  by  working- 
out  by  the  month,  and,  in  1853,  began  im- 
proving his  present  home,  which  was  then 
raw  prairie  ;  he    first   en- 


nothing  but  the 

tered  160  acres  of  land,  from  the  Govern- 
ment ;  to 


this  he  has  added  at  various 
times,  until  he  now  owns  some  400  acres 
of  as  fine  land  as  is  to  be  found  in  Illinois, 
with  good  improvements  and  well-stocked, 
etc. ;  he  has  made  a  specialty  of  stock- 
raising,  raising  what  grain  was  necessary  to 
feed  his  stock,  thus  consuming  the  products 
of  the  land  upon  the  farm  ;  he  has  never 
been  an  office-seeker,  nor  an  ofiice-holder, 
but  has  devoted  himself  to  his  business  of 
farming. 


HUTTON    TOWNSHIP. 


ELIJAH  ADAMS,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Diona ;  was  born  in  Licking  Co.,  Ohio, 
Oct.  23,  1824;  in  the  year  1838,  his  par- 
ents, John  Adams,  who  was  a  native  of 
New  York,  and  Susanna  Adams,  a  native 
of  Maryland,  moved  to  Coles  Co.,  and  set- 
tled on  Sec.  17,  where  the  son  now  resides, 
having  entered  the  land ;  both  died  there, 
his  mother  in  October,  1877,  and  his 
father,  June,  1878.     The  subject  of  this 


sketch  has  always  resided  in  this  county 
with  the  exception  of  the  years  1850  and 
1851,  when  he  was  mining  and  prospect- 
ing in  California.  He  has  held  the  office 
of  School  Trustee  and  Director  for  fifteen 
years,  and  is  such  at  the  present  time ; 
was  also  Supervisor  five  years.  Assessor 
four  years,  and  is  at  present  Commissioner 
of  Highways.  He  owns  200  acres  of 
land.     He   married   Miss   Louisa    Ander- 


608 


BIuGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES; 


son,  daughter  of  James  Anderson ;  her 
parents  were  natives  of  Virginia,  and 
moved  to  Ohio,  and  from  there  came  to 
Coles  Co.  in  the  year  1839  ;  they  both 
died  on  the  farm  adjoining  that  of  Mr. 
Adams,  upon  whicli  they  had  settled  Aug. 
21,  1843 ;  Mr.  Adams  was  born  May 
15,  1822  ;  they  had  eight  children,  five 
living — John,  born  Aug.  17  1847  (and 
who  married  twice,  his  first  wife  being 
Miss  Henrietta  Irwin,  whom  he  married  in 
November,  1868,  and  who  died  April  25, 
1873  ;  his  second  wife  was  Miss  Martha  E. 
^  Walters,  whom  he  was  married  to  Jan.  16, 
1874;  they  have  three  children — Wesley 
E.,  Mary  E.  and  Dora  E.),  Rachel  E., 
(now  Mrs.  Levi  Moore),  born  March  11, 
1850;  James  W.,  born  Dec.  10,  1852, 
who  married  Miss  Emily  Goodman  ;  Anor 
L.,  born  July  25,  1860,  and  David  E., 
born  Oct.  17,  1862,  and  three  died — Su- 
sanna (formerly  Mrs.  Reily  Irwin),  born 
July  21,  1844,  died  Oct.  28,  1877;  Mary 
A.,' born  April  11,  1857,  died  May  7, 
1858;  and  Seth  D.,  born  Jan.  18,  1855, 
and  died  April  29,  1858. 

ELIAS  ANDERSON,  former;  P.  0. 
Diona ;  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  was  born 
in  Champaign  Co.  June  16,  1807  ;  he 
remained  with  his  parents  until  he  was  32 
years  ot  age,  his  father  having  died  about 
the  year  1833;  he  remained  with  his 
mother  until  her  removal  to  Michigan, 
where  she  died  in  the  year  1844 ;  Mr. 
Anderson,  before  his  removal  to  this  county, 
married,  Sept.  20,  1835,  Miss  Hannah 
Place,  her  parents  being  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania ;  in  the  year  1839,  they  came  to 
this  county  and  settled  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided ;  they  had  five  children,  four 
living — Thomas,  born  Sept.  6,  1839,  Cla- 
rinda,  Aug.  14,  1841,  Eunice,  March  6, 
1843,  and  Jasper,  Dec.  28,  1847,  and  one 
deceased — Elias,  who  died  Sept.  25,  1868  ; 
his  wife  died  March  19,  1851  ;  he  mar- 
ried his  second  wife  (the  widow  of  Isaac 
Clark),  April,  1852;  they  had  four  chil- 
dren, all  living — Louisa,  born  Feb.  26, 
1853,  Bartholomew,  March  7,  1855,  Ra- 
chel, Sept.  25,  1857,  and  James.  Jan. 
30,  1862;  his  wife  died  Sept.  25,  1865, 
and  on  Dec.  13, 1866,  he  was  married  to  the 
widow  of  Henry  Brant,  who  was  formerly 
Miss  Margaret  Tombs,  of  New  Jersey. 

MATTHIAS  BEAVERS,  farmer ;    P. 
0.  Hutton  ;  was  born  in  Meade  Co.,  Ky., 


June  6,  1823  ;  his  parents,  William  and 
Nancy,  came  to  Clay  Co.,  Ind.,  while  he 
was  an  infant,  and  settled  near  Bowling 
Green,  and  after  remaining  there  some  six 
or  seven  years,  came  to  Clark  Co.,  and 
lived  in  the  "  Rich  Woods,"  near  West- 
field,  and  about  the  year  1833,  came  to 
Coles  Co.  Mr.  Beavers  remained  with  his 
parents  up  to  the  age  of  21,  when  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Endsley,  daughter  of 
Andrew  Endsley,  of  Hutton  Tp.,  on  Jan. 
2, 1845  ;  shortly  after,  he  came  to  his  pres- 
ent farm  on  Sec.  13,  where  he  at  present 
resides;  he  owns  180  acres,  mostly  im- 
proved. Mr.  Beavers  remembers  well  when 
the  Indians  were  encamped  near  the  cabins 
of  the  settlers,  and  was  present  when  they 
took  up  their  march  at  the  call  of  Black 
Hawk.  His  wife  was  born  Oct,  8,  1820  ; 
they  had  nine  children,  sis  living — Albert, 
born  Oct.  15, 1845  ;  Matilda  J.  (^now  Mrs. 
R.  Bennett,  of  Clark  Co.),  born  Sept.  7, 
1848 ;  Isabel  (now  Mrs.  Andrew  Lee,  of 
Clark  Co.),  born  Av%.  28,  1850 ;  Nancy 
E.,  born  April  24,  1854;  Sarah  C  (now 
Mrs.  Owen  Lee,  of  Hutton  Tp.),  born  Oct. 
15,  1856,  and  Louis  R.,born  May  1,1860, 
and  three  boys,  who  died  in  infancy.  His 
son  Albert  enlisted  in  the  54th  Regt.  111. 
Vols.,  aud  was  discharged  on  account  of 
disability. 

WILLIAM  BEAVERS,  farmer;  P. 
0.  Hutton  ;  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
county,  and  was  born  in  Loudoun  Co.,  Va., 
on  23d  day  of  July,  1797  ;  at  the  age  of 
17,  he  left  home,  driving  a  team  to  Barren 
Co.,  Ky,,  remaining  there  for  four  or  five 
years.  In  the  year  1818,  he  married  Miss 
Nancy  Bradenburg  (daughter  of  Henry 
Bradenburg),  and  after  remaining  at  the 
home  of  her  parents  one  year,  rented  a 
farm  for  one  year,  and,  in  1820,  went  to 
Clay  Co.,  Ind.,  remaining  there  for  seven 
years ;  in  1827,  he  came  to  Clark  Co.,  111., 
near  Westfield,  and  lived  there  for  three 
years,  and,  in  the  year  1830,  entered  and 
moved  upon  the  land  upon  which  he  now 
resides,  on  Sec.  10,  near  the  village  of 
Salisbury  ;  he  owns  eighty  acres.  ^  Mr. 
Beavers  first  built  a  log  cabin,  with  a 
"  puncheon  floor."  The  Kickapoo  Indians 
at  that  time  owned  this  land  and  lived  all 
around  him ;  while  cutting  some  "  bee- 
trees  "  in  Long  Point,  this  county,  he  saw 
the  "runners"  that  had  been  sent  by 
Black  Hawk  calling  the  Indians  together. 


HUTTON  TOWNSHIP. 


609 


Mr.  Beavers  is  remarkably  active  at  his 
time  of  life,  now  being  in  his  82d  year  ; 
his  mother  died  in  Virginia  while  he  was 
an  infant,  and  his  father  in  Locust  Grove, 
Adams  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  had  moved 
some  years  before.  His  wife  was  born  in 
the  year  1803 ;  they  had  seventeen  chil- 
dren, seven  boys  living — Matthias,  Henry, 
Solomon,  William,  Barnett,  John  and  Jo- 
seph ;  three  girls — Sallie  Ann  (now  Mrs. 
William  Ashby),  Nancy  (now  Mrs.  Joseph 
Dyer)  and  Martha  J.  (now  Mrs.  Andrew 
StraderJ  ;  seven  deceased — Rebecca  M.,  J. 
Calvin,  Polly,  Elizabeth  and  Fannie,  and 
two  who  died  in  inflmcy. 

HENRY  BELL,  farmer;  P.  0.  Hutton ; 
was  born  in  Randolph  Co.,  N.  C,  in  the 
year  1819;  his  parents  Pierce  and  Re- 
becca moved  to  Preble  Co.,  Ohio.,  in  the 
year  1820,  and  after  remaining  about 
fifteen  years,  moved  to  Rush  Co.,  Ind., 
where  they  lived  for  about  fifteen  or  twenty 
years  ;  in  1850,  they  came  to  Coles  Co. 
and  settled  on  Sec?  16,  where  his  father 
died  at  the  age  of  88,  his  mother  dying 
the  year  afterward.  Mr.  Bell  moved  to 
his  present  farm  on  Sec.  15  Feb.  14, 1856, 
containing  80  acres.  In  1848,  he  married 
in  Indiana  Miss  Sarah  Cox  (daughter  of 
Isaac  Cox,  of  North  Carolina)  ;  she  died 
in  the  year  1853  ;  they  had  five  children  ; 
one  living,  Mary  (now  Mrs.  N.  Dunbar,  of 
Charleston),  born  March,  1866;  and  four 
died — Jane  E.,  Sarah  E.,  Eh  and  one  that 
died  in  infancy.  He  married  his  second 
wife  Mrs.  Nancy  Brewer  (widow  of  Jesse 
Bell),  Feb.  12,  1853;  she  died  Aug.  5, 
1875  ;  they  had  eleven  children,  all  living — 
Jonas  v.,  born  Nov.  10,  1854;  Jesse^B., 
Nov.  19,  1856  ;  Lucretia,  March  17,  1858  ; 
William  H.,  June  10,  1859  ;  Alman,  Oct. 
14,  1860  ;  Louisa,  June  23,  1862;  John, 
Oct.  22,  1863;  Margaret  D.,  May  14, 
1865;  Charles  M.,  Oct.  28,  1866; 
Susanna,  August  23,  18()8,  and  James 
E.,  born  March  4,  1871. 

JAMES  BRANDENBURG,  farmer; 
P.  0.  Diona ;  was  born  in  Hardin  Co., 
Ky.,  April  20,  1820  ;  when  he  was  about 
3  years  of  age,  his  parents  moved  to 
Clay  Co.,  Ind.,  and  from  there,  in  the  year 
1829,  came  to  this  county.  Mr.  Branden- 
bursr  lived  at  home,  working  in  the  neigh- 
borhood,  until  he  was  18  years  of  age, 
when  he  went  to  Wisconsin  and  was  en- 
gaged in  teaming  for  two  years  ;  in  1844, 


he  settled  southeast  of  Salisbury,  in  this 
township,  and  lived  there  for  twelve  or 
thirteen  years,  when  he  purchased  a  farm 
on  Sec.  32,  and  after  being  there  thirteen 
years,  moved  to  his  present  farm  on  Sec.  7, 
where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  Mr. 
Brandenburg  is  the  eldest  son  of  Solomon 
Brandenburg.  He  married  Jan.  29,  1843, 
Miss  Neety  Cooper,  daughter  of  Jeremiah 
Cooper,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  who 
settled  in  Coles  Co.  in  the  year  1839  ;  they 
had  seven  children  ;  four  living — William, 
born  Jan.  22, 1847,who  married  Miss  Ange- 
line  Buley  in  1865  ;  Lucinda  (now  Mrs. 
Isaiah  Murphy),  born  June  19,  1849; 
Henry  L.,  born  Nov.  13,  1854,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Amanda  Gilbert  July,  1877  ; 
Neety  (now  Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Goodman), 
born  Sept.  26,  1857;  three  deceased — 
Milton,  born  Dec.  2,  1844,  died  Jan.  8, 
1848;  Nancy,  born  Oct.  10,  1851,  died 
April  2,  1852,  and  Amanda,  born  Feb.  9, 
1853,  died  March  2,  1853. 

WILLIAM    H.    BRANDENBURG, 
farmer  ;  P.  0.  Hutton ;  was  born  in  Clay 
Co.,  Ind.,  Oct.  19,  1824,  and  came  to  this 
county  with  his  parents  at  4  years  of  age, 
and  remained  with  them  up  to  the  age  of 
17,  when  he  went  to  Wisconsin,  working 
upon  a  farm  for  two  years,  then  returned 
to  his  parents'  home,  and,  making  up  a 
team,  returned  to  Wisconsin,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  hauling  lead  for  nine  years;  in 
1852,   he   returned    to    Hutton    Tp.  and 
worked  out  for  two  years,  when  he  settled 
upon  the  farm  on  Sec.  13,  which  he  had 
purchased  ;    he   owns   150    acres  of  land. 
He  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  10th  I.  V.  C,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  our  late  civil  war, 
being  mustered  out  at  San  Antonio,  Tex. 
He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Tucker,  of 
Indiana,  in   July,  1849  ;  she  was  born  in 
1828;  they  had  nine  children,  six  living 
— Sarah  J.   (now  Mrs.   John   Jenkins,  of 
Hutton    Tp.) ;     Mary    Ann     (now    Mrs. 
Irvin    Morris,  of  Cumberland   Co.,   111.), 
born  June  14,   1850;     Zobeda   A.   (now 
Mrs.    Charles    Franklin,    of    Cumberland 
Co.,  111.),   born  March  10,  1853;     Wil- 
liard   A.,   July  12,   1858  ;    Amanda   M., 
Aug.    30,    1861  ;     Almorinda,    April    7, 
1868  ;  three   dead— Lydia  E.,  John   W. 
and  Alazan. 

SOLOMON  BRANDENBURG, 
farmer ;  P.  0 .  Hutton  ;  is  the  fifth  son  of 
Solomon    B.    Brandenburg,    one    of    the 


610 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  : 


early  settlers  of  this  couuty,  and  was  born  j 
in  Hutton  Tp.  Sept.  3,  1830 ;  at  the  age 
of  19  he  went  to  Wisconsin  and  engaged 
in  hauling  lead  with  his  brothers  C.  P. 
and  Wm.  H.,  during  the  summer,  for  nine 
years  ;  in  the  year  1858,  he  purchased  the 
farm  upon  which  he  now  resides,  on  Sec.  i 
13.  He  married  Mrs.  Sallie  Smith 
(daughter  of  James  Cox  and  widow  of 
George  Smith),  Feb.  5,  1850 ;  they  had 
seven  children,  five  livins; — Ford,  born 
Dec.  27,  1850;  Polly,  June  23,  1855; 
Hester  A.,  Aug.  26,  1860  ;  Ulysses  G., 
Nov.  2,  1863,  and  Ilose,  born  June  30, 
1866,  and  two  deceased — James  and  Bar- 
thena.  His  son  Ford  married  Miss  Louisa 
A.  Cooper  Nov.  17,  1873 ;  he  has  two 
children — Marion  0.,  born  Oct.  11,  1874, 
and  Sallie  M.,  born  Jan.  4,  1876. 

C.  P.  BRANDENBURG,  farmer ;  P. 
O.  Hutton;  was  born  in  Clay  Co.,  lad., 
Aug.  24,  1828 ;  his  parents,  Solomon  O.  ■■ 
and  Alezan,  were  among  the  first  settlers 
of  this  county,  having  settled  in  the  year 
1829,  on  Sec.  14  of  Hutton  Tp.;  his 
father  died  in  1861,  and  his  mother  went 
to  reside  with  his  brother  William  H.,  and 
died  in  May,  1875  ;  Mr.  Brandenburg 
lived  with  his  parents  up  to  the  age  of  17, 
when  he  went  to  Wisconsin  and  engaged 
in  hauling  lead  during  the  summer  for 
eleven  seasons,  returning  to  his  father's 
during  the  winter  months  ;  his  journey 
back  and  forth  was  through  a  total  wilder- 
ness, where  for  miles  not  a  farmhouse  was 
to  be  seen,  encamping  at  night;  in  1856, 
he  settled  on  Sec.  14,  in  this  township, 
having  purchased  a  farm  and  improved  it, 
there  being  only  a  log  cabin  upon  it,  which 
is  still  standing,  now  occupied  by  John 
Jenkins,  on  Sec.  14;  he  owns  210  acres 
of  land.  He  married  his  first  wife.  Miss 
Mary  Cox,  of  Hutton  Tp.,  on  Feb.  28, 
1850  ;  she  died  July  5,  1875  ;  they  had 
twelve  children,  seven  living — Almorinda, 
born  Sept.  11,  1856;  Charles  P.,  born 
Jan.  13,  1858  ;  Theodore,  Nov.  25,  1860; 
William  N.,  Aug.  25,  1862  ;  George  E., 
Jan.  11,  1864;  Clayborn,  Dec.  13,  1866, 
and  Edward,  born  Oct.  13,  1872,  and  five 
deceased — John,  born  July  18,  1855,  died 
Oct.  16,  1855  ;  Thomas  J.,  born  July  29, 
1852,  died  Oct.  8,  1870,  and  three  died 
in  infancy.  Ho  married  his  second  wife, 
Wisi  Nancy  J.  Baker,  of  Hutton  Tp., 
July   22,  1877  ;    she   was  born  in  April, 


1845  ;  they  have  one  child — Henry,  born 
Feb.  18,  1878. 

ABRAHAM  BENNETT,  minister  of 
United  Brethren  Church,  Westfield  ;  was 
born  in  Meade  Co.  Ky.,  Nov.  15,  1828; 
after  remaining  at  home  until  the  age  of 
18,  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  flat- 
boating  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Riv- 
ers for  some  five  or  six  years ;  in  the  year 
1852,  he  commenced  traveling  in  the  min- 
istry of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  hav- 
ing from  his  youth  been  connected  with 
that  Church  ;  in  the  same  year,  leaving 
his  family  in  Kentucky,  he  traveled  cir- 
cuit for  some  six  years  in  Indiana,  when, 
having  returned  to  Kentucky,  was  engaged 
in  missionary  work  through  that  State  for 
three  successive  years ;  having  sold  his 
farm,  he  moved  his  family  to  Harrison 
Co.,  Ind.,  in  what  is  widely  known  as  the 
"  Rippidan  Valley,"  and  continued  travel- 
ing circuit  up  to  the  fall  of  1864,  when  he 
moved  to  Hutton  Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  and 
settled  upon  his  present  farm  when  it  was 
a  dense  wood  ;  at  first,  before  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  circuit  in  Hutton  Tp.,  Mr. 
Bennett  engaged  in  missionary  work  until 
it  became  a  circuit,  when  he  filled  the  po- 
sition of  a  local  minister,  and  was  greatly 
instrumental  in  building  the  "  West  Lib- 
erty Chapel "  of  the  tj.  B.  Church,  and 
also  "Weaver  Chapel"  on  the  edge  of 
"  Park  Prairie."  He  married  Miss  Martha 
Jane  Chism  (daughter  of  John  Chism,  of 
Meade  Co.,  Ky.),  on  July  4,  1850  ;  she 
was  born  Jan.  5,  1831;  they  had  eight 
children,  four  boj's,  three  living — John  J., 
James  Hand,  David  S. ;  one  died — George 
W.  ;  and  four  girls,  two  living — Laura 
A.  and  Martha "j.,  and  two  died — Mary 
E.  and  Purva  C. 

GEORGE  BIDLE,  farmer  and  .stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Westfield  ;  was  born  in  Wurt- 
emberg,  Germany,  Sept.  25,  1833 ;  he 
remained  there  until  he  was  17  years  of 
age ;  his  parents  having  died  in  Germany 
Mr.  Bidle  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
landing  in  New  York  City  in  April,  1852, 
and  first  went  to  New  Jersey,  remaining 
there  four  months  working  upon  a  farm, 
after  which  he  went  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and 
worked  at  the  wagon-maker's  trade  for  two 
years,  when  he  came  to  Westfield.  Clark 
Co.,  111.,  and  from  there,  in  the  fall  of  1865, 
moved  to  Coles  Co.,  and  settled  upon  the 
farm  upon  which  he  now  resides,  farming 


HUTTON  TOWNSHIP. 


611 


250  acres,  all  but  twenty  acres  inclosed ; 
has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  nine 
years,  and  at  present  School  Director.  He 
married  Christiana  Airey,  of  Perry  Co., 
Ohio,  in  Hutton  Tp.  of  this  county,  Jan. 
17,  1856 ;  they  have  three  children — 
Henry,  born  April  22, 1857  ;  Richard  A., 
Sept.  2,  1858  ;  and  Charles,  Oct,  20,  1860. 

MRS.  SARAH  ANN  BRYANT  ;  P.O. 
Westfield,  Clark  Co.;  was  the  daughter  of 
Sanjuel  Jack,  of  Ohio,  who  was  a  native 
of  Virginia ;  she  came  to  Coles  Co.  with 
her  parents  when  she  was  19  years  of  age, 
where  they  both  died.  She  married  James 
Parker  May  26,  1842  ;  he  was  the  son  of 
George  Parker,  and  died  May  7,  1864; 
they  had  ten  children,  two  only  living — 
Matilda  J.,  now  Mrs.  John  Anderson,  of 
Hutton  Tp. ;  Harriet  R.,  now  Mrs.  Wm. 
Mars,  of  Johnson  Co.,  Mo. ;  eight  de- 
ceased— Jonathan,  who  enlisted  in  Co. 
"F,"  123d  Regt.  111.  Vols.,  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Perryville,  Oct.  8,  1862; 
William  J.,  Jeptha,  Samuel,  Emeline,  Sa- 
rah (who  married  Ashbury  Lemaster,  of 
Jasper  Co.,  111.,  January,  1869),  Melissa 
A.,  and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  She 
married  her  second  husband,  Mr.  John 
Bryant,  of  Indiana,  August,  1866  ;  he  died 
Dec.  9,  1869.  Mr.  Parker  was  a  Deacon 
of  Good  Hope  Baptist  Church  for  many 
years ;  Mr.  Bryant  was  a  Methodist  and 
Mrs.  Bryant  a  Baptist. 

E.  R.  CONNELY,  farmer ;  P.  0.  West- 
field;  was  born  in  Lawrence  Co.,  Ind., 
March  6,  1829 ;  his  parents,  Joel  and  Ef- 
fie  Connely,  came  to  this  county  in  the 
spring  of  1832,  and  were  among  its  earliest 
pioneers ;  having  raised  one  crop,  they  re- 
turned to  Indiana,  and,  in  the  fall  of  same 
year,  brought  out  their  family,  consisting 
of  six  boys  and  five  girls  accompanied 
also  by  their  grandfather  and  grandmother 
Pennington  ;  they  made  the  journey  the 
whole  distance  in  wagons,  driving  their 
stock,  composed  both  of  sheep  and  cattle, 
with  them.  His  grandfather  Pennington 
was  a  Baptist  minister,  and  among  the 
first  in  this  township.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  the  youngest  of  the  boys,  be- 
ing only  4  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
their  removal  to  this  county  ;  he  continued 
to  reside  with  his  parents  up  to  the  time  of 
their  death,  his  father  dying  June  8, 1853, 
and  his  mother,  Oct.  14,  1875,  at  the  ripe 
old   age  of  88  ;  Mr.  Connely  has  resided 


upon  the  homestead  ever  since,  containing 
at  the  present  time  380  acres;  his  father's 
estate  consisted  of  1,500  acres,  and  was 
divided  among  his  children  prior  to  his 
decease.  Mr.  Connely  has  held  the  posi- 
tion of  Supervisor  of  this  county  and  is  at 
the  present  time  School  Director,  and  has 
been  such  since  1856.  He  has  been  mar- 
ried twice,  his  first  wife  being  Miss  Rebecca 
Piatt,  daughter  of  John  Piatt ;  thev  were 
married  near  Salisbury  (now  Hutton  P. 
0.),  Hutton  Tp.,  Oct.  24,  1850  ;  she  died 
Sept.  29,  1875  ;  they  had  eleven  children, 
six  boys,  all  living — Emory  P.,  Maiden  T., 
Oscar  v.,  Ellis  J.  and  Willis  J.  (twins) 
and  Eddie  A.,  and  five  girls,  four  living 
— Addie  B.  (now  Mrs.  W.  Pentzer,  of 
Iroquois  Co.,  111.),  Ollie  M.,  lona  and  Bep- 
pie ;  his  second  wife  was  Miss  Susan  Re- 
becca McConnell,  daughter  of  Michael 
McConnell,  of  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio  ;  they 
were  married  at  Cadiz,  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio, 
Aug.  24.  1876  ;  they  have  one  child — 
Sarah.  His  parents  were  both  zealous 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  having 
connected  themselves  with  that  Church 
shortly  after  their  marriage  ;  his  mother, 
however,  embraced  religion  at  the  early  age 
of  11,  and  lived  the  exemplary  life  of  a 
Christian  to  the  day  of  her  death.  His 
father  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  many  years,  in  Lawrence  Co., 
Ind.,  and  continued  the  same  in  Coles  Co. 
for  a  number  of  years  after  his  removal 
here. 

JEREMIAH  C.  COOPER,  farmer; 
P.  0.  Hutton;  was  born  in  Franklin  Co., 
N.  C,  April  25,  1786,  being  now  93 
years  of  age,  hale  and  hearty ;  he  re- 
mained with  his  parents  up  to  the  age  of 
21,  working  upon  farms  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, when  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Ran- 
dolph Co.,  N.  C.,  and  lived  there  until 
1841,  when  he  came  to  Coles  Co.,  and  on 
April  22  of  same  year  purchased  the 
farm  on  Sec.  24,  upon  which  he  has  ever 
since  resided.  While  living  in  Randolph 
Co.  he  was  elected  Sergeant  of  the  1st  Regt. 
of  North  Carolina  Militia,  and  was  pro- 
moted to  Orderly  Sergeant  of  the  regi- 
ment, then  Ensign  or  2d  Lieutenant,  and 
then  elected  Captain,  and  from  that  to 
Colonel,  which  position  he  however  would 
not  accept  on  account  of  the  expense 
attached  to  it ;  he  was  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  fifteen  years  (appointed  by  both 

7 


612 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


branches  of  the  State  Legislature),  and 
retained  the  same  up  to  his  removal  to 
Coles  Co.  in  1841.  He  has  been  married 
three  times ;  his  first  wife  was  Miss  McDe- 
laney  Wakehaster,  whom  he  married 
April  15,  1809  ;  she  died  in  May,  1846  ; 
they  had  ten  children;  five  boys — Jesse, 
born  April  23,  1813;  John,  Sept.  6, 
1818;  Larkin,  June  3,  1820;  Frank, 
June  11,  1826;  Henry  L.,  Dec.  25,  1828; 
and  five  girls,  four  living — Fanny,  born 
Feb.  7,  1810;  Neety,  Dec.  18,  1823; 
Mary,  Aug.  30,  1831;  Susan,  born  in 
1816,  and  one  that  died  in  infancy;  he 
married  his  second  wife.  Miss  Tabitha 
Hulen  (widow  of  Darius  Whipple),  Feb- 
ruary, 1847  ;  she  died  Dec.  16, 1853  ;  they 
had  four  children,  three  living — Eveline, 
born  Dec.  20,  1847 ;  Bird  M.,  June  6, 
1851  ;  Alexander,  June  22,  1853 ;  one 
died,  Jeremiah  T.,born  May  15, 1849,  died 
Aug.  21,  1878  ;  he  married  his  third  wife, 
Miss  Mary  M.  Marrs  (widow  of  Isaac 
Flinn,)  Sept.  1,  1857;  she  died  Feb.  5, 
1875;  they  had  one  child,  Hezekiah,  born 
June  17,  1858,  died  March  30.  1871. 

F.  E.  COTTINGHAM,  farmer ;  P.  0. 
Hutton  ;  was  born  in  this  township  March 
17,  1849 ;  his  father,  John  J.,  was  born 
in  Kentucky  Nov.  23,  1816,  and  his 
mother,  Sarah  J.,  in  Harrison  Co.,  Ind., 
in  1821  ;  his  father  first  went  to  New 
Albany,  Ind.,  and  Louisville,  Ky.,  working 
at  brickmaking  and  as  a  brickmason,  and, 
in  the  year  1836,  came  to  this  county  and 
first  settled  near  Westfield,  Clark  Co.,  and 
from  there  to  this  township ;  in  the  year 
1859,  he  moved  to  Charleston, Coles  Co.,  and 
died  on  Oct.  9,  1863;  his  mother  is  still 
living,  and  is  at  the  present  time  married 
to  John  Moore;  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
lived  with  his  parents,  and  at  present  re- 
sides upon  the  homestead.  He  married 
Miss  Emza  H.  Cox  (daughter  of  Wm.  R. 
Cox,  of  Hutton  Tp.)  March  27,  1873  ; 
they  have  three  children — Emma  B.,  born 
June  2, 1874  ;  Hannah  0.,  Sept.  24, 1875, 
and  Elzada,  born  Dec.  17,  1877.  Mr. 
Cottingham  learned  the  trade  of  a  brick- 
mason  with  his  father,  and  works  at  that 
trade  in  connection  with  his  farming;  he 
has  held  the  office  of  Town  Clerk  for  four 
consecutive  years,  and  is  such  at  the  pres- 
ent time ;  he  also  taught  school  for  five 
terms,  three  in  Hutton  Tp.,  and  two  in 
Union    Tp.,    Cumberland    Co.,  111.     His 


paternal  grandparents  lived  with  his  par- 
ents until  their  death,  his  grandfather  dying 
August,  1859,  and  his  grandmother  May 
16,  1867,  and  his  grandfather  on  his 
mother's  side  died  Nov.  9,  1863  ;  a  crip- 
pled uncle,  Anthony,  lived  also  with  the 
parents  of  Mr.  Cottingham,  and  still  resides 
with  their  sons. 

JAMES  A.  COX,  farmer ;  P.  0.  West- 
field,  Clark  Co. ;  was  born  in  Hutton  Tp. 
Oct.  26,  1846  ;  his  parents  came  to  this 
county  about  the  year  1829,  and  were 
among  the  first  settlers ;  his  mother  died 
Feb.  2,  1877;  his  father  is  still  living  in 
Cumberland  Co. ,  111. ;  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  remained  with  his  parents  until  he 
was  25  years  of  age,  when  he  married  Miss 
Lucinda  R.  Morris  (daughter  of  James 
Morris,  of  Clark  Co.)  March  21,  1872  ; 
shortly  after  his  marriage,  he  moved  to  a 
farm  on  Sec.  11,  remaining  there  until 
the  fall  of  1872,  when  he  moved  from 
there,  in  the  month  of  March,  1877, 
and  came  to  where  he  now  resides,  on 
Sec.  12,  farming  seven tv  acres.  His  wife 
was  born  Oct.  1,  1855;  they  had  three 
children,  two  living — Lillie  M.  (born  May, 
3  5,  1873),  Eva  J.  ^boru  Aug.  16,  1877), 
and  one  deceased — Ella  (born  Jan.  31, 
1875  ;  died  June  27,  1876).  His  brother 
Anthony,  was  born  in  August,  1837, 
and  lived  with  his  parents  up  to  1862, 
when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  K.  123d  I.  V. 
I.,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Per- 
ryville,  Oct.  8,  1862,  and  lies  buried  in 
Parker  Grave-yard,  Hutton  Tp.  Mr.  Cox's 
father  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  his 
mother  of  Alabama;  his  father  settled  on 
Sec.  1  of  this  township,  and,  after  his  mar- 
riage, moved  to  Sec.  2,  and  from  there  to 
Cumberland  Co.,  in  1878,  near  Prairie 
City,  and  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  65. 
His  family  consisted  of  six  girls — Mar- 
tha J.  (now  Mrs.  J.  Strader),  Lucinda 
(now  Mrs.  William  Rhoden),  Phoebe  (now 
Mrs.  Wm.  L.  Lenan),  Jemima  (now  Mrs. 
Daniel  Lee),  Ella  and  Dovey,  and  three 
boys,  one  living,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
as  above. 

ADAM  COX,  farmer;  P.  0.  West- 
field  ;  was  born  in  Hutton  Tp.  July  26, 
1840.  His  father,  Anthony,  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  this  county,  a  native 
of  Virginia ;  he  was  married  twice,  his  first 
wife  being  Miss  Gilbert,  and  his  second 
wife  Miss   Eliza    Fuqua  ;  his  father   died 


BUTTON  TOWNSHIP. 


613 


when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  quite 
an  infant;  his  mother  still  lives  near  her 
son,  between  65  and  70  years  old  ;  at  the 
age  of  21,  Mr.  Cox  married  Miss  Mary 
Garrison  (daughter  of  Peter  Garrison,  an- 
other of  the  early  settlers),  on  Dec.  5, 
1861,  and  soon  after  moved  upon  a  farm, 
on  Sec.  2,  and,  two  years  afterward,  moved 
on  to  Sec.  1,  and  in  March,  1878,  came 
to  where  he  now  resides,  on  same  section ; 
he  owns  294  acres,  224  of  which  is  im- 
proved. His  wife  was  born  Dec.  26, 1842; 
they  had  seven  children,  six  living — 
Charles  W.,  born  Sept.  28,  1862  ;  Orval, 
April  3,  1867  ;  Luella  M.,  Sept.  16, 1868; 
Claudius  C,  Nov.  4,  1871 ;  Azaro,  Oct. 
28,  1872,  and  Almorinda,  Nov.  10,  1875, 
and  one  deceased,  Bartliena,  born  Feb.  12, 
1864;  died,  June  28,  1864. 

WM.  R.  COX,  farmer;  P.  0.  Hutton; 
was  born  in  Bedford  Co.,  Virginia,  Feb. 
25,  1832;  when  he  was  16  years  of  age, 
his  parents,  Joel  and  Margaret  Cox,  moved 
to  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  living  there  eight  years  ; 
they  came  to  Coles  Co.  in  1856,  and,  three 
years  afterward  moved  to    Independence, 
Warren  Co.,  where  they  died,  his  mother 
in   1874,  and  his  father  in  March,  1876. 
While   living  in  Ohio,   Mr.   Cox  married 
Miss   Hannah    C    Thompson,    April    28, 
1853 ;    she    was    a   daughter   of  Nathan 
Thompson,  who  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  moved  to  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  at  an  early 
day ;  he  remained  there  three  years  ;  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  milling,  and  in  the  year 
1856,  moved  to  Coles  Co.,  Hutton    Tp., 
and  in   September,   1870,  purchased  and 
moved  upon  his  present  farm  on  Sees.  22 
and  23,  containing  129  acres.     For  twelve 
years,  before  coming  to  his  present  home, 
he  carried  on  the  "  Blakeman    Flouring- 
Mill,"  three  and  one-half  miles  southeast 
of  Charleston  in  this  county.     Soon  after 
the  organization  of  the  townships,  he  was 
elected  Commissioner  of  Highways,  serving 
three  years  ;  he  was  elected  Supervisor  in 
1877, -for  two  terms.     His  wife  was  born 
Oct.  19,  1834  ;  they  had  six  children,  five 
living — Emza  H.  (now  Mrs.   Fred.   Cot- 
tingham),  born  June  28,  1854;  Mary  C. 
(now  Mrs.  Daniel  Pipher ),  born  March  9, 
1856;    Joel   F.,    born    Feb.    25,    1858; 
Elizabeth   T.   (now  Mrs.   Flavins   Boyd), 
born  April   26,    1860,  William   A.,  born 
Aug.  14, 1872,  and  one  deceased,  Emma  H., 
born  July  14,  1862,  died  April  17,  1868. 


C.  P.  DAVIS,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Hutton  ; 
was  the  eldest  of  nine  boys,  and  was  born 
in  Lawrence  Co.,  Ind.,  Sept.  13,  1829. 
In  1829,  while  he  was  still  an  infant,  his 
parents,  John  C.  and  Elizabeth  Davis, 
moved  to  what  was  then  Clark  Co.,  and 
settled  in  what  is  now  Hutton  Tp.,  of 
Coles  Co.,  and  first  having  lived  in  differ- 
ent localities  in  the  township,  about  the 
year  1840,  settled  on  Sec.  34,  where  they 
lived  up  to  the  time  of  their  death,  Mr. 
Davis  dying  Nov.  30,  1871,  Mrs. 
Davis'  death  having  occurred  January, 
1862.  Mr.  Davis  was  among  the  first 
settlers  of  this  county,  at  that  time  an 
unbroken  wilderness  inhabited  by  the  red 
man.  He  entered  80  acres  of  land,  and 
made  a  farm,  improving  the  same,  and  en- 
during all  the  hardships  and  privations  in- 
cident to  the  pioneers  of  this  Western  wild. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  lived  with  his 
parents  ud  to  the  time  of  his  marriage  with 
Miss  Elizabeth  Conley,  Dec.  28,  1850; 
in  the  spring  of  1852,  Mr.  Davis  moved  to 
his  farm,  on  Sec.  27,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of 
John  Conley,  of  Hutton  Tp.,  now  residing 
in  Butler  Co.,  Mo.;  she  was  born  Dec. 
15,  1832;  they  had  seven  children,  five 
boys,  all  living — John  W.,  Henry,  James 
N.,  Charles  N.,  and  David  E. ;  two  girls — 
Nancy,  living,  and  one  that  died  in  infancy. 

J.  W.  DALLAS,  farmer ;  P.  0.  West- 
field  ;  was  born  in  Hutton  Tp.,  Coles  Co., 
..Jan.  16,  1849;  his  parents,  Hiram  and 
Sarah,  were  natives  of  Ohio,  and,  in  the 
year  1839,  came  to  Coles  Co. ;  in  the 
spring  of  1840,  they  moved  to  Clark  Co., 
where,  after  remaining  five  years,  again  re- 
turned to  Hutton  Tp.,  of  this  county,  and 
settled  on  Sec.  35,  where  they  lived  up  to 
the  time  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Dallas,  which 
occurred  March  5,  1878;  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born  on  the  homestead, 
where  he  still  resides,  containing  120  acres, 
his  mother  living  with  him.  He  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Bishop  (daughter  of 
Amos  Bishop,  of  Hutton  Tp.)  June  6, 
1867;  she  was  born  Feb.  26,  1851  ;  they 
had  four  children — three  boys,  one  living 
— William  E.  ;  two  deceased — Charles  and 
Joseph,  and  one  girl — Rosella,  living. 

T.  L.  ENDSLEY,  merchant,  Salisbury ; 
was  born  in  Coshocton  Co..  Ohio,  Nov. 
21,  1842;  his  parents,  Thomas  and  Ma- 
tilda, were  natives  of  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio  ; 


614 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


his  father  was  bora  in  August,  1801,  and 
is  still  living  in  Coshocton  Co.,  Ohio,  hav- 
ing lost  his  eyesight  in  the  year  187G  ;  his 
mother  died  about  the  year  1854 ;  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  remained  with  his 
parents  until  he  was  25  years  of  age,  when 
he  came  to  Hutton  Tp.  in  the  fall  of  1866, 
and,  the  first  winter,  taught  school ;  in  the 
spring  of  1867,  he  went  to  Westfield, 
Clark  Co.,  111.,  and  carried  on  a  general 
merchandise  business  until  late  in  the  fall. 
He  then  married  Miss  Mary  J.  Endsley 
(daughter  of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  Ends- 
ley,  of  Hutton  Tp.)  Oct.  24,  1867 ;  di- 
rectly after  his  marriage,  he  came  to  Salis- 
bury, in  this  township,  and  lived  upon  his 
farm  for  three  years,  when  he  moved  to 
Charleston,  and  for  nearly  five  years 
clerked  for  Frommel  &  Weiss  and  J.  F. 
Neal ;  in  the  year  1875,  he  came  back  to 
Salisbury  and  opened  a  general  merchan- 
dise store,  in  which  he  is  still  engaged ; 
his  wife  was  born  Oct.  20,  1844,  and  died 
Jan.  31,  1876,  leaving  two  children — 
Elizabeth  (born  Oct.  16,  1868)  and  Clar- 
ence (born  Nov.  25,  1870),  both  residing 
with  their  grandparents,  Endslev. 

DANIEL  EVINGER,  farmW,  carpen- 
ter and  millwright ;  P.  0.  Westfield  ;  is  a 
native  of  Ohio,  having  been  born  in  Ham- 
ilton Co.,  of  that  State,  Sept.  10,  1820.  In 
November,  1831,  when  he  was  11  years  of 
age,  his  parents  moved  to  Coles  Co.,  and 
settled  upon  Sec.  19,  Hutton  Tp.,  where 
Mr.  Daniel  Evinger  now  resides.  His 
parents  died  upon  the  homestead,  his 
father  in  the  year  1835,  his  mother  in  the 
year  1855.  His  father  carried  on  the 
business  of  carpenter  and  millwright,  and 
was  also  a  minister  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church  in  Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio.  After 
coming  to  this  county,  he  was  mostly  en- 
gaged in  farming,  although  he  turned  his 
experience  in  his  trade  of  carpenter  to 
good  advantage  in  putting  up  the  frame  of 
his  residence  and  barn ;  the  barn  still 
standing,  its  frame  apparently  as  strong  as 
ever,  and  is  one  of  the  few  buildings  of 
that  day  now  standing  in  Hutton  Tp.  ;  he 
also  filled  regular  appointments  of  a  minis- 
ter up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  and  formed 
the  nucleus  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church  of  this  county,  and  the  first  class 
was  organized  in  the  year  1832  in  his 
house ;  he  also  established  the  first  Sab- 
bath school  in   Hutton  Tp.,  in  the   spring 


of  1832,  near  Otterbein  Cemetery.  The 
object  of  this  sketch,  with  the  exception  ot 
five  years,  when  he  resided  in  Clark  Co., 
111.,  has  resided  upon  the  homestead.  From 
the  year  1853  to  1858,  he  was  a  partner  in 
a  steam-flouring  and  saw  mill  in  Westfield, 
Clark  Co.,  HI.  ;  having  sold  out  his  in- 
terest he  was  engaged  in  merchandising  for 
five  or  six  years,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  engaged  in  farming  and  carpentering. 
Mr.  Evinger,  with  his  brother  and  his  son, 
built  all  the  bridges  and  culverts  from 
Westfield  to  Kansas,  for  the  D.,  0.  &  M. 
Narrow- Gauge  Railroad  ;  he  also  superin- 
tended the  building  of  the  Westfield  Col- 
lege ;  has  been  School  Treasurer  for  a  num^ 
ber  of  years.  He  married  Miss  Mary 
Jones,  near  Hitesville,  March  11,  1841; 
she  was  the  daughter  of  William  Jones,  of 
Jefiierson  Co.,  Ky.,  who  moved  to  Coles 
Co.,  in  1831,  and  settled  one  mile  south  of 
Hitesville.  They  had  a  family  of  eleven 
children,  five  boys,  all  living,  viz.,  William 
H.,  John  F.,  Frederick  A.,  Benjamin  H. 
and  David  M.,  and  six  girls,  but  one  living, 
Catharine  J.  (now  Mrs.  A.  G.  Brown,  of 
Westfield,  Clark  Co.,  111.),  and  five  dead, 
Sarah  E.  (formerly  Mrs.  Ezra  Shuey,  of 
Cumberland,  Co.,  111. J,  Mary  E.  and  Ora 
S.,  the  remaining  two  dying  in  infancy. 

J.  B.  FLENNER,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Westfield  ;  was  born  in  But- 
ler Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  18,  1829 ;  up  to  the 
age  of  24,  he  remained  engaged  in  farming 
with  his  parents ;  in  1853,  they  started 
West,  stopping  in  Clark  Co.  for  five  years, 
when  th^y  moved  to  Coles  Co.,  reaching 
here  in  August,  1858,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Sec.  30,  Hutton  Tp.,  near  "Otter- 
bein Cemetery,"  where  his  mother  died 
Aug.  1,  1859  ;  shortly  after,  Mr.  Flenner 
settled  upon  the  farm  where  he  now  re- 
sides, his  father,  since  the  death  of  his 
mother,  residing  with  him  ;  his  farm  con- 
tains 570  acres,  all  improved,  upon  which 
he  has  built  what  is  considered  the  finest 
residence  in  this  section  of  the  county  ; 
has  been  School  Director  for  three  or  four 
terms.  He  married  Miss  Ursula  3Ioore 
(daughter  of  Levi  D.  Moore,  of  Butler 
Co.,  Ohio),  Feb.  17,  1853 ;  they  had  five 
childi;en — three  boys  and  two  girls  ;  two 
boys  living — Wilbur  F.  and  Charles  B., 
one  dying  in  infancy  ;  and  two  girls  both 
living — Alice  F.  (now  Mrs.  Albert  Con- 
nelly, of  Hoopeston,  Vermilion  Co.   HI.), 


HUTTON  TOWNSHIP, 


615 


and  Ella.  Mr.  Flenner  has  been  engaged 
in  breeding  Poland-China  hogs  for  nearly 
forty  years,  and  was  instrumental  in  de- 
veloping and  establishing  this  breed  of 
hogs  in  Coles  Co ;  he  raises  on  an  average 
250  hogs  of  this  breed  each  year;  one 
year  the  average  weight  was  598  pounds, 
and  average  age  18  months.  Mr.  Flenner's 
parents  connected  themselves  early  in  life 
with  the  Methodist  Church,  and  were 
always  consistent  and  upright  members  of 
that  denomination.  • 

J.  S.  GARNER,  M.  D.,  Salisbury;  was 
born  in  Russell  Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  14,  1831  ; 
at  the  age  of  18,  he  went  to  Lancaster, 
Garrard  Co.,  Ky.,  where  he  studied  medi- 
cine in  the  office  of  J.  S.  Pierce,  M.  D., 
for  three  years  ;  after  which,  he  attended 
a  course  of  lectures  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
Wayne  Co.,  Ky.,  and  continued  there  up 
to  the  year  18G3,  when,  having  recruited 
Co.  K,  48th  Regt.  Ky.  Vols.,  was  elected 
its  First  Lieutenant,  and,  having  served 
for  eighteen  months  in  our  late  civil  war, 
moved  to  Salisbury,  Coles  Co.,  and  has  been 
practicing  medicine  there  ever  since.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  Postmaster  for  ten 
years,  and  holds  it  at  the  present  time.  He 
married  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ky.,  April  24, 
1854,  Miss  Minnie  E.  Roberts,  daughter 
of  'Squire  Roberts  ;  they  have  seven  chil- 
dren— Mary  E.,  Emma  A.,  John  P.  L., 
Minnie  M.,  Viola  B.,  Edwin  M.  S.  and 
Lulu  M. 

EZEKIEL  GILBERT,  farmer ;  P.  0. 
Charleston;  was  born  in  Lawrence  Co., 
Ind.,  Nov.  20,  1828;  in  the  year  1830, 
his  parents,  Simon  and  Elizabeth  Gilbert, 
who  were  natives  of  Kentucky,  moved  to 
Vermilion  Co.,  111.,  and,  in  1838,  came  to 
Coles  Co.,  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  oc- 
cupied by  Joshua  Johns,  on  Sec.  9,  and 
six  years  afterward  moved  to  the  farm  on 
Sec.  7,  where  their  son  Ezekiel  now  resides  ; 
Mr.  Gilbert  lived  with  them  up  to  the  time 
of  their  death.  He  married  Oct.  28, 1847, 
Miss  Nancy,  H.  Stone,  daughter  of  Stephen 
Stone,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  who  settled 
in  Coles  Co.  in  1832  ;  she  was  born  Dec. 
26,  1831;  they  had  thirteen  children,  nine 
living — Coleman,  born  Jan.  28,  1851  ; 
Edward  H.,  born  Jan.  24, 1853,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Emeline  Strader,  of  Hutton  Tp., 
March  19,  1871  ;  Sarah  E.  (now  Mrs.  H. 
Bennett),   born   Jan.  10,  1858  ;  Amanda 


E.  (now  Mrs.  H.'L.  Brandenburg),  born 
Oct.  27,  1860;  Emma  J.,  born' Oct.  4, 
1862;  Rosa  B.,  Oct.  7,  1865;  Susan  E., 
Dec.  2,  1867  ;  William  0.,  Aug.  24, 1872, 
and  one  infant  unnamed ;  four  deceased 
—John  W.,  born  Feb.  27,  1849,  died 
Feb.  14,  1863;  Mary  F.,  born  Jan.  10, 
1855,  died  July  28,  1855  ;  Eliza  J.,  born 
Oct.  9,  1856,  died  Nov.  5,  1856,  and  one 
unnamed. 

ANDREW  GOSSETT,  farmer ;  P.  0. 
Hutton  ;  was  born  in  Coshocton  Co.,  Ohio, 
Aug.  8,  1836  ;  when  he  was  4  years  of 
age,  his  parents,  Luke  and  Jane,  moved  to 
Coles  Co.  and  settled  on  Sec.  15,  Hutton 
Tp.,  where  they  have  resided  ever  since. 
Mr.  Gossett  married  Miss  Polly  Kiser 
(daughter  of  William  Kiser,  of  Hutton 
Tp.)  Nov.  1,  1860.  The  March  follow- 
ing, they  moved  to  his  farm  on  Sec.  23, 
where  he  now  resides,  upon  which  he  has 
made  all  its  present  improvements ;  he  has 
been  School  Director  five  years  ;  he  owns 
190  acres  of  land.  His  wife  was  born 
July  4,  1842;  they  had  seven  children, 
five  living — Jane,  born  March  18,  1864; 
Emery  S.,  Dec.  21,  1867  ;  Clara,  Dec.  29, 
1872  ;  Henry  L.,  Nov.  13, 1875,  and  Ed- 
win, June  14,  1878,  and  two  deceased — 
William,  born  March  10,  1862,  died  June 
14,  1868 ;  Mary,  born  March  7,  1870, 
died  Jan.  2,  1873.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gossett 
are  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church. 

WILLIAM  GOSSETT,  farmer;  P.O. 
Hutton  ;  was  born  in  this  township  June 
3,  1850 ;  he  lived  with  his  parents  up  to 
the  age  of  24,  assisting  them  in  farming, 
and  teaching  school  for  four  winter  terms, 
two  of  them  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
township  on  Sec.  22,  and  two  on  Sec.  14. 
While  at  home,  he  married  Miss  Martha 
Ingram  (daughter  of  Arthur  Ingram,  of 
Hutton  Tp.),  April  16,  1874;  she  was 
born  Jan.  9,  1855;  they  had  two  chil- 
dren, one  living — Elizabeth  J.,  born  Aug. 
11,  1875,  and  one  deceased — Jesse  L., 
born  Aug.  8,  1877,  and  died  Aug.  18, 
1878.     Mr.  Gossett  owns  80  acres  of  land. 

JOHN  HUTTON,  farmer ;  P.O.  Diona ; 
is  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  county,  and 
after  whom  this  township  was  named  ;  he 
was  born  in  Montgomery  Co.,  Ky.,  Jan. 
20,  1801  ;  in  the  year  1816,  his  parents 
moved  to  Crawford  Co.,  111.,  where  his 
father  died  January,  1819  ;  his  mother  and 


616 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES 


family  remained  there  until  the  year  1834, 
when  they  came  to  Coles  Co.,  and  settled 
on  Sec.  20,  where  his  mother  died  Nov., 
1853,  at  the  age  of  77  ;  Mr.  Hutton  still 
resides  upon  the  homestead ;  he  held  the 
office  of  Supervisor  the  three  first  terms 
after  the  organization  of  the  township  ;  in 
the  year  1824,  Mr.  Hutton  was  upon  the 
spot  upon  which  the  city  of  Charleston,  in 
this  county,  now  stands ;  at  that  time  not 
another  white  man  was  to  be  found  in  the 
neighborhood,  inhabited  only  by  the  Kick- 
apoo  Indians,  who  were  owners  of  the  soil. 
He  married  the  widow  of  Isaac  Baker 
April  18,  1843;  she  was  a  daughter  of 
George  Cottingham,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
who  came  to  Coles  Co.  in  the  year  1837  ; 
she  was  born  Oct.  27,  1813  ;  she  had  one 
child  by  Mr.  Baker — Levi  H.,  now  living 
in  California,  and  nine  children  by  Mr. 
Hutton — six  boys,  all  living — George  W., 
born  April  18,  1844 ;  James  Alexander, 
Nov.  19,  1847  ;  Isaac  Y.,  Jan.  6,  1850  ; 
John  A.,  March  13,1852  ;  and  Alfred  and 
Albert  (twins),  born  March  24,  1855,  and 
three  girls,  one  living — Martha  E.,  born 
Sept.  30,  1860  ;  two  died  ;  Sarah  E.  died 
when  four  months  old,  and  Mary  Jane, 
(formerly  Mrs.  Wm.  M.  Sanders),  born 
May  15,  1846,  died  Nov.  27,  1878,  leav- 
ing five  children — David  C,  Oscar,  Laura 
E.,  Annie  and  Willie. 

JOHN  INGRAM,  farmer  and  school- 
teacher ;  P.  0.  Charleston ;  was  born  in 
Vermilion  Co.,  III.,  Oct.  16,  1836;  his 
parents  moved  to  Coles  Co.,  when  he  was 
18  months  old,  and  settled  on  Sec.  33 ; 
his  mother  died  there  in  February,  1855  ; 
his  father  is  still  living  on  Sec.  34,  at  the 
age  of  65  ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  still 
resides  upon  the  homestead  ;  he  has  taught 
school  ever  since  he  was  22  years  of  age. 
Married  Miss  Almorinda  Garrison  of  Hut- 
ton Tp.  (daughter  of  Peter  Garrison )  Oct. 
1,  1857  ;  she  was  born  Jan.  9, 1839  ;  her 
father,  Peter  Garrison,  was  born  near  Syr- 
acuse, State  of  New  York,  May  4,  1804, 
and  went  to  Lawrence  Co.,  Ind.,  and  from 
there  to  Crawford  Co.,  111.,  and,  in  the  year 
1835,  moved  to  Coles  Co.,  and  settled  on 
Sec.  11,  where  he  died  November,  1858; 
her  mother  still  lives  at  the  age  of  65 ; 
Mr.  Ingram's  family  consisted  of  six  chil- 
dren— five  boys,  four  living — Maiden  S., 
born  Feb.  2,  1862  ;  Alva  C,  April  12, 
1864;    Arthur    S.,   April   3,    1866;    and 


Thomas  0.,  born  March  12,  1870;  one 
deceased — Emery  T.,  born  Oct.  21,  1859, 
died  Dec.  29,  1872  ;  and  one  girl,  Laura, 
born  May  24,  1868.  His  farm  contains 
134  acres. 

JOSHUA  JOHNS,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Charleston ;  was  born  in  Pendleton  Co., 
Va.,June  6,  1821.  When  he  was  18 
years  of  age,  he  went  to  Bath  Co.,  Vir- 
ginia, working  on  the  farm  of  William 
Friel,  whose  daughter  Isabel  he  married, 
Sept.  14,  1840,  and  after  living  there  for 
three  years  moved  to  Pleasant  Grove  Tp. 
in  this  county,  remaining  there  for  twelve 
years  when  he  came  to  Hutton  Tp.,  and 
after  settling  on  Sec.  33  remained  there 
fourteen  years,  and  in  March,  1867,  came 
to  his  present  farm  on  Sec.  9 ;  he  owns  692 
acres  ;  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor  one 
term,  and  School  Director  for  many  years, 
and  is  so  at  the  present  time.  His  wife 
was  born  Aug.  19,  1824;  they  bad  four- 
teen children — seven  boys,  four  living — 
George  A.,  born  March  19,  1848;  James 
H.,  July  13,  1851;  Leander,  Dec.  21, 
1853,  and  Edwin  S.,  born  Sept.  23, 1867  ; 
three  deceased — James  W.,  born  Jan.  27, 
1844,  died  Sept.  28,  1846;  Seton,  born 
Oct.  11,  1858,  died  Nov.  28,  1859,  and 
one  that  died  in  infancy  ;  and  seven  girls, 
five  living — Jemima  (now  Mrs.  Wm. 
Bishop),  born  April  12,  1855;  Virginia, 
(now  Mrs.  Frederick  Thompson),  born 
Aug.  27,  1857  ;  Sarah  Ann,  born  Sept. 
13,1860;  Mary  E.,  Dec.  19,  1863;  and 
Emily  A.,  born  Nov.  18,  1869,  and  two 
deceased — Martha  E.,  born  June  16,  1841, 
died  March  10,  1865  ;  Minerva,  born  April 
27, 1849,  died  Sept.  28,  1849.  Mr.  Johns' 
parents,  James  and  Jane,  came  to  Coles  Co., 
in  November,  1844,  and  settled  on  Sec.  33 
in  this  township,  where  they  both  died,  his 
father,  March  24,  1859,  his  mother,  Sept. 
13,  1872;  they  had  three  sons — James 
and  William,  deceased,  and  Joshua,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

FRANKLIN  JOHNS,  farmer ;  P.  0. 
Hutton  ;  was  born  in  Pendleton  Co.,  Va., 
June  6,  1828 ;  when  he  was  7  years 
old,  his  parents  moved  to  Gallia  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  remained  there  three  years,  and  in  the 
year  1838,  came  to  Coles  Co.,  and  the 
first  winter  settled  on  Sec.  33,  where  they 
lived  up  to  the  time  of  their  death,  his 
mother  dying  May  2,  1854,  and  his  father 
but  three  days  after.     The  subject  of  this 


HUTTON  TOWNSHIP. 


617 


sketch  was  married  Nov.  22,  1849,  to 
Miss  Nancy  Connely,  daughter  of  John 
Connely,  of  Hutton  Tp.,  on  the  homestead, 
and  a  few  days  afterward  removed  to  his  pres- 
ent farm,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided, 
now  containing  140  acres.  He  has  held 
the  office  of  Supervisor  of  the  County  for 
one  year.  He  had  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, six  boys,  five  living — Edmund  R., 
Jeremiah  S.,  James  W.,  Joseph  M.  and 
Emery  A.,  and  one  deceased — Silas  L.; 
and  four  girls — Sarah  J.,  Armilda,  Mary 
E.  and  Harriot  Ann.  Mr.  Johns'  father 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  county, 
and  endured  the  many  hardships  and  pri 
vations  of  that  early  day. 

SETON  JOHNS,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Charleston  ;  was  born  in  Augusta  Co.  Va., 
Nov.  22,  1832  ;  he  is  the  second  son,  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  Gallia  Co.,  Ohio, 
when  he  was  2  years  of  age,  and  from 
there  to  Hutton  Tp.  in  the  year  1838,  and 
lived  with  them  up  to  the  time  of  their 
death,  which  occurred  in  May,  1854,  his 
parents  dying  within  three  days  of  each 
other.  The  same  fall  Mr.  Johns  married 
Miss  Armilda  Rennels  (daughter  of  Wm. 
Rennels,  of  Hutton  Tp.),  and  immediately 
after  moved  to  his  farm,  one-fourth  mile 
east  of  his  present  location,  moving  to  his 
present  home  on  Sec.  33  in  the  year  1 858, 
where  he  has  resided  ever  since ;  his  farm 
contains  160  acres,  all  but  40  of  which  are 
improved.  He  has  held  the  office  of  As- 
sessor one  term.  His  wife  was  born  April 
9,  1837  ;  they  had  eleven  children,  nine 
living  ;  two  boys,  one  living — Philip  S. — 
and  one  that  died  in  infancy ;  nine  girls, 
eight  living — Martha  E.  (now  Mrs.  C.  H. 
Gwin,  of  Hutton  Tp.),  Elizabeth,  Delilah, 
Mary  J.,  Alberta,  Lilian  B.,  and  Nora  and 
Flora,  twins  ;  one  deceased — Rebecca  J. 
His  family  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  His  brother,  Silas 
Johns,  was  the  youngest  of  the  three  boys, 
being  born  Aug.l  8, 1834,  and  came  also  with 
his  father's  family  to  Coles  Co.;  in  1855, 
he  went  to  Kansas  and  Missouri,  living 
there  three  years ;  being  taken  sick,  his 
brother  Seton  went  to  Kansas  and  brought 
him  back  to  Hutton  Tp.,  where  died  he  of 
consumption  in  the  year  1860,  and  lies 
buried  in  Whetstone  Creek  Cemetery,  in 
Hutton  Tp.. 

WILLIAM    KISER,    farmer;  P.    0. 
Charleston;  was  born    in   Botetourt    Co., 


Va.,  March  11,  1814;  the  same  year,  his 
parents  moved  to  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  remain- 
ing there  until  1842.  Mr.  Kiser  lived  with 
his  parents  up  to  the  time  of  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  Ann  Coon,  of  Ross  Co., 
Ohio,  which  occurred  Aug.  22,  1841  ;  in 
October,  1846,  they  moved  to  Coles  Co., 
and  settled  on  Sec.  31,  living  there  until 
the  year  1851,  when  they  came  to  the 
farm  upon  which  he  at  present  resides,  on 
Sec.  33  ;  his  wife  was  born  in  Washington 
Co.,  Md.,  near  Harper's  Ferry,  Dec.  7, 
1823  ;  they  had  nine  children,  two  boys — 
Adam  L.  (born  Dec.  4,  1849),  and  Will- 
iam H.  (boi'n  Dec.  30,  1864),  and  seven 
girls,  five  living — Polly  (born  July  4, 
1842),  Hannah  C.  (Nov.  3,  1844),  Vir- 
ginia (Feb.  10,  1847),  Margaret  E.  (June 
8,  1853 — now  Mrs.  C.  Stone,  of  Ashmore 
Tp.),  Alice  M.  (Feb.  12,1862— now  Mrs. 
Richard  Bidle),  and  two  deceased — Zema 
E.  (born  Nov.  26,  1857  ;  died  Nov.  12, 
1873),  and  one  died  in  infancy;  Polly  is 
also  married  to  Mr.  Andrew  Gossett,  of 
Hutton  Tp.;  Hannah  C.  to  L.  Cooper,  of 
Ashmore  Tp.;  and  Virginia  to  B.  F. 
McMorris,  of  Hutton  Tp. 

BENJAMIN  McMORRIS,  farmer  ;  P. 
0.  Hutton  ;  was  born  in  Loudoun  Co.,  Va., 
March  25,  1813;  his  parents  moved  to 
Frederick  Co.,  Va.,  when  he  was  a  year 
old;  his  father  died  in  the  year  1818,  and 
Mr.  McMorris  lived  with  his  mother  un- 
til he  was  21  years  of  age,  when  they 
moved  to  Coshocton  Co.,  Ohio ;  six  years 
after,  his  mother  returned  to  Virginia  and 
died  there  in  the  year  1852.  In  the  spring 
of  1836,  Mr.  McMorris  married  Rachel 
McLaughlin,  and,  three  years  afterward, 
moved  to  Coles  Co.,  and  settled  in  Sec.  9, 
Hutton  Township,  where  he  at  present  re- 
sides. His  wife  died  Dec.  17,  1851,  leav- 
ing six  children,  all  living — Nancy  (born 
Aug.  14,  1837),  Margaret  (July  7,  1839), 
Benjamin  F.  (May  16,  1842),  Mary  J. 
Nov.  11,  1847),  William  H.  (Aug.  18, 
1849),  and  Rachel  (Dec.  5,  1851).  He 
married  his  second  wife.  Miss  Sarah  J. 
Johns,  daughter  of  James  and  Jane  Johns, 
in  February,  1852  ;  she  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, Pendleton  Co.,  Aug.  11,  1825,  and 
was  the  widow  of  Wm.  Cartright ;  they 
had  eight  children,  six  living — Elizabeth 
J.  (born  Nov.  26,  1854— now  Mrs.  David 
T.  French,  at  present  residing  in  Kansas  ; 
married  Nov.  14,  1870),   John    V.   (born 


618 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


Oct.  15,  1856),Martha  A.  .(nowMrs.  John 
Thornton  ;  born  July  10,  1860;  married 
Oct.  16,  1878),  Russell  J.  (born  Sept.  29, 
1862),  Jenette  (Aug.  27,  1864),  and  Jos- 
eph L.  (born  March  9,  1867);  two  de- 
ceased— Thomas  J.  and  David  A. 

D.  A.  PARKER,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  West- 
field,  Clark  Co.  ;  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
this  county,  and  was  born  in  Butler  Co., 
Ohio,  April  27,  1815  ;  in  the  year  1817, 
his  parents  moved  to  Crawford  Co.,  111., 
ten  miles  south  of  Palestine,  and,  after  re- 
maining there  eight  years,  moved  to  Hut- 
ton  Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  and  settled  on  what 
was  afterward  known  as  "  Parker  Prairie," 
in  the  year  1825,  where  his  parents  died,, 
his  mother  on  the  11th  day  of  December, 
1830,  and  his  father  on  the  18th  day  of 
March,  1862 ;  they  were  among  the  first 
settlers,  and  entered  the  first  land  in  this 
county.  Mr.  Parker  remained  with  his 
parents  until  he  was  21  years  of  age,  when 
he  went  to  farming  for  himself,  and,  on 
the  29th  day  of  March,  1837,  married 
Miss  Mary  J.  Flint,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Flint,  of  Kentucky  ;  she  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia March  30,  1819.  Mr.  Parker  set- 
tled on  his  present  farm  in  the  year  1840, 
having  entered  the  land,  and  has  resided 
there  ever  since,  now  containing  sixty-four 
acres.  His  family  consisted  of  nine  chil- 
dren, five  living — two  boys,  George  W., 
born  Feb.  8,  1839,  and  Allen  D..  born 
May  17,  1852,  and  one  deceased — Leroy, 
born  April  19,  1850,  died  in  1854;  six 
girls,  three  living — Sallie  M.  (now  Mrs. 
J.  B.  Redmon,  of  Hutton  Tp.),born  Oct. 
15,  1844;  Ellen,  Sept.  5,  1854,  and  Em- 
ma, born  March  20,  1860,  and  three  do-, 
ceased—Elizabeth,  born  July  8,  1841, 
died  Aug.  11,  1852;  Martha  J.,  born 
May  27,  1846,  died  in  the  fall  of  1855, 
and  Frances  A.,  born  Sept.  20,  1856,  and 
died  May  20,  1860. 

JEPHTHAH PARKER, farmer;  P.O. 
Westfield,  Clark  Co.;  was  born  in  Craw- 
ford Co.,  111.,  Feb.  13,  1823  ;  he  was  3 
years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  Coles  Co.,  and  remained  with  them 
until  his  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  J. 
Green,  daughter  of  James  Green,  of  Ohio, 
on  the  11th  day  of  Jlay,  1842  ;  she  was 
born  in  Miami  Co.,  Ohio,  July  3,  1818. 
About  nine  months  after  their  marriage, 
Mr.  Parker  moved  to  his  farm  on  Sec.  6, 
the  greater  portion  of  which  he  improved, 


putting  upon  it  its  present  buildings,  and 
where  he  has  ever  since  resided,  contain- 
ing 108  acres.  They  have  eight  children 
— John  G.,  born  May  17,  1843,  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Irena  Bennett  in  September, 
1864;  Nathaniel  L.,  born  Oct.  8,  1845, 
and  married  Miss  Emma  Granger,  of  Wau- 
kesha, Wis.,  Oct.  26,  1873;  William  T., 
born  Aug.  8,  1847,  and  married  Miss' 
Mary  A.  Thornton,  March  10,  1869; 
Charles  L.,  born  Sept.  8,  1849  ;  Nelson 
R.,  born  Jan.  12,  1851,  and  married  Miss 
Alta  A.  White  Jan.  28,  1875  ;  Annie  E., 
born  March  10,  1854  ;  James  A.,  born 
July  2,  1857,  and  married  Miss  Nevada 
Smith  in  February,  1877,  and  George  C, 
born  June  11,  1859.  Of  the  sons,  John 
G.  and  Nathaniel  L.  were  in  our  late  civil 
war,  having  both  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  123d 
Regt.  I.  V.  I. 

JAMES  RENNELS,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Charleston  ;  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
county  ;  was  born  in  Madison  Co..  Ky., 
Feb.  12,  1807  ;  when  he  was  17  years  of 
age,  his  parents  moved  to  Lawrence  Co., 
Ind.,  within  ten  miles  of  Little  Orleans. 
While  living  there  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  married  Nov.  17,  1825,  Miss  Polly 
Connely  (daughter  of  Joel  Connely,  of 
North  Carolina)  ;  she  was  born  Feb.  14, 
1807  ;  her  parents  were  early  settlers  of 
this  county,  having  moved  from  Lawrence 
Co.,  Ind.,  to  Coles  Co.  in  the  year  1832. 
In  1832,  Mr.  Rennels  came  to  Coles  Co. 
and  settled  on  Sec.  32,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided,  known  as  the  "Rennels  Set- 
tlement;" his  parents  also  moved  from 
Lawrence  Co.,  Ind.,  to  near  Rockville, 
about  sixteen  miles  north  of  Terre  Haute, 
Ind.,  and  in  the  year  1837  came  to  Coles 
Co.  and  settled  in  Hutton  Tp.,  about  one 
mile  from  Salisbury,  where  his  father  died  ; 
his  mother  made  her  home  among  her 
children,  and  died  at  the  house  of  her  son- 
in-law,  John  Connely,  within  two  years 
after  the  death  of  his  father.  Mr.  James 
Rennels  had  a  family  of  nine  children — 
five  boys,  all  living,  viz.,  Henry  L.,  Ed- 
mund, John  P.,  William  R.  and  Joel  J.; 
four  girls,  one  living — Mahala  (now  Mrs. 
Wm.  P.  Level,  of  Hutton,  Tp.),  and  three 
deceased — Rebecca  A.,  Martha  J.  and 
Sarah  E.  Mr.  Rennels,  as  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  this  county,  has  ex- 
perienced the  many  vicissitudes  and  hard- 
ships  common  to   the  pioneers  of  a    new 


HUTTON  TOWNSHIP. 


619 


country,  and  at  a  good  old  age,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  good  wife,  is   resting  from 
their  labors,  surrounded  by  their  children 
and   grandchildren,    ministering   to    their 
wants  and  comforts  in  their  declining  years. 
EDMUND  RENNELS,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Charleston  ;  is  the  second  son   of  James 
Rennels,  and    was  born  in  Lawrence  Co., 
Ind.,  Dec.  13,   1829.     He  came  with  his 
parents  to  Coles  Co.,  when  he  was  only    8 
years  of  age,  and  remained  with  them  up 
to  his  marriage  with  Miss  Martha  Waltrip, 
of  Hutton  Tp.,  Feb.    21,1849,  when  he 
moved  to  his   farm  on  Sec.   31,  where    he 
has  resided    ever  since.     His  wife  died  in 
September,    1854.     They  had    three  chil- 
dren,   one  living   Mary   Ann    (now   Mrs. 
James  Stephens,  of  Charleston    Tp.),  and 
two  deceased — Sarah  E.  and  Melvina  J.  He 
married  his  second    wife.    Miss  Angeiine 
Davis,  of  Hutton  Tp.,  Sept.  9,  1858.  They 
had    ten  children,  nine    living,  three    boys 
living — Henry  L.,  Rama  S.,  and  Telia,  and 
one  deceased — Riley  S.  ;  and  six  girls,  all 
living — Viola,     Lua  J.,    Sarah  E.,    Lilly 
B.,  Efa    and    Ida  P.     Mrs.  Rennels   and 
her  eldest  daughter,  Viola,  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church. 

JOHN  SARGENT,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Hut- 
ton ;  was  born  in  this  township  March  20, 
1846 ;  his  father,  Stephen,  was  born  in 
Candia,  N.  H.,  July,  1,  1797,  and 
at  the  age  of  13  went  to  New  Jersey, 
remaining  there  three  years,  and  from  there 
traveled  on  foot  to  Ohio,  working  one  year 
upon  a  farm  in  that  State  ;  he  then  went  to 
Kentucky,  near  the  city  of  Louisville, 
working  at  the  trade  of  stone-mason,  and 
while  there  made  a  trip  upon  a  flatboat 
from  Louisville  to  New  Orleans  and  back. 
In  the  year  1836  he  came  to  New  Rich- 
mond (now  Westfield),  Clark  Co.,  and  car- 
ried on  a  general  merchandise  store,  and 
two  years  afterward  purchased  and  moved 
upon  a  farm  on  Sec.  11,  in  this  county, 
where  he  remained  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  Nov.  30,  1878.  His  farm  con- 
tained over  600  acres.  He  married  Miss 
Nancy  Chenoweth,  widow  of  Jacob  Har- 
lan, Oct.  18,  1842  ;  she  is  still  living  on 
the  homestead,  and  was  born  March  25, 
1805.  They  had  two  children — the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  and  Maggie  (now  Mrs. 
Charles  H.  Rice,  of  Vermont),  born  June 
22,  1844,  and  now  living  in  Denver,  Colo. 
They    have    four     children — Carrie     E., 


Henry  C,  Benjamin    P.   and    Genevieve. 
Mr.     Sargent's     mother     was     born      in 
Kentucky,    and    journeyed    on    a    pack- 
saddle    to    Vincennes,     Ind.,     with    her 
parents,  who  afterward   came  to  Clark  Co., 
where  she  resided   after  her  first  marriage 
and  death  of  her  husband,  Jacob   Harlan. 
!  The   subject   of  this    sketch   was  born  ou 
the   homestead,  where  he  has  resided  ever 
since  the  death  of  his  father.  At  the  age  of 
15,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  68th  Regt.    111. 
Vol.  for  three  months.     He  married  Miss 
Maria    A.    Turner    (daughter   of  Samuel 
Turner,  of  Kentucky),    March  24,    1870 
Q^hey    have    four    children — Maggie    P. 
born  Jan.  28,    1871  ;  Jesse  R.,  April  23 
1872;   Ada  0.,  Sept.  15,  1875,  and  Carl 
born  Jan.  25,  1878.       Mr.  Sargent  owns 
400  acres  of  land. 

G.  W.  SMITH,  farmer ;  P.  0.  West- 
field  ;    was    born    in     Pulaski    Co.,    Ky,, 
April  17,  1813 ;  when  he  was  ten  years  of 
age  his  parents  moved  to  Lawrence  Co., 
Ind.,  and  remained  there  about  six  years 
engaged    in    farming ;     from    there    they 
moved  to  Vigo  Co.,  Ind.,  where  his  parents 
died.     In  1839,  Mr.  Smith  came  to  Coles 
Co.,  and  first  settled  on   Sec.  27,  in   this 
township,   living  there  until   1863,  when 
he  moved  to  his  present  farm  on  Sec.  26, 
containing  87  acres.     He  held  the  oflBce  of 
School  Director  several  terms.     He  mar- 
ried Miss  Eliza  Boland  (her  parents  being 
natives  of  Virginia),   in  Vigo  Co.,   Ind., 
August,   1840  ;  they   had    nine  children, 
six  girls  and  three  boys,  five  girls  living — 
Sarah  Jane  (now  Mrs.  Preston  Walker,  of 
Texas),  Leanner,  Louisa,  Polly  (now  Mrs. 
Samuel  Merritt,  of  Charleston,  Coles  Co., 
111.),   and  Rosetta    (now    Mrs.    Cornelius 
King,  of  Clark  Co.,  111.),  and  one  deceased, 
Filinda,  and  two  boys  living,   George  W. 
and  Benjamin  T.,  one  deceased,  David.   The 
brother  of  Mr.  Smith,  Anthony,  was  born 
in  the  same  county  in  the  year  1815,  and 
came  with  his  parents  also  to  Vigo  Co., 
Ind..  and   engaged  in  farming  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  1857.     He  was  married 
to  Miss  Hannah  Sparks,  of  Ind.,  who  died 
in  the  year  1855  ;  he  left  three  sons,  two 
living,  one  of  whom  William   R.,  Mr.  G. 
W.  Smith  brought  with  him  to  Coles  Co. 
when  only  4  years  old,  who  has  made  his 
home  with  him  ever  since. 

RICHARD  0.  WELLS,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Westfield  ;  was  born  in  Bourbon  Co.,  Ky., 


620 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES; 


Dec.  29,  1809  ;  he  remained  there  with 
his  parents  until  he  was  25  years  of  age 
assisting  on  the  farm  ;  his  father  died  there 
in  the  year  1835 ;  his  mother  surviving 
him  until  the  year  186U.  Mr.  Wells, 
while  at  home  in  Kentucky  was  married 
August,  1831,  to  Miss  Jenette  Boston 
(daughter  of  William  Boston  of  Kentucky)  ; 
she  was  born  July  15,  1815  ;  shortly  after 
his  marriage,  he  moved  upon  a  farm  near 
that  of  his  father's,  where  he  lived  until 
his  removal  to  Clark  Co.,  in  1837;  the 
next  year  he  moved  to  Coles  Co.  and  set- 
tled on  Sec.  6,  where  he  lived  three  years, 
and  then  returned  to  Clark  Co.  and  from 
there,  in  1843,  moved  back  to  Kentucky 
and  after  remaining  ten  years,  in  the  year 
1853,  came  to  Coles  Co.  and  settled  upon 
Sec.  7,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
owns  111  acres;  has  been  School  Director 
one  term.  They  had  twelve  children, 
seven  boys,  three  living — Richard  J.,  born 
May  29,  1849;  Kobert  L.,  August  11, 
1853,  and  Charles  M.,  born  Jan.  22, 1856, 
and  four  deceased — Preston,  born  Oct.  22, 
1832.  died  in  1842 ;  James  F.  M.,  born 
April  1,  1836,  died  in  1865  ;  William  H., 
born  July  17,  1840,  died  in  1850  ;  and 
Leroy  B.,  born  April  6,  1851,  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1852  ;  five  girls,  two  living — Leah, 
(now  Mrs.  Beily  Lee),  born  Feb.  10,  1838 ; 
Leomia  (now  Mrs.  M.  Connely),  born 
Sept.  15, 1842;  and  three  deceased — Mary 


E.,  born  Nov.  29,  1844,  died  in  1850; 
Louisa  A.,  born  March  6,  18*1:6,  died  also 
in  1850;  one  died  in  infancy.  His  son, 
James  F.  M.,  enlisted  in  Co.  "H,"  21st 
Regt.  111.  Vols.,  and  was  taken  prisoner 
at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  and  confined 
in  Libby  and  Andersonville  Prisons  for 
nineteen  months  and  died  at  Annapolis, 
Md.,  in  1865  on  his  way  home,  from  dis- 
ease contracted  while  a  prisoner.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wells  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church  and  have  been  connected  with  it 
for  a  number  of  years. 

MRS.  JOSEPH  WALTRIP ;  P.  0. 
Westfield  ;  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Goble 
of  Hutton  Tp.  She  was  first  married  to 
Nathaniel  Lee  Aug.  14,  1853,  who  died 
in  the  year  1856 ;  they  had  one  child, 
Cynthia  (now  Mrs.  Reason  Wiley,  of  Hut- 
ton  Tp.)  ;  she  was  again  married  July  18, 
1858,  to  Joseph  Waltrip,  who  was  born  in 
Kentucky  in  1819,  and  after  remaining 
there  until  the  age  of  16,  moved  to  Coles 
Co.,  and  settled  in  Charleston  Tp.  on  Sec. 
25,  engaged  in  farming  ;  he  had  been  pre- 
viously married  to  Miss  Eliza  Jane  Hall, 
daughter  of  Michael  Hall ;  she  died  in  No- 
vember, 1857.  Mrs.  Waltrip  had  four 
children — two  girls,  Cynthia  J.  and  Eliza, 
and  two  boys,  one  living,  Wm.  J.,  and  one 
deceased — Daniel.  She  at  present  farms  70 
acres,  part  of  her  husband's  estate  of  250 
acres.     Mr.  Waltrip  died  Feb.  16,  1872. 


MORGAN    TOWNSHIP. 


JAMES  H.  BUSBEY,  former,  Sec.  22  ; 
P.  0.  Oakland ;  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Coles 
■Co ;  born  in  Clark  Co.,  Ohio,  April  22, 
1823,  where  he  attended  school  and  en- 
gaged in  farming,  until  16  years  of  age, 
when  he  emigrated  to  Coles  Co.,  111.,  and 
located  in  what  is  now  the  south  part  of 
Douglas  Co.,  in  the  fall  of  1839.  He  is 
son  of  Hamilton  Busbey,  who  was  born 
July  5,  1792,  in  Virginia;  he  emigrated 
to  Ohio  about  the  year  1815,  where  he 
lived  until  he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  where 
be  died  Dec.  16,  1847 ;  Mrs.  Busbey, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Sophia  Lewis, 
was  born  in  Virginia,  March  31,  1796  ; 
she  died  April  1,  1855,  leaving  eleven 
children    now   living — Thomas   C,  Susan 


M.,  Elmira  M.,  William  D.,  James  H., 
Harriet  E.,  Ann  L.,  John  H.,  Maria, 
George  W.,  Henry  C.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  remained  with  his  parents 
until  their  decease,  which  occurred  as  stated 
above ;  he  remained  upon  the  old  farm 
until  1856,  when  he  rented  land,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  1861,  when  he 
purchased  his  present  place,  where  he  has 
since  continued  to  live ;  he  owns  upward 
of  eighty  acres  of  prairie  and  timber  lands. 
He  married,  Oct.  12,  1856,  to  Sarah  J. 
Naphew ;  she  was  born  in  Ohio  Oct.  19, 
1831  ;  they  have  six  children  now  living 
by  this  union,  viz. :  Nancy  E.,  born  June 
29,  1858;  Sophia  R.,  born  Jan.  21, 
1860;    Orrin  U.,  born   Nov.    16,   1861; 


MORGAN  TOWNSHIP. 


621 


James  M.,  born  Aug.  13,  1864 ;  William 
H.  H.,  bora  Dec.  25,  1866  ;  Charles  A., 
Aug.  11,  1870. 

A.  J.  CLARK,  farmer,  Sec.  17  ;  P.  0. 
Charleston;  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  April 
22, 1834,  within  one-half  a  mile  of  where  he 
has  since  lived  ;  he  is  the  youngest  son  of 
Benjamin  and  Sarah  Clark,  who  emigrated 
from  Kentucky  and  located  in  Coles  Co., 
111.,  about  the  year  1829,  where  his  father 
lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
April  18,  1856,  while  on  a  visit  to  In- 
diana ;  he  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  the  year 
1798;  his  mother,  who  still  lives  within 
one-half  mile  of  where  she  has  lived  for 
nearly  one-half  of  a  century,  was  born  Jan. 
1,  1800.  Mr.  Clark  remained  with  his 
father  until  1856,  when  he  commenced 
farming  for  himself,  upon  the  old  home- 
stead, where  he  has  since  continued  to 
live,  and  where  he  owns  120  acres  of  land, 
mostly  under  cultivation,  and  90  acres 
mostly  timber,  in  Sees.  16  and  21.  His 
marriage  with  Christina  V.  Robinson  was 
celebrated  June  1,  1865  ;  she  was  born  in 
Clark  Co.,  Ind.,  Jan.  11,  1850;  her 
parents  located  in  Illinois  when  she  was 
2  years  of  age  ;  five  children  were  the  fruit 
of  this  union,  two  of  whom  are  deoeased ; 
the  names  of  the  living  are — Lillie  May, 
born  Jan.  24,  1867  ;  Willis  P.,  born  Dec. 
9,  1868;  Clarence  V.,  born  July  17, 
1875.  Mr.  Clark  met  with  a  severe  loss 
by  the  failure  of  the  proposed  Charleston 
&  Danville  R.  R.,  having  contracted  to 
furnish  5,000  ties,  and  the  failure  to  com- 
plete the  railroad  left  the  ties  upon  his 
hands,  by  which  he  suffered  to  the  extent 
of  $1,500. 

WATSON  COLLINS,  farmer  deceased ; 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Coles  Co. ; 
born  in  North  Carolina  May  12,  1813, 
where  he  was  raised  to  farming  until  1831, 
when  he  emigrated  with  his  father,  Aaron 
Collins,  and  located  upon  Greasy  Creek, 
Morgan  Tp.;  like  most  pioneers,  the  family 
were  poor,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
turned  his  attention  to  do  what  was 
in  his  power  to  the  support  of  his  father's 
family ;  one  occupation  was  getting  out 
fence-rails  at  25  cents  per  hundred ;  one 
season  he  worked  at  Vincennes,  Ind.,  at  $6 
per  month,  the  earnings  being  used  for  the 
support  of  the  family  and  to  procure  stock; 
breaking  prairie  with  five  or  six  yoke  of 
oxen  was  another  occupation  :  his  milling 


was  done  at  Terre  Haute,  Freeport,  Eugene 
and  Palestine,  this  trip  consuming  from 
four  to  eight  days,  made  with  three  or  four 
yoke  of  oxen ;  his  furniture  was  home- 
made ;  for  chairs  he  made  stools,  and  bed- 
steads were  made  by  boring  a  hole  in  the 
side  and  end  logs  of  his  house,  in  which 
poles  were  inserted,  entering  a  post  where 
the  ends  met ;  this  was  known  as  the  rac- 
coon bedstead  ;  there  is  now  in  the  family 
a  cupboard  made  by  Mr.  Collins,  which  is 
put  together  by  wooden  pins,  not  a  nail  be- 
ing in  use — a  relic  valued  highly  ;  he  com- 
menced the  stock  business  by  first  buying  a 
single  calf,  which  business  he  increased  un- 
til he  became  a  large  stock-dealer,  feeding 
from  150  to  200  head  of  cattle  for  several 
years  previous  to  his  death,  at  which  time 
he  owned  upward  of  500  acres  of  land,  and 
had  500  rented  for  his  stock,  etc.  His 
marriage  with  Minerva  McAlister  was 
celebrated  in  1836  ;  she  was  born  in  Ala- 
bama April  13,  1815  ;  she  died  March  21, 
1857,  leaving  four  children  now  living, 
viz.,  Mary  Jane  (born  March  24,  1841), 
Margaret  E.  (born  March  6,  1845 — now 
Mrs.  William  Reynolds),  Martha  V.  (born 
Oct.  26,  1850— now  Mrs.  W.  E.  Worsh- 
am),  and  Eliza  A.  (born  June  29,  1856 — 
now  Mrs.  Andrew  Walton.)  Mr.  Collins 
died  March  25,  1877,  mourned  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  him. 

SOLOMON  COLLINS, farmer, 
deceased  ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  one 
of  the  early  pioneers  of  Morgan  Tp. ;  he 
was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  with  his  father,  Aaron 
Collins,  and  located  upon  Greasy  Creek, 
Morgan  Tp.,  about  the  year  1831 ;  he  suf- 
fered all  the  hardships  and  privations  of 
frontier  life,  but  was  known  as  a  hard-work- 
ing, industrious  and  successful  farmer,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death  was  held  in  high 
esteem  in  the  township  in  which  he  lived. 
He  married  Theney  Carter  ;  she  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  and,  at  the  time  of  her  death 
was  the  mother  of  three  children,  viz., 
John  J.,  William  A.  and  Elizabeth  B. 
His  second  wife  was  Mary  Taylor,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children — Hiram  and 
Thomas.  John  J.  Collins,  the  oldest  son, 
was  born  in  Morgan  Tp.,  Feb.  7,  1850, 
where  he  attended  the  common  schools 
and  assisted  his  father  in  farming  until  12 
years  of  age,  since  which  time  he  has  made 
his  home   with   Joseph   Carter,   whom  he 


622 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


assisted  in  farming  in  summer  and  attended 
the  common  school  in  the  winter,  until 
1871,  when  he  entered  the  Westfield  Col- 
lege, where  he  attended  two  years,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  school- 
teaching  during  the  M\  and  winter  and 
farming  in  summer. 

LAFAYETTE  CRAIG, farmer.  Sec.  18; 
P.O.Charleston ;  born  in  Clark  Co.,  111.,  Mar! 
27,  1832  ;  he  emigrated  with  his   parents 
when  3  years  of  age,  and  located  in  what 
is  now  known  as  Morgan  Tp.,  in  December, 
1835,  in  which  township  he  has  since  con- 
tinued to   live  for  a  period  of  upward  of 
forty-three  years ;    he  is  a  son  of  Isaac  N. 
Craig,  and  with  his  father  is   one  of  the 
earliest  pioneers  of  Morgan  Tp. ;  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  employed  in   his 
early  days  in  watching  sheep  during  the 
day  to  protect  them  from  the  wolves,  and  at 
night  would  drive  the  sheep  in  close  pens 
near  the  house,  for  safety  during  the  night ; 
there  were  no  roads  in  those   days,  and  to 
go  to  Charleston  and    other  points,  they 
would  ibllow  by-paths,  taking  a  direct  line 
to  whatever  point  they  wished  to  go ;  he 
remained  with  his  father  and  assisted  him 
in  farming  until  21  years  of  age,  when  he 
was  employed  by  his  father  for  two  years, 
at  $100  per    year,     when    he,  with   his 
brother  farmed  upon  the  old  farm   for  six 
years,  receiving  half  of  the  crops  for  their 
labor ;  he  then  continued  farming  alone  on 
the  same  conditions,  for  a  period  of  three 
years  longer ;  he  removed  upon  his  pres- 
ent place  in  the  spring  of  1864,  where  he  has 
since  continued  to  live;  he  owns  161  acres 
of  land  in  his  home  farm,  and  110  in  other 
parts  of  the  county.     He  married  Jan.  3, 
1856,  to  Jemima  Fowler  ;  she  was  born  in 
Coles  Co.,  Oct.  14,  1836  ;  she  died  March 
26,   1862,  leaving  no  children  ;  his  mar- 
riage with  Margaret  J.  Woodfull  was  cel- 
ebrated Feb.   12,    1863;    they    have   six 
children  now  living  by  this  union — Willis 
N.    Ida  May,  Alma  L..  Robert  H.,  Oscar 
A.,  and  Thomas  D.      Mr.  Craig  was  the 
first  Collector  of  Morgan  Tp.,  which  oflSce 
he  held  for  two  years,  when  he  was  elected  ^ 
Supervisor    for  ten    years    in    succession ; 
took  the  census  in    1865,  and   served   for 
two  years  as  School  Director. 

THOMAS  H.  CRISPIN,  farmer;  P. 
0.  Rardin ;  born  in  Pickaway  Co.,  Ohio, 
May  5,  1833,  where  he  attended  school 
and  assisted  his  father  in  the  mason  trade 


until  14  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to 
Bellefontaine,  Logan  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
learned  and  worked  at  the  trade  of  mason 
and  plasterer  until  1852,  when  he  emi- 
grated to  Carlinville,  111.,  and  followed  his 
trade  for  six  years  ;  he  located  in  Coles 
Co.  in  the  spring  of  1859,  on  Sec.  30, 
Morgan  Tp.,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
one  year,  then  six  years  upon  Sec  9  ;  he 
located  upon  his  present  place  in  1864, 
where  he  has  since  continued  to  live,  and 
where  he  owns  110  acres  of  prairie  and 
timber  land.  His  marriage  with  Susannah 
J.  Painter  was  celebrated  in  1852  ;  she 
was  born  in  Macoupin  Co.,  III.,  Nov.  15, 
1833  ;  they  have  seven  children  now  liv- 
.  ing,  having  lost  one  by  death  ;  the  names 
of  the  living  are  Nancy  C.,born  Jan.  19, 
1853;  Isabel  J.,  born  July  27,' 1854; 
Jacob  J.,  May  2,  1856  ;  Thomas  J.,  Feb. 
16,1858;  William  H.,  Dec.  15,  1860; 
Geo.  B.  McClellan,  Oct.  1,1863;  Mary 
H.,  Dec.  16, 1868  ;  Jesse,  March  21, 1875  ; 
the  deceased  is  Alonzo  G.,  born  Sept.  10, 
1866,  died  April  19,  1868 ;  Mrs.  Crispin 
died  Aug.  18,  1871.  He  married  for  his 
second  wife  Agnes  McKiney  Aug.  24, 
1873  ;  she  was  born  June  7,  1855. 

WESLEY  DAUGHERTY,  farmer,  Sec. 
8  ;  P.  0.  Charleston  ;  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111., 
Jan.  18,  1834;  he  is  the  youngest  son  of 
John  B.  Daugherty,  who  emigrated  with 
his  family  from    Indiana  and    located   in 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  about  the  year  1833,  where 
he  lived  until  his  decease,  which  occurred 
July   10,   1857,  being  then    60  years  of 
age.     The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained 
with  his  father  and  assisted  in  farming  until 
19  years  of  age,  when  he  was  employed  as 
farm  laborer  for  about  four  years,  when  he 
engaged    in    farming   upon    rented    land, 
which  he  followed  two  years  ;  he  located 
upon  his   present  place  in  the  spring   of 
1857,  where  he  has  since  continued  to  live 
during    a    period  of  upward  of  22  years  ; 
he  owns  120  acres  in  his  home  farm,  upon 
which  he  has  good  buildings  and  about  20 
acres  of  timber  upon  the  Embarrass  River. 
His  marriage  with  Phoebe  Clark  was  cele- 
brated  Feb.   18,  1856;   she  was  born  in 
Coles  Co.  May  25,  1836.     They  have  five 
children  now  living,  viz. :   Paulina,  Albert, 
Joseph,    Charles  W.  and  Hetta  J.     Mrs. 
Daugherty  was  the  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and    Sarah    Clark,    who    emigrated    from 
Kentucky,  and  located  in  Coles  Co.,  111., 


MORGAN  TOWNSHIP. 


623 


about  the  year  1828  or  1829;  Mr.  Clark 
lived  here  until  the  spring  of  1856,  when 
he  went  to  Indiana  upon  a  visit,  where  he 
died  April  18,  1856  ;  his  birth  occurred  in 
Kentucky,  in  the  year  1798.  Mrs.  Clark 
now  makes  her  home  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Daugherty,  within  one-half  mile  of 
where  she  first  located,  and  where  she  has 
continued  to  reside  for  nearly  half  a  cent- 
ury ;  she  was  born  Jan.  1,  3  800,  and  al- 
though now  in  her  80th  year,  is  in  po.sses- 
sion  of  all  her  faculties,  and  voluntarily 
devotes  a  large  part  of  her  time  to  sewing 
and  knitting.  Mr.  Daugherty  has  filled 
the  office  of  School  Director  several  years 
during  his  residence  here,  and  which  office 
he  now  holds. 

SHEP  FLORER,  farmer ;  P.  O.  Oak- 
land ;  born  in  Newport,  Vermilion  Co., 
Ind.,  March  29,  1839  ;  he  was  the  son  of 
Alexander  B.  Florer,  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  that  county,  and  who  was  elected  Second 
County  Clerk,  which  office  he  held  fourteen 
years  ;  was  elected  Recorder  of  the  county 
several  times,  which  office  he  held  for  many 
years ;  he  was  also  an  eminent  lawyer  of 
that  part  of  the  State  of  Indiana  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  Aug.  9,  1863; 
Shep  Florer  was  raised  in  the  above  county, 
at  the  age  of  14,  he  commenced  clerking 
for  Jones,  Culbertson  &  Co.,  and  at  17  he 
was  appointed  Deputy  Auditor  of  the 
county  under  Henry  D.  Washburn,  and 
afterward  as  Deputy  Clerk  and  Recorder 
at  20  years  of  age ;  he  did  a  heavy 
grocery  trade  in  that  town  ;  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  war,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  C.  18th 
Ind.  Vols.,  and  served  his  country  three  years 
as  private  messenger  for  Col.  Tom  Patter- 
son and  Gen.  H.  D.  Washburn.  On  Sept. 
23,  1864:,  he  located  with  his  mother,  A. 
A.  Florer,  at  Milton  Station,  Coles  Co., 
111.,  where  he  sold  general  merchandise  for 
five  years,  and  on  the  11th  day  of  October, 
1870,  he  moved  to  his  mother's  farm  of 
529  acres,  situated  in  Morgan  Tp.,  Coles 
Co.,  where  he  now  resides.  He  married 
June  24,  1866,  to  Louisa  A.  Hawkins; 
she  was  born  in  Rush  Co.,  Ind.,  March  7, 
1848 ;  she  removed  with  her  parents  to 
Coles  Co.,  111., in  1850,wbereher  fiither  and 
stepmother  now  reside ;  five  children  were 
the  fruit  of  this  union,  two  of  whom  are 
deceased,  the  names  of  the  living  are  Mary 
Elizabeth,  born  May  13,  1876,  and  Katie 
and  Clara,  twins,  born  June  11,  1878. 


ARIS  GALBRKATH,  farmer  ;  P.  0. 
Rardin ;  was  born  in  Nicholas  Co.,  Ky., 
Jan.  20,  1812.  His  parents  removed  to 
Scott  Co.,  Ind.,  when  he  was  2  years  of 
age,  where  he  lived  until  18  years  of  age, 
when  he  emigrated  with  his  mother  to 
Illinois  and  located  in  Edgar  Co.,  in  the 
Fall  of  1830,  where  he  engaged  as  farm 
laborer  for  two  years  at  $8  per  month ;  in 
1832,  he  located  in  Ashmore  Tp.,  Coles 
Co.,  111.,  working  one  year  for  $100,  out 
of  which  he  saved  money  to  enter  40  acres 
of  land,  which  he  improved  one  year,  when 
he  sold  out  and  purchased  240  acres,  which 
he  improved  for  ten  years,  which  he  then 
sold  and  entered  160  acres  of  prairie  and 
purchased  40  acres  of  timber  in  Morgan 
Tp.,  upon  which  he  Uved  until  1875,  when 
he  removed  upon  his  present  place,  after 
renting  his  old  homestead;  he  now  owns 
300  acres  of  land  with  three  sets  of  build- 
ings. When  Mr.  G.  located  here,  wolves 
and  Indians  were  plenty,  and  to  obtain 
quail,  prairie  chickens  or  other  game,  was 
only  necessary  to  shoot  from  your  door  or 
window.  He  married  Dec.  8,  1835,  to 
Jane  Reed  ;  she  was  born  in  Spencer  Co., 
Ky.,  Oct.  9,  1817  ;  they  have  three  chil- 
dren, now  living  by  this  union — James 
T.,  born  Oct.  9,  1836;  William  R.,  Nov. 
4,  1838  ;  Ann  Eliza,  born  Jan.  5,  1841, 
Mrs.  G.  was  a  daughter  of  Thos.  Reed, 
who  emigrated  from  Kentucky  and  located 
in  Illinois  in  1829;  he  died  in  Ashmore 
Tp.,  in  the  winter  of  1845.  Mr.  Gal- 
breath  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the 
cause  of  religion  and  education,  havinij 
been  a  member  of  the  C.  P.  Church  for 
fifteen  years:  his  wife  having  been  a  mem- 
ber for  twenty-five  years.  He  has  held 
the  offices  of  Assessor,  Town  Clerk  and 
School  Director  ;  the  latter  office  he  now 
holds. 

JACKSON  GERARD,  farmer  ;  P.  0. 
Hinesborough  ;  was  born  in  Hamilton  Co., 
Ohio,  June  28,  1828 ;  his  grandfather 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Ohio,  loca- 
ting in  the  above  county  about  the  year 
1784,  where  he  lived  until  his  decease, 
which  occurred  about  the  year  1838.  The 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Will- 
iam Gerard,  was  born  in  Hamilton  Co., 
Ohio,  in  the  year  1785,  and  lived  there 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  year 
1836  ;  he  served  through  the  war  of  1812, 
with  the  Frontier  Rangers,  being  stationed 


624 


BIuGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


during  the  winter  of  1813  near  Vincennes, 
Ind.,  guarding  the  frontier  from  the  at- 
tacks of  the  Indians.  His  mother  was 
born  in  New  Jersey,  July,  1792,  and  emi- 
grated with  her  parents  to  Ohio,  in  the 
year  1794;  they  did  their  trading  in 
Cincinnati,  when  the  building  occupied  as 
the  P.  0.  was  the  only  frame  building 
there;  Mrs  Gerard  died  July  7,  1874,  in 
Butler  Co..  Ohio.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  lived  with  his  parents  until  7  years 
of  age,  when  he  made  his  home  with  an 
older  brother  until  21  years  of  age,  when 
he  located  upon  a  farm  in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  lived  twenty-four  years  ;  he  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  in  1874,  and  located  up- 
on Sec.  30,  Morgan  Tp.,  where  he  now 
resides ;  he  owns  102  acres  in  his  home 
farm,  upon  which  he  has  erected  good 
buildings  ;  he  also  owns  140  acres  in  other 
parts  of  the  county.  He  married  Nov.  3, 
1850,  to  Emily  Stites;  she  was  born  in 
Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  20,  1834  ;  they 
have  four  children  now  living,  having  lost 
two  by  death.  The  names  of  the  living 
are:  Eli,  born  July  4,  1854;  Mary  A., 
now  wife  of  Dr.  J.  T.  Montgomery,  Feb. 
18,  1856;  Charles  W.,  born  April  11, 
1859;  Anna  M.,  born  Oct.  15.  1861. 

ELI  GERRARD,  farmer ;  P.O.  Charles- 
ton ;  born  in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  July  4, 
1854,  where  he  attended  school  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  he  emigrated  West 
and  located  in  Coles  Co.,  in  the  fall  of 
1 874 ;  here  he  engaged  in  farming  with 
his  father  until  the  spring  of  1876,  when 
he  removed  upon  his  present  place,  where 
he  has  since  lived.  He  is  the  oldest  son 
of  Jackson  Gerard,  whose  biography  ap- 
pears in  this  work.  His  marriage  with 
Laura  B.  Smith  was  celebrated  Aug.  31, 
1875;  she  was  born  in  Ohio  Oct.  10, 
1856  ;  they  have  two  children  now  living 
by  this  union,  viz.,  Clara  L.,  born  June  8, 
1876,  and  Elizabeth  A.,  born  Dec.  29, 
1877. 

JESSE  HUDSON,  farmer  and  Justice 
of  the  Peace ;  P.  0.  Charleston  ;  born  in 
Jessamine  Co.,  Ky.,  June  27,  1840,  where 
he  attended  school  until  11  years  of  age, 
when  he  emigrated  to  IlUnois  and  located 
in  East  Oakland  Tp.  in  October,  1851 ; 
here  he  remained  and  assisted  his  father 
in  forming  until  upward  of  20  years  of 
age,  when  he  raised  one  crop  upon  his 
father's  farm,  of  which  he  gave  one-third 


I  for  the  use  of  the  land  ;  the  following 
year  he  farmed  upon  rented  land,  and  in 
1864,  he  removed  to  Morgan  Tp.,  where 
he  rented  land  four  years,  and,  in  1868, 
purchased  his  present  place,  where  he  has 
since  continued  to  live ;  he  first  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land,  mostly  upon  time, 
giving  his  notes  for  $2,180,  which  he  met 
promptly,  and  has  since  added,  by  pur- 
chase, forty  acres  more,  for  which  he  paid 
$1,200  cash  ;  he  built  a  brick  addition  to 
his  house  in  1872,  and,  in  1877,  erected 
the  finest  barn  in  Morgan  Tp.  The  above 
property  he  has  accumulated  by  his  own 
hard  labor,  energy  and  good  business  man- 
agement, in  which  he  has  been  nobly  as- 
sisted by  his  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married 
Oct.  10,  1861  ;  her  maiden  name  was 
Harriet  Stark ;  she  was  born  in  Indiana 
Nov.  15,  1842;  they  have  two  children 
now  living,  viz.,  Laura  B.,  born  Dec.  12, 
1869,  and  Emma  May,  born  Nov.  8,  1871. 
Mr.  Hudson  has  held  difierent  township 
offices,  and  has  been  elected  to  the  office 
of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  second 
term,  which  office  he  now  holds. 

JOHN  H.  JOHNSON  (deceased), 
farmer  and  minister  ;  born  in  Washington 
Co.,  Penn.,  Dec.  12,  1812,  where  he  at- 
tended school  in  his  youth — the  last  few 
years  at  the  college  at  Way nesburg,  Penn.; 
after  which  he  was  licensed  as  a  minister 
of  the  C.  P.  Church,  officiating  as  circuit 
preacher  until  his  removal  to  Ohio,  where 
he  was  settled  as  local  preacher  for  three 
years,  until  his  removal  to  Coles  Co.,  111., 
about  the  year  1854,  where  he  first  settled 
as  Pastor  of  the  C.  P.  Church  in  Ashmore 
Tp.  for  several  years ;  then  in  Morgan  Tp. 
until  1868  ;  at  the  above  date,  he  emigrated 
to  Jasper  Co.,  Mo.,  where  he  purchased 
ninety  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  labored 
while  not  engaged  in  his  ministerial  labors, 
until  the  fall  of  1877,  when  he  removed  to 
Carthage,  Mo.,  after  renting  his  farm,  that 
he  might  have  better  facilities  for  the  edu- 
cation of  his  dauahter  ;  here  he  lived  until 
his  decease,  which  occurred  Jan.  31, 1878, 
after  an  illness  of  ten  days ;  his  remains 
were  brought  back  to  Coles  Co.,  111.,  and 
buried  in  the  beautiful  cemetery  near  St. 
Omer,  Ashmore  Tp.,  by  the  side  of  his 
first  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  Penn- 
sylvania ;  her  maiden  name  was  Lucinda 
j  Hamson  ;  she  emigrated  to  Illinois  with 
I  him,  and  died  during  his  ministerial  labors 


MORGAN  TOWNSHIP. 


625 


in  Ashmore  Tp ;  his  marriage  with  Nancy 
(Rardin)  Gollady  was  celebrated  Feb.  13, 
1856  ;  she  was  a  sister  of  John  and  Jacob  L. 
Rardin  ;  born  in  Campbell  Co.,  Ky.,  April 
22,  1824,  and  emigrated  with  her  parents, 
Samuel  and  Catharine  Rardin,  to  Morgan 
Tp.in  the  fall  of  1842  ;  her  first  marriage 
with  George  Gollady  was  celebrated  April 
22,  1852;  he  was  born  April  23,  1819, 
and  emigrated  from  Virginia  about  the  year 
1836,  and  located  in  Morgan  Tp.,  where 
he  lived  until  his  decease,  which  occurred 
Feb.  3,  1854;  Mrs.  Johnson  has  one 
daughter  by  her  last  marriage,  viz.,  Teresa 
C,  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  March  13, 1859  ; 
Mrs.  Johnson,  with  her  daughter,  returned 
in  the  fall  of  1878,  and  again  located  upon 
her  farm  in  Morgan  Tp.,  where  she  resided 
previous  to  her  removal  to  Missouri. 

JOHN  B.  JONES,  farmer.  Sec.  3  ;  P. 
0.  Rardin ;  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Sept.  1,  1829;  he  removed  with  his  par- 
ents when  quite  young  to  Whitehall,  Wash- 
ington Co.,  where  he  attended  school  and 
engaged  in  farming  until  15  years  of  age, 
when  he  learned  and  worked  at  the  ship- 
carpenter's  trade  for  three  years  ;  then  for 
two  years  followed  sailing  on  the  lakes,  and 
his  trade  ;  after  which  time  he  located  at 
Astoria,  L.  I.,  where  he  engaged  at  his 
trade  until  1857,  when  he  emigrated  to 
Illinois,  and  located  in' Ashmore  Tp.,  Coles 
Co.,  March  1,  of  the  same  year;  here  he 
purchased  land  and  engaged  in  farming 
until  1870,  when  he  located  upon  his  pres- 
ent place,  where  he  has  since  continued  to 
live,  and  where  he  has  eighty-nine  acres, 
upon  which  he  erected  his  residence  in 
1871  ;  here  he  located  in  the  timber  and 
has,  during  the  last  eight  years,  cleared  and 
placed  under  cultivation  upward  of  fifty 
acres  of  land  by  his  own  hard  labor.  His 
marriage  with  Sarah  Smith  was  celebrated 
Dec.  24,  1 856  ;  she  was  born  in  Queens 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  13, 1839;  they  have  three 
children  now  living  by  this  union,  viz., 
John  Paul,  born  Nov.  8,  1857  ;  Stephen 
B.,  born  Feb.  8,  1865,  and  Isaac  P.,  born 
May  11,  1868  ;  the  names  of  the  deceased 
are  George  W.  and  William  H. 

W.  C.  McLAIN,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Charles- 
ton ;  one  of  the  very  oldest  settlers  of 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  being  born  in  Ashmore  Tp., 
Coles  Co.,  Jan.  12,  1829  ;  his  father, 
Matthew  McLain,  emigrated  from  Indiana 
in  the  year  1828,  and  located  in  the  above 


township,  at  the  above  date,  where  he 
lived  until  1846,  when  he  removed  to 
Wisconsin,  and  the  year  following  both  he 
and  his  wife  died.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  emigrated  to  Wisconsin  with  his 
parents,  and  after  their  decease  returned 
to  Coles  Co.  and  was  employed  as  farm 
laborer  until  1851,  when  he  rented  land 
i  and  farmed  one  year,  and  on  March  28, 
i  1852,  started  with  three  other  ox-teams 
overland  to  California,  going  via  St.  Joe, 
Mo.,  Fort  Kearney  and  Fort  Laramie, 
crossing  the  Rocky  Mountains  via  the 
Sweetwater  Gap,  arriving  at  Placerville, 
Cal.,  Aug.  16,  of  the  same  year,  being 
nearly  five  months  upon  the  road ;  here 
he  engaged  in  freighting  for  several  months 
from  Sacramento  City  to  Placerville,  a 
distance  of  forty-five  miles,  and  late  in  the 
fall  engaged  in  mining  upon  Weber  Creek 
until  the  spring  of  1853,  when  he  went  to 
the  North  Yuba  River,  and  ensraged  in 
mining  during  the  summer  of  1853,  when 
he  and  his  company,  among  which  were 
two  of  his  brothers,  opened  a  mine,  sink- 
ing a  shaft  140  feet,  which  they  named 
Galena  Hill,  and  which  has  since  proved 
to  be  one  of  the  best  deep  diggings  in 
California  ;  working  this  mine  until  the  dry 
season  set  in,  when  they  worked  seven 
months  and  flumed  the  North  Yuba  River, 
after  taking  the  water  out  of  the  river  and 
working  one-half  day  in  thebed  of  the  river, 
in  which  they  obtained  $2,800,  the  flume 
burst  in,  and  their  seven  months'  labor 
was  lost ;  he  then  returned  to  Galena  Hill 
where  he  engaged  in  mining  until  March 
15,  1855,  when  he  sailed  from  San  Fran- 
cisco, via  Panama  and  New  York,  arrivino- 

•  1  '  O 

in  Ashmore  Tp.  April  11  following;  he 
then  rented  and  engaged  in  farming  one 
year,  when  he  removed  to  Morgan  Tp., 
where  he  has  since  engaged  in  farming ; 
he  located  upon  his  present  pla?e  in  Feb- 
ruary 1866,  where  he  has  since  continued  to 
live  ;  he  owns  sixty  acres  in  his  home  farm, 
upon  which  he  has  good  improvements, 
mostly  made  by  his  own  labor.  He  mar- 
ried Aug.  8,  1850,  to  Mary  A.  Galbreath; 
she  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  Ill,  Oct.  18, 
1834;  she  died  April  11,  1866,  leaving 
two  children — Philena  and  Mary  A.  His 
marriage  with  Mahala  Mitchell,  daughter 
of  John  Galbreath,  was  celebrated  April 
14,  1867  ;  she  was  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111., 
Feb.  18,    1840;  her  parents  were  among 


626 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


the  early  pioneers  of  Coles  Co.,  who  located 
about  1830.  Mrs.  McLain  has  two 
children  by  her  previous  husband,  W.  R. 
Mitchell,  viz.,  John  F.  and  P.  A.  Mitchell, 
now  Mrs.  Hu^h  Daugherty. 

ALEXANDER  McGREGOR,  farmer ; 
P.    0.    Charleston ;    the    subject   of  this 
sketch  was  born  in   Perthshire,   Scotland, 
July  1, 1807,  where  he  attended  the  common 
schools  in  his  youth  and  assisted  his  father 
in    farming  until  upward   of  21  years  of 
age,  when  he  located  in  Grlasgow  as   clerk 
and   salesman   in   the   wholesale   store   of 
Robert  &  John  Henderson,    with    whom 
he  remained  until   1842,   when    he   emi- 
grated to  America,  landing  in  New  York 
in  April,  of  the  same  year,  coming  directly 
West ;  he  lived  in  East  Oakland  Tp.  until 
the  spring  of  18-13,  when  he  located  forty 
acres     of    land    in    Morgan     Tp.,     upon 
which    he   settled    and,   about   1845,   en- 
tered forty  more  and  afterward  added  by 
purchase  until  he  had  535  acres,  which  he  , 
made  by  his  own  hard  labor ;  he  has  al- 
ways been  one  of  the  most  industrious  and 
hard-working  men   of  Morgan  Tp.,  and  is 
held  in  high  esteem  as   a  citizen  ;  he  has 
always  taken  a  deep  interest  in   the  cause 
of  religion  and  education,  having  been  an 
active  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
for  upward  of  half  a  century ;  on  Jan.  9, 
1872.  he  was  stricken  with  palsy,  and  upon 
the  13th  of  the  same  month  received  his 
second  shock,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
confined  to  the  house,   and   is  nearly  in  a 
helpless  condition,  which  affliction   he  has 
borne  with  Christian  fortitude.     His  mar- 
riage with  Margaret  Dollar  was  celebrated 
June  11,  1833;  she  was  born  in   Perth- 
shire, Scotland,  Nov.  18,  1811  ;  five  chil- 
dren were  the  fruit  of  this  union,  three  of 
which  are  deceased  ;  the  names  of  the  liv- 
ing  are    William    and    John.     Mr.    Mc- 
Gregor was  a  strong  Union  man  during  the 
war  of  the  rebellion,  two  of  his  sons  sew-  [ 
ing  in  the  Union  Army,  Alexander  being  | 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Perryville ;    Mrs.   i 
McGregor    died    April    27,    1876;     Mr.   ' 
McGregor  continues  to  live  upon  the  old 
homestead  with  his  younger  son,  John,  by   | 
whom  he  is  kindly  cared  for  ;  John  was 
born  in  the  old  homestead   Feb.  1,  1848, 
where  he  has    always  lived  ;  he  married 
April  12,  1877,  to  Rosanie  C.  Craig;  she  i 
was  the  daughter  of  James  W.  Craig,  one  j 
of  the  early  settlers   of  Coles   Co. ;  they  | 


have  one  child  by  this  union — Margaret  J., 
born  Dec.  15,  1878. 

DANIEL    R.    McALISTER,  farmer, 
deceased ;  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Coles 
;   Co.     The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Alabama  May  29,  1821 ;   he  emigrated 
\  to  Illinois  at  10  years  of  age,  and  located 
in  what  is  now  known  as  Morgan  Tp.,   in 
the    year  1831,   where  he  lived  until    his 
death,  which  occurred  Nov.  9,  1867;  he 
was  one  of  the  most  industrious  and  hard- 
working men   of  Morgan  Tp.,  and  by   his 
industry  and  good  management  had  accu- 
mulated a  good  property  at  the  time  of  his 
1  death.     His  marriage  was  celebrated  Feb. 
11, 1844 ;  six  children  were  the  fruit  of  this 
union,  three  of  whom    are  deceased ;    the 
living  are  Martha  J.  (now  Mrs.  J.  B.  Will- 
iams), Clara  B.  (now   Mrs.   Dunlap)   Mc- 
Ghey  and  3Iargaret   R.  (now  Mrs.  G.    E. 
Johnson ).     Mrs.     McAlister    makes    her 
home  with  her  oldest  daughter,  Mrs.  J.  B. 
,   Williams,  and  although  in  her  63d  year,  is 
in  possession  of  all  her  faculties,  and  daily 
assists  in  the  various  household  duties. 

J.  T.  MONTGOMERY,  physician,  P.  0. 
Charleston ;  born  in  Cedar  Co.,  Mo.,  Oct. 
18,  1852.  He  emigrated  with  his  parents 
and  located  in  Alton,  111,,  in  1861,  for 
about  six  months,  then  Windsor  for  three 
years,  where  his  father  was  located  as  minis- 
ter of  the  C.  P.  Church.  He  located  in  Oak- 
and.  Coles  Co.,  in  March,  1867,  when  he 
attended  school  until  1871,  where  he 
worked  as  farm  laborer  during  the  summer 
and  fall,  in  which  way  he  obtained  the 
means  to  attend  the  Mt.  Zion  Academy 
until  he  had  exhausted  the  proceeds  of  his 
summer's  labor,  when  he  engaged  as  clerk 
in  the  dry  goods  store  of  Wilcox  &  Bur- 
roughs, at  Fairmount,  111.,  where  he  re- 
mained until  winter,  when  he  taught  school 
for  six  months,  and  having  laid  up  suffi- 
cient means  to  defray  his  expenses  in  fur- 
ther educating  himself,  he  went  to  the 
Normal  School,  at  Normal  111.,  for  six 
months;  he  continued  in  this  manner, 
teaching,  then  expending  his  savings  in 
schooling  himself  until  he  received  his  edu- 
cation, graduating  from  the  Chicago  Med- 
ical College  in  the  Centennial  Class  of 
1876,  having  devoted  four  years  to  the 
study  of  medicine ;  he  then  engaged  in 
partnership  with  Dr.  W.  J.  Peak,  at  Oak- 
land, under  the  firm  name  of  Peak  & 
Montgomery.     He  located  upon  his  present 


MORGAN  TOWNSHIP. 


627 


place  in  August,  1876,  since  which  time 
he  has  successfully  followed  the  practice  of 
medicine,  having  a  large  and  extensive 
practice,  which  is  yearly  increasing.  He 
married  Oct.  12,  1876,  to  Mary  A.  Gerard, 
daughter  of  Jackson  Gerard,  whose  biog- 
raphy appears  in  this  work ;  she  was  born 
in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  18,  1856.  They 
have  one  child  by  this  union — Sarah  Em- 
ily, born  Julv  8,  1877. 

WM.  MORGAN,  farmer ;   P.   0.  Har- 
din ;  born  in  Sullivan  Co.,  Ind.,  Dec.  13, 
1827;  he  emigrated  with  his  parents  when 
8   years  old    and   located  in  what    is  now 
known  as  Morgan  Tp.  in  1834,  and  before 
the  organization  of  the  township,  which  is 
named  in  honor  of  his  flither,  David  Mor- 
gan, who  resided  here  from  1835  until  his 
death,  which  occurred   in  October,  1860. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  lived  with  his  par- 
ents and  assisted  in  farming  until  1850, 
when  he  engaged   in  flirming   for  himself 
upon  the  place  where  he  has  since  lived  ;  he 
owns  320  acres  in  his  home  farm  and  320 
acres  in  other  parts  of  the  township  ;  when 
Mr.  Morgan  first  located  in  this  township, 
it  was  inhabited  by  Indians,  whose  camps 
were  along   the    river,    their    chief  camps 
being  along  Brush  Creek,  where  the  mounds 
may   be   seen  to  this  day ;  wolves   were 
plenty,  and  to  obtain  quail,  prairie  chick- 
ens, turkeys  or  deer,  it  was  hardly  neces- 
sary to  step  outside  of  the  door-yard  ;  his 
trips  to  mill  consumed  four  days,  and  the 
distance  was  fifty  miles,  either  to  Eugene 
on  the  Wabash,   or   to    Terre    Haute ;  at 
that  early  date,  he  had  only  two  neighbors, 
and  from  his  location  at  the  north  part  of 
what  is  now  Morgan  Tp.  to  within  a  half 
mile  from  Charleston,  a  distance  of  twelve 
miles,  there  was   not  a  single  habitation ; 
for   roads,  to  avoid    getting  lost,   a  single 
furrow  would    be  plowed    from    point   to 
point ;  this  was  the  way  the  road  was  laid 
out  to   Charleston  and    other  parts.     His 
schooling    was    obtained  under   disadvan- 
tages, in   an    old  log  school  house,  whose 
fire-place  was  the  whole  of  one  end  of  the 
building ;   the    scholars     were    obliged  to 
gather  their  wood  from  the  stump,  take  it 
to  the   schoolhouse,  chop  it  and  take  it  in. 
His  marriage  with    Margaret  Shirre    was 
celebrated  Sept.  6,  1850  ;  she  was  born  in 
Glasgow,  Scotland,   May  28,  1835  ;  they 
have  four    children,    now    living,  by  this 
union — William  David,  now  attending  the 


Chicago  Medical  College  his  third  term; 
Ralph  D.,  Alexander  J.  and  Josie  Clay. 

JAMES  MORGAN,  farmer.  Sec.  20; 
P.  0.  Oakland ;  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  Coles  Co. ;  born  in  Vermilion  Co.,  Ind., 
April  20,  1830  ;  he  was  the  youngest  son  of 
David  Morgan,  who  was  born  in  Wa.shing- 
ton  Co.,  Ky.,  Nov.  18,  1797  ;  he  emigrated 
from  Kentucky  to  Indiana  with  his   fam- 
ily, where  he  lived  until  he  emigrated  to 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  where  he  located  Aj^ril  20, 
1834,  in  what  is  now  Morgan  Tp.,  the 
township  being  named  in  honor  of  David 
Morgan.     He  married   Oct.   7,   1818,   to 
Jane  Rodman  ;  she  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
June  9,  1799  ;  six  children  were  the  fruit 
of  this  union,  five  of  whom  emigrated  to 
Illinois  with  the  family  at  the  above  date, 
one  having  died  in  infancy ;  the  names  of 
the  living  were  Sarah,  Catharine  J.,  Mary 
E.,    William    and    James;     Mr.    Morgan 
died  Sept.  10,   1860 ;    Mrs.   Morgan  died 
Jan.  31, 1832.     The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  4  years  of  age  when  he  emigrated  to 
Coles  Co,,  111.,  in  1834  ;  he  lived  with  his 
parents  until  19  years  of  age,  when  he 
managed   the   farm   until  the   decease    of 
his  father,  since  which   time  he  has  con- 
tinued to  live   upon  the   old    homestead, 
where  he  has  lived  for  a  period  of  forty- 
five  years ;  he  owns  upon  his   home  farm 
112  acres,  and  8  acres  of  tunber  in  Oak- 
land Tp.;  when  Mr.   Morgan  came  here, 
Indian  camps  were  along  the  river,  wolves 
and  game  were  plenty,   and   Mr.   Morgan 
remembers  his  first  labor  in  his  boyhood  as 
watching  and  protecting  the  sheep  from 
destruction  by  the  wolves  during  the  day, 
the  sheep  being  driven  in  close   pens  for 
protection  during  the  night ;  his   trips   to 
mill  consumed  from  four  to  six  days,  either 
to  Perryville,  Eugene,  or  Terre  Haute,  the 
distance  being  sixty  miles.     His  marriage 
with  Clarissa  J.  West  was  celebrated  Oct. 
12,  1849  ;  she  was  born  in  Vermilion  Co., 
Ind.,  Oct.  6,  1831  ;    they  have  five  chil- 
dren by  this  union,  viz.:  Robert,  born  Oct. 
9,    1850;    Leonard   C,   June   22,    1853; 
William  J.,  Feb.  21,  1855  ;   Melvin,  June 
8,  1858,  and  David,  Aug.  23,  1869. 

JOHN  NOCK,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Charles- 
ton ;  born  in  Germany  Feb.  20,  1835;  he 
emigrated  with  his  parents  to  America 
when  2  years  of  age ;  coming  directly 
West,  they  located  first  in  Ross,  then 
Waverly     Co.,    Ohio,    until  1849,    when 

8 


628 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES ; 


they  located  in  Charleston,  Coles  Co.,  111., 
where  he  learned  and  worked  at  the  car- 
penter trade  until  1863,  at  which  date  he 
located  upon  his  present  place,  where  he 
has  since  continued  to  live  ;  he  owns  upon 
his  present  place   165  acres,  upon  which 
he    has    good    buildings,    and    which    is 
mostly  under    cultivation.     He    married 
Aug.  5,  1863,  to  Mary  Golladay ;  she  was 
born  upon  the  place  where  she  now  lives, 
and  where  she  has  lived  since  her  birth, 
which    occurred     Dec.    18,    1841  ;    they 
have  seven   children  now    living,  by   this 
union,   viz.  :     Katie    and    Annie   (twins), 
born    Aug.   24,   1864;    Minnie,    Jan.    4, 
1869;  John,  Oct.  8,  1872;  James,  Nov. 
13,     1874;    Jackson,    Nov.     28,    1876; 
Emma,  April   17,  1878.     The  father  of 
Mr.  Nock,  John  Nock,  died  in  Septem- 
ber,   1851 ;    his   mother   died    Aug.  27, 
1875  ;  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Nock,  Moses 
and   Catharine  Golladay,  were  among  the 
early  pioneers  of  Coles  Co.,  locating  here  in 
1836  ;  Mr.  Golladay  was  born  in  Virginia, 
Oct.  15,   1809;  he  died  in   Morgan   Tp., 
March  12,  1862;  Mrs.  Golladay  was  born 
in  Virginia  March  25,  1819  ;  she  now  lives 
with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Nock,  upon  the 
same  place  where  she  has  resided  for  up- 
ward of  forty-three  years,  and  is  one  of 
the  oldest  living  settlers  now  in  Morgan  Tp. 
F.  M.  PARKER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Rar- 
din;  born  in  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  March  18, 
1849 ;    he  is  the  eldest  son  of  Wm.  M. 
Parker,  who  emigrated   from    Kentucky, 
and  located  in  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  in  the  year 
1829;    he   died   in    Coles    Co.,  Feb.  14, 
1873  ;   his  mother  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
and  emigrated  with  her  parents,  and  loca- 
ted in  Coles  Co.  in  1828  ;    the  subject  of 
this  sketch  remained  with  his  parents,  and 
assisted   in  farming,  until  20  years  of  age, 
when  he  was  employed  as  farm-laborer  for 
about    four   years :    he    first   commenced 
farming  for  himself  in  1871,  in  Edgar  Co., 
and  the  year  following  in  East  Oakland 
Tp.,  Coles  Co. ;  he  removed  upon  Sec.  5, 
Morgan  Tp.,  in  December,  1873,  where  he 
has    since    successfully   followed    farming. 
He  married  Sept.  14,  1871   to  Sarah  J. 
Roberts ;     she  was  born    in    Muskingum 
Co.,  Ohio,  March  11, 1848  ;  she  is  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Roberts,  whose  biography 
appears  in  this  work  ;  they  have  four  chil- 
dren by  this  union — Rhoda  A.,  born  June 
30,  1872  ;  James  W.,  born  May  1,  1874; 


Cara  A.,  born  Mav  21,  1876  ;  Dora  R., 
born  April  29,  1878.  Mr.  Parker  has 
held  the  office  of  Road  Overseer  for  two 
years,  and  Collector  of  Morgan  Tp.  for 
1878. 

SAMUEL  RARDIN,  merchant  and 
Postmaster,  Rardin ;  born  in  Morgan  Tp., 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  2,  1850,  where  he 
attended  the  common  schools  until  1872, 
when  he  entered  the  Westfield  College  at 
Westfield,  Clark  Co.,  Ill,  which  he  at- 
tended during  the  years  1872  and  1873, 
when  he  returned  home  and  assisted  his 
father  in  farming  until  the  year  1875, 
when  he  was  appointed,  under  the  admin- 
tration  of  President  Grant,  as  Postmaster 
at  Rardin,  which  office  he  now  holds,  and 
which  is  the  only  post  office  in  Morgan 
Tp. ;  upon  receiving  the  above  appoint- 
ment, he  erected  a  store,  and  purchased  a 
stock  of  goods ;  he  engaged  in  the  mer- 
chandise trade,  which  business  he  has  since 
successfully  followed.  He  is  the  oldest 
son  now  living  of  John  H.  Rardin,  who 
emigrated  from  Kentucky  and  located  in 
Morgan  Tp.  in  1842,  and  whose  biography 
appears  in  this  work.  He  also  owns  forty 
acres  of  prairie  land,  upon  which  he  has  a 
residence,  and  which  is  rented. 

J.  L.  RARDIN,  farmer  and  Justice  of 
the  Peace ;  P.  0.  Rardin ;  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Morgan  Tp. ;  born  in  the  State 
of  Indiana  Dec.  12,  1814;  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Campbell  County,  Ky.,  when  he 
was  4  years   of  age,    where  he    was  en- 
gaged in   clearing  land  and  farming,   with 
the  exception  of  five  years  in  Ohio,   until 
28  years  of  age,  when  he  emigrated    with 
his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  what 
is  now  known  as  Morgan  Tp.,  in  the  fall  of 
1842,    upon   the  place  where  he  has  since 
continued  to  live  during  a  period  of  nearly 
thirty-seven  years ;  he  first  entered  eighty 
acres  of  prairie  land,    which    is  now  a  part 
of  his  home  farm,  and  eighty  acres  of  tim- 
ber upon  the  Embarrass  River ;  at  the  time 
1  of  his  locating  here,  his  capital  consisted  of 
one  team  and  wagon,  his  provisions  for  the 
j  winter  and  $25    in    money ;  his    first    log 
I  house  and   stable,  which  he  built  in  1842, 
was   occupied  by  him  until  about  the  year 
1853,  when  he  erected  his    present  house 
;  and,  a  few  years  later,  built  a  frame  barn  ; 
he  now  owns  in   his  home  farm  160  acres 
I  and  upward  of  300   acres  in  other  parts  of 
I  the  township.     Mr.  Rardin    has    taken    a 


MORGAN   TOWNSHIP. 


629 


deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  i-eligion  and 
education,  having  been  a  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  for  up- 
ward of  twenty  years  ;  of  school  and  town- 
ship offices,  he  has  had  his  share,  having 
held  the  offices  of  Supervisor,  School  Trust- 
ee and  School  Director  several  terms,  and 
has  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  upward  of  thirty  years  in  succession. 
He  married  Feb.  1,  1838,  to  Sarah  Ran- 
kin ;  she  was  born  in  Ohio  Aug.  7,  1815; 
she  died  May  3,  1848,  leaving  two  children 
now  living,  viz.,  David  (born  Jan.  27, 
1839),  Nancy  (born  Sept.  29,  1841).  His 
marriage  with  Mary  Ann  Sousley  was 
celebrated  March  9, 1354  ;  she  was  born  in 
Fleming  Co.,  Ky.,  Aug.  27,  1829  ;  they 
have  three  children  now  Hving  by  this 
union,  viz.,  George  (born  March  16,  1860), 
Ellen  (March  18,  1862),  Lucy  (Aug.  18, 
1873.  Mr.  Rardin  located  here  when 
wolves  were  plenty,  and  to  protect  the 
sheep  they  built  close  pens  at  the  side  of 
the  house,  in  which  the  sheep  were  nightly 
driven  ;  game  was  also  abundant,  and  to 
obtain  a  quail,  wild  turkeys,  prairie  chick- 
ens, wild  geese,  ducks  or  deer  was  the  work 
of  a  few  minutes.  His  milling  was  a  work 
of  four  days'  labor,  driving  oxen  to  Dan- 
ville, Montezuma  or  Terre  Haute,  and 
sometimes  he  was  obliged  to  wait  from  two 
to  three  days  to  get  his  sjrist  ground. 

JOHN  H.  RARDIN,  farmer ;  P.  0. 
Rardin  ;  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Mor- 
gan Tp.;  born  in  the  State  of  Indiana, 
Feb.  24,  1818;  he  removed  with  his  pa- 
rents when  3  months  old  to  Campbell  Co., 
Ky.,  where  he  lived  until  25  years  of  age, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  he 
emigrated  to  Illinois  and  located  in  what  is 
now  known  as  Morgan  Tp.  in  the  fall  of 
1842,  living  within  one  mile  of  his  present 
place  since  that  date,  a  period  of  nearly 
thirty-seven  years  ;  at  the  time  of  locating 
here,  his  capital  consisted  of  one  team, 
without  a  dollar  in  money  ;  he  worked  by 
the  day  to  pay  for  his  first  dwelling,  which 
was  an  old  log  house  ;  he  manufactured 
his  first  bedstead  by  boring  a  hole  in  one 
of  the  end  and  side  logs,  running  a  pole 
from  each  and  entering  a  post  at  either  end  ; 
the  following  year,  he  went  back  to  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  worked  as  farm  laborer 
one  season,  at  $9  per  month,  in  which  way 
he  obtained  means  to  enter  forty  acres  of 
land,  and   upon  which  he  commenced  his 


first  farming  ;  he  has  since  disposed  of  the 
above,  but  now  owns  in  his  home  farm,  280 
acres,  and  160  acres  in  Oakland  Tp.,  all  of 
the  above  being  accumulated  by  his  own 
hard  labor,  energy  and  industry  ;  although 
in  his  61st  year,  and  having  suffered  all 
the  hardships  and  exposure  of  frontier 
life,  he  is  now  in  possession  of  all  his  facul- 
ties, and  daily  attends  to  the  care  of  his 
stock,  and  such  other  duties  as  his  farm 
requires.  He  married  March  6,  1845,  to 
Melinda  Clark ;  she  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky Oct.  25,  1824 ;  they  have  three 
children  now  living  by  this  union,  viz., 
Mary  Ann,  born  Feb.  13,  1846,  now  Mrs. 
Porter  Johnson  ;  Samuel  Rardin,  born 
Jan.  2,  1850,  now  merchant  and  Postmas- 
ter at  Rardin  ;  James  K.,  born  June  28, 
1851,  now  practicing  law  at  Charleston  ; 
Mrs.  Rardin  died  Mareh  13,  1857.  His 
marriage  with  Rebecca  Hurst  was  cele- 
brated in  the  spring  of  1859 ;  she  was 
born  in  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  April  17,  1825  ; 
she  died  April  17,  1870,  leaving  one  child, 
now  living — Malinda  J.,  born  May  15, 
1862.  He  married  for  his  third  wife  Mrs. 
Nancy  Campbell,  Dec.  17,  1873 ;  she  was 
born  in  Jefferson  Co.,  Ind.,  Jan.  30,  1830; 
she  was  the  daughter  of  John  McCrory, 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Clark  Co., 
111.,  who  located  in  Clark  Co.  in  1838 ; 
they  have  one  child  by  this  union — John 
H.  Rardin,  born  Feb.  3,  1875. 

ISAAC  ROBERTS,  retired  farmer  and 
blacksmith ;  P.  0.  Charleston ;  born  in 
Bourbon  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  25,  1807;  his 
grandfather  emigrated  from  Wales  in  the 
early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and 
located  in  Virginia,  then  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  died  ;  his  father,  Azariah  Roberts, 
was  born  in  Kentucky  about  the  year 
1775,  and  died  in  Indiana  about  1847. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  removed  to 
Scott  Co.,  Ky.,  when  quite  young,  where 
he  lived  until  22  years  of  age,  and  learned 
and  worked  at  the  blacksmith  trade  until 
1828,  when  he  removed  to  Hendricks  Co., 
Ind.,  and  followed  his  trade  until  1852, 
during  a  period  of  twenty-four  years  ;  he 
then  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  located  upon 
his  present  place  in  June,  1853,  where 
he  has  since  continued  to  live ;  he  first 
purchased  120  acres  of  land  upon  his  pres- 
ent farm,  to  which  ho  has  since  added  un- 
til he  has  360  acres,  which  he  has  accumu- 
lated by  his  own   hard   labor,  energy  and 


630 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  : 


industry.  He  married  in  April,  1822,  to 
Nancy  Bowles ;  she  was  born  in  Bourbon 
Co.,  Ky.,  in  November,  1807;  she  died 
Feb.  28, 1866  ;  nine  children  were  the  fruit 
of  this  union,  five  of  whom  are  deceased  ; 
the  names  of  the  living  are  William  D., 
born  April  29,  1829  ;  Aratus,  born  Oct. 
20,  183.3  ;  Isaac  M.,  born  June  16,  1847, 
and  Alpheus,  born  Feb.  24,  1850 ;  Mr. 
Roberts'  children  are  all  living  within  one 
mile  of  his  present  home.  William  D. 
married  in  1850  to  Ann  Douglas  ;  she  died 
Feb.  25,  1S66,  leaving  three  children  ;  he 
married  for  his  second  wife  Cynthia  Lan- 
man ;  she  died  Dec.  27,  1878,  leaving 
four  children.  Aratus  married  in  1854  to 
Araminta  Bradfield  ;  she  died  in  1858,  leav- 
ing one  child — Charles  W.,  born  March  16, 
1857  ;  his  second  marriage  with  Auyziller 
Nelson  was  celebrated  in  1865  ;  they  have 
three  children  now  living  by  this  union — 
Alpheus,  Aratus  J.  and  Ella.  Isaac  M. 
married  Feb.  18,  1867,  to  Patience  Mary- 
mee ;  she  was  born  in  Indiana  Jan.  30, 
1844  ;  they  have  three  children  now  living, 
John    T.,    born    March    10,    1868; 


VIZ. 

Phoebe  J.,  born  Feb.  21,  1875,  and  Julia 
M.,  born  July  3,  1878.  Alpheus  married 
Amanda  Wilkin  April  4,  1872  ;  she  was 
born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.;  they  have  one  child 
—Daisy  D. 

WM.  H.  REYNOLDS,  for.;  P.  0.  Oak- 
land ;  born  in  Fairfield  Co.,  Ohio,  May  29, 
1837,  where  he  was  brought  up  on  a  farm 
until  about  18  years  of  age,  when  he  emi- 
grated to  Clark  Co.,  111.,  and  located  for 
one  year;  thence  to  Coles  Co.,  where  he 
hired  as  farm  laborer  for  two  years,  when 
he  rented  land  and  farmed  three  years. 
He  enlisted  July  25,  1861,  in  Col.  Ogles- 
by's  regiment — the  8th  I.  V.  I. — going  in 
camp  at  Cairo,  where  he  remained  about 
two  months,  during  which  time  he  was 
engaged  in  reconnoiterin^  expeditions  in 
Missouri;  he  then  joined  the  Army  of  the 
West  under  Gen.  Grant,  and  was  in  many 
severe  battles,  among  which  were  Ft.  Don- 
elson,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  siege  and  capture 
of  Vicksburg,  after  which  he  went  with 
the  army  South  to  New  Orleans,  and  went 
into  winter  quarters,  remaining  until  the 
spring  of  1865,  when  they  went  to  Mobile, 
which  place  they  captured  after  remaining 
there  two  months;  went  to  Shreveport, 
La.,  then  to  Marshall,  Tex.,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  furlough,  and  while  at  home  was 


mustered  out  of  service  by  special  order 
from  the  War  Department  April  20,  1866. 
Mr.  Reynolds  was  in  the  Union  Army 
nearly  five  years,  and  while  he  had  many 
narrow  escapes  ;  was  wounded  only  once, 
while  making  a  charge  at  Raymond, 
Miss.,  having  the  flesh  torn  from  one 
of  his  fingers.  At  the  battle  of  Shiloh, 
he  received  a  bullet  through  his  pants,  one 
through  his  blouse,  and  one  struck .  the 
stock  of  his  gun ;  his  comrades  at  either 
side  were  killed  ;  at  the  battle  of  Hollv 
Springs,  he  was  made  prisoner,  but  was 
released  by  an  attack  of  the   Union  army 

!  within  about  two  hours ;  he  first  enlisted 

j  for  three  years,  and  after  receiving  his 
discharge,  he  re-enlisted  as  veteran,  and 
served  until  1866.  After  receiving  his 
discharge,  he  returned  to  Coles  Co.,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  until  1872,  when 
went  to  Kansas  and  located  160  acres  of 
land,  upon  which  he  lived  until  1876, 
when  he  returned  to  Coles  Co.,  111.,  and 
located  upon  his  present  place,  where  he 
has  since  lived  ;  his  home  farm  contains 
162  acres,  mostly  praii'ie  land.  He  mar- 
ried in  1855  to  Mary  E.  Harvey;  she 
died  in  February,  1860  ;  he  married  for 

i  his  second  wife  Hester  Tuttle,  in  1863 ; 

!  she  died  in  1S67,  leaving  one  child — Min- 
nie  B.;  his    marriage   with    Margaret    E. 

;  Collins  was  celebrated  May  23,  1869  ;  they 
have  four  children  by  this  union,  viz., 
Maynard  Oscar,  Martha  J.,  Ida  May, 
John  W.  Mrs  Reynolds  was  born  March 
6,  1845  ;  she  was  the  daughter  of  Watson 
Collins,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Coles 

^  Co.,  and  whose  biography  appears  in  this 
work. 

I       JOHN    G.  SAILER,  farmer;    P.  0 

I  Rardin ;  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,. 
Oct.  18,  1823,  where  he  attended  school 
and  engaged  in  farming  until  21  years  of 
age,  when  he  was  drafted  in  the  2d  Regt. 
of  cavalry,  where  he  served  two  years, 
when  he  received  a  furlough,  subject  to  the 
call  of  the  King,  and,  at  the  expiration  of 
about  four  months,  war  being  declared  be- 
tween Germany  and  Denmark,  he  was 
called  into  service  and  served  during 
the  war,  which  continued  for  a  period  of 
two  years,  at  the  close  of  which,  the  Ger- 
man rebellion  breaking  out,  in  which  he 
served  until  the  same  was  subdued,  which 
was  about  twelve  months ;  he  then  engaged 
in  farming  until  1853,  when  he  emigrated 


MORGAN  TOWNSHIP. 


631 


to  America,  landing  in  New  York  Nov. 
10,  of  the  same  year;  he  then  went  to 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  worked  upon  a 
farm  for  six  months,  at  $8  per  month  ;  he 
then  went  to  Indiana,  where  he  worked  as 
farm  laborer  for  two  years,  at  $16  per 
month  ;  he  then  located  near  Charleston, 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  where  he  was  employed  by 
Jacob  P.  Decker  eight  months,  when  he 
removed  to  Morgan  Tp.  and  located  upon 
Sec.  9,  in  the  spring  of  1857,  where  he 
has  since  lived  ;  he  owns  upward  of  one 
hundred  acres,  upon  which  he  has  good 
buildings;  he  erected  his  house  in  1869. 
His  marriage  with  Melissa  Gillaspie  was 
celebrated  March  18,  1857  ;  she  was  born 
in  Clermont  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  19,  1838; 
they  have  two  children  now  living  by  this 
union,  viz.,  Rosa  C,  born  Dec.  15.  1860, 
and  Nancy  C,  born  Dec.  29,  1862  ;  Mrs. 
Sailer  was  the  oldest  daughter  of  Augustus 
Gillaspie,  her  mother  being  a  sister  of 
John  H.  and  Jacob  L.  Rardin,  whose  bi- 
ography appear  in  this  work  ;  her  parents 
were  among  the  early  pioneers  ol  Coles 
Co.,  making  the  journey  with  teams  from 
Ohio,  in  company  of  John  H.  and  Jacob 
Rardin,  and  locating  in  this  township  in 
the  fall  of  1842.  Mr.  Sailer  has  reared 
fi-om  childhood  James  E.  Archer,  who 
was  born  in  Oakland  Feb.  11,  1856  ;  his 
father  died  when  he  was  9  months  old,  and 
Mr.  Sailer  has  educated  him  and  treated 
him  as  one  of  his  own  children  since  his 
adoption. 

PETER  TAYLOR,  farmer.  Sec.  19 ;  P. 
0.  Oakland ;  born  in  Champaign  Co., 
Ohio,  April  25,  1820,  where  he  lived  until 
1853  ;  his  father,  John  Taylor,  died  when 
he  was  13  years  of  age,  and,  he  being  ^he 
oldest  son,  remained  with  his  mother  and 
managed  the  farm  until  23  years  of  age, 
at  which  time  he  rented  land  and  engaged 
in  farming  until  the  fall  of  1853,  when  he 
emigrated  to  Illinois  with  his  family  and 
located  in  what  is  now  known  as  Morgan 
Tp. ;  he  then  rented  the  A.  B.  Florer 
farm,  where  he  lived  for  twelve  years,  the 
last  few  years  of  which  he  had  power  of 
attorney  to  transact  business  in  the  name 
of  A.  B.  Florer  in  his  absence  ;  he  re- 
moved upon  his  present  place  in  1865, 
where  he  has  since  continued  to  live,  and 
where  he  owns  sixty  acres  of  land,  upon 
which  he  has  good  farm  buildings.  He 
married     Jan.     12,    1843,    to    Elizabeth 


IMoody ;  she  was  born  in  Ohio  Nov.  12, 
1817;  she  died  Dec.  18,  1860,  leaving 
five  children  now  living,  having  lost  three 
by  death ;  the  names  of  the  living  are  John 
T.,  Oliver  S.,  William  H.,  Emery  M., 
Francis  B.  His  marriage  with  Mary 
Housel  was  celebrated  Feb.  2,  1862  ;  she 
wa&  born  in  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio,  March 
4,  1829  ;  five  children  were  the  fruit  of 
this  union,  three  of  which  are  deceased ; 
the  names  of  the  living  are  Loyal  P.  and 
IraD. 

JOHN  T.  TAYLOR,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Rardin;  born  in  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio, 
Dec.  24,  1843,  where  he  lived  until  9 
years  of  age,  when  he  emigrated  with  his 
parents  to  Illinois  and  located  in  what  is 
now  known  as  Morgan  Tp.,  in  the  fall  of 
1853,  and  where  he  has  since  continued  to 
live  within  two  and  a  half  miles  of  his 
present  location  ;  he  lived  with  his  parents 
and  engaged  in  farming  until  the  spring  of 
1864,  when  he  commenced  farming  upon 
his  own  account  upon  the  place  where  he 
has  since  lived.  He  owns  in  his  own  farm 
714i  acres,  which  he  has  improved,  and 
upon  which  he  has  erected  good  buildings, 
and  98  acres  in  other  parts  of  the  county ; 
when  Mr.  Taylor  first  located  upon  his 
present  place,  there  was  upon  the  same  an 
old  log  house  and  barn,  which  were  among 
the  first  buildings  erected  in  this  township  ; 
he  erected  his  present  barn  in  1869,  and 
house  in  1873.  His  marriage  with  Mary 
Elizabeth  Ross  was  celebrated  Jan.  21, 
1864  ;  she  was  born  in  Morgan  Tp.,  HI., 
Nov.  11,  1845  ;  seven  children  are  the 
fruit  of  this  union,  two  of  which  are  de- 
ceased ;  the  names  of  the  living  are  Clar- 
inda  J.,  Margaret  E.,  Alice  A.,  Samuel 
P.  and  Martha  I. ;  the  deceased  are  John 
P.  and  Sarah  C.  Mr.  Taylor  is  a  son  of 
Peter  Taylor,  who  located  in  this  township 
in  1853,  and  who  still  lives  upon  Sec.  19, 
Morgan  Tp. ;  his  mother  died  Dec.  18, 
1860  ;  Mrs.  Taylor  is  the  only  surviving 
child  of  Samuel  and  Catherine  J.  Ross ; 
her  father  was  born  Dec.  9,  1801,  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  emigrated  from  Bourbon  Co., 
Ky.,  in  1840,  locating  in  Morgan  Tp., 
where  he  lived  until  his  decease,  which 
occurred  June  17,  1853  ;  Mrs.  Ross  was 
daughter  of  David  Morgan,  who  emigrated 
from  Indiana,  and  located  in  Morsan  Tp. 
in  1835  ;  she  was  born  Feb.  22^,  1822, 
and  died  Nov.  17,  1853. 


632 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES ; 


ANDREW  WALTON,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Oakland ;  born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Oct.  20, 
1850 ;  he  was  the  son  of  George  L.  Wal- 
ton, who  emigrated  to  Coles  Co.  in  1844, 
and  located  in  IMorgan  Tp. ;  he  died  in 
1857.  Mrs.  Walton  died  in  1870;  the 
children  are  all  deceased  with  the  exception 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  the 
only  surviving  member  of  the  family. 
After  the  decease  of  his  father  he  worked  as 
farm  laborer  until  1878,  five  years  of  which 
was  with  J.  B.  Williams,  and  four  years 
with  Watson  Collins,  feeding  stock,  etc. 
His  marriage  with  Eliza  A.  Collins 
was  celebrated  July  7,  1877  ;  she  was  born 
in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  June  29,  185G,  upon  the 
place  where  she  has  always  lived,  and 
which  is  now  her  home ;  she  was  the 
daughter  of  Watson  Collins,  of  the  early 
pioneers  of  Coles  Co.,  and  whose  biography 
appears  in  this  work. 

JOHN  WINKELBLACK,  farmer  and 
stock -raiser;  P.  0.  Charleston  ;  born  in 
Dauphin  Co.,  Penn.,  March  4,  1805, 
where  he  lived  until  15  years  of  age,  when 
he  learned  and  worked  at  the  tanner's  and 
currier's  trade  at  Harrisburg,  Penn.,  until 
1829,  at  which  date  he  emigrated  to  Ohio, 
working  at  Cleveland,  Massillon  and  Zanes- 
ville  until  February,  1830,  when  he  went 
to  Pennsylvania  and  the  following  spring 
returned  to  Zanesville,  Ohio,  where  he 
followed  his  trade  until  the  fall  of  1835  ; 
he  then  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  located 
upon  Sec.  30,  Morgan  Tp.,  where  he  now 
lives;  upon  locating  here  he  entered  160 
and  purchased  236  acres  of  land,  to  which 
he  afterward  added  until  he  held  about 
1100  acres,  which  he  had  accumulated  by 
his  own  hard  labor,  energy  and  industry  ; 
when  he  first  located  here,  wolves  were 
plenty,  and  to  obtain  quail,  prairie  chickens, 
wild  geese,  ducks,  turkeys  or  deer,  it  was 
only  necessary  to  shoot  from  your  own 
door  or  window ;  his  trips  to  mill  consumed 
from  four  to  seven  days,  the  distance  being 
fifty  miles,  either  to  Roseville  or  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.;  although  now  in  his  75th 
year,  he  is  in  possession  of  all  his  faculties, 
and  daily  attends  to  his  stock,  of  which  he 
has  70  head  of  cattle,  16  horses  and  60 
hogs.  He  married,  March  4,  1841,  to 
Catharine  Weaver ;  she  was  born  in  York 
Co.,  Penn..  Oct.  23,  1822  ;  she  died  Jan. 
23,  1866,  leaving  twelve  children,  viz.: 
William  H.,  Milton  C,  Robert  A.,  Mason 


F.,  Nancy  J.,  Thomas  T.,  Mary  E.,  John, 
Victoria  S.,  Daniel,  Susannah,  Jacob  11. 
Mr.  Winkelblack  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in 
the  cause  of  education,  having  been  School 
Trustee  and  Director,  the  latter  office  which, 
he  now  holds,  he  has  held  many  years. 

JOHN  WOODFALL  deceased,  farmer. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  England  about  the  year  1807;  he  emi- 
grated to  xVmerica  while  quite  a  young 
man  and  located  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  where 
he  worked  in  a  foundry  and  machine  shop 
for  about  fifteen  years,  when  he  located  in 
Morgan  Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  111.,  in  January, 
1857,  when  he  purchased  200  acres  of  land 
in  Sec.  31,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  June  14, 
stantly  killed  by  lightnin 


corn,  leaving  a  widow  and 

His  marriage 

brated 


in 


1857,  being  in- 
while  planting 
seven  children, 
with  Jane  Stinson  was  cele- 
in  the  fall  of  1842  ;  she  was  born 
Scotland  and  emigrated  to  America 
with  her  parents  when  quite  young.  They 
had  eight  children  by  this  union,  viz., 
Margaret  J.,  born  Oct.  24.  1844  ;  Richard, 
born  April  12,  1848;  Hannah,  born 
March  10,  1849 — died  in  the  spring  of 
1860;  Charles,  born  Feb.  6,  1851  ;  James, 
born  Feb.  29,  1852;  John  W.,  born  Feb. 
5,  1854;  Theodore,  born  May  19,  1857  ; 
Alice  D.  B.,  born  May  23,  1861. 

WM.  E.  WORSHAM,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Oakland;  born  in  Kosciusko  Co.,  Ind., 
Feb.  19,  1850;  here  he  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  until  15  years  of  age,  when 
he  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Coles  Co., 
111.,  Feb.  7,  1865;  here  his  flither,  Will- 
iam Worsham,  died  May  12,  1877,  and  his 
mother  died  Jan.  19,  1879.  Upon  locat- 
ing here,  Mr.  W.  assisted  his  father  in 
farming  until  19  years  of  age,  when  he 
engaged  in  school-teaching  during  the  fall 
and  winter,  and  following  farming  in  sum- 
mer until  1873,  when  he  located  upon  his 
present  place,  which  contains  150  acres  of 
prairie  and  timber  land,  and  was  one  of 
the  first  places  settled  upon  and  improved 
in  Morgan  Tp.  His  marriage  with  Mar- 
tha V.  Collins  was  celebrated  Dec.  13, 
1873;  she  was  born  in  Morgan  Tp.,  Coles 
Co.,  Oct.  26,  1850.  They  have  one  child 
by  this  union — William  Watson  Worsham, 
born  Jan.  4,  1875.  Mrs.  Worsham  is  a 
daughter  of  Watson  Collins,  of  the  early 
pioneers,  and  whose  biography  appears  in 
this  work. 


HUMBOLT   TOWNSHIP. 


633 


HUMBOLT    TOWNSHIP. 


RICHARD  AVEY,  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer  ;  P.  0.  Areola ;  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Suffolk  Co.,  Eng.,  Aug. 
19, 1837.  He  married  Miss  Celia  Oakland 
May  31,  1858  ;  she  was  born  in  Norway, 
Feb.  7,  1841  ;  they  had  eight  children — 
seven  living,  viz.,  Mary  J.,  William  T., 
John  L.,  Maud  I.,  Richard  G.  N.,  Mar- 
tha C.  and  Os(?ar  L.  ;  Leander  R.  died 
Sept.  25,  1866  ;  he  lived  in  England  about 
eighteen  years,  when  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  and  settled  in  LaSalle  Co.,  111., 
where  he  lived  about  two  years ;  he  then 
came  to  Coles  Co;  this  was  in  1857;  he 
settled  on  his  present  place  and  has  lived 
here  since.  He  has  held  the  office  of  Com- 
missioner of  Highways  two  terms,  and 
School  Director  some  nine  years,  also  Town 
Collector  and  Treasurer  of  Commissioners 
of  Highways.  He  owns  125  acres  in  this 
township,  which  he  has  earned  by  his  own 
labor  and  management ;  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Episcopal  Church,  and  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  same  all  his  life. 

JAMES  M.  BE  ALE,  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer  ;  P.  0.  Areola ;  was  born  in  Mason 
Co.,  W.  Va.,  Jan.  1,  1825.  He  married 
Miss  Jane  R.  Wylie  in  the  fall  of  1852  ; 
she  was  born  in  Brooke  Co.,  W.  Va. ;  they 
had  six  children — three  living,  viz.,  Ida 
M.,  J.  Edwin  and  Florence;  he  lived  in 
West  Virginia  until  1826,  when,  with  his 
parents,  he  went  to  Kentucky,  where  he 
lived  until  1833,  when  he  went  to  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  lived  until  1857,  when  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  his  farm  in 
Humbolt  Tp.,  in  Coles  Co.,  where  he  lived 
until  1870,  when  he  moved  to  the  village 
of  Humbolt  and  lived  there  until  1876, 
when  he  moved  to  Areola ;  and,  though 
his  residence  is  in  Areola,  he  spends  the 
most  of  his  time  on  his  farm  in  Humbolt. 
He  is  no  office-seeker,  and  has  taken  no 
part  in  township  affairs,  except  connected 
with  the  schools.  He  owns  280  acres  in 
Humbolt  Tp.,  which  he  has  earned  by  his 
own  labor  and  management ;  his  parents, 
Richard  and  Hannah  Willson  Beale,  were 
natives  of  Virginia  ;  she  died  in  Kentucky, 
and  he  died  in  Natchez,  Miss. 

JOHN  W.  BEAVERS,  deceased  ;  was 
born  in  Hampshire  Co.,  Va.,Sept.  3,  1814; 
he   married  Miss  Mary  A.  Madden  Sept. 


10,  1840  ;  she  was  born  in  Hampshire  Co., 
Va.,  March  26,  1819;  they  had  seven 
children,  six  living — Samuel  M.,  John  B., 
Richard  R.,  George  W.,  Marcellus  S.  and 
Mary  E.  He  lived  in  Virginia  until  1854, 
when  he  moved  to  Illinois,  and  settled 
about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  west  of  the 
present  village  of  Humbolt;  in  1856,  he 
moved  to  Iowa,  and  in  1857  he  came  to 
the  present  place ;  he  was  one  of  the  first 
Road  Commissioners  in  this  township 
under  organization ;  he  also  held  the 
office  of  Supervisor  for  a  number  of  years  ; 
he  lived  on  the  present  place  until  his 
death,  April  14,  1875.  Mrs.  Beavers  and 
family  all  live  here  on  the  old  homestead. 
All  the  children  are  single  except  Marcel- 
lus S.,  who  married  MissSallie  A.  Nichol- 
son, of  Humbolt  Tp.,  Feb.  23,  1879. 

BROWN  BROS.,  RICHARD  AND 
DANIEL,  farming,  stock  and  road  grad- 
ing and  ditching ;  P.  0.  Humbolt ;  are  na- 
tives of  Nelson  and  Hardin  Cos.,  Ky. ;  they 
were  born  Dec.  22,  1826,  and  July  22, 
1832,  respectively.  They  were  born  on 
the  farm,  and  have  always  followed  farm- 
ing; they  lived  in  Kentucky  until  the  fall 
of  1854,  when  they  came  to  Illinois,  and 
settled  about  ten  miles  south  of  Charleston, 
where  they  lived  about  three  months  ;  they 
then  moved  on  the  Springfield  road,  in 
Douglas  Co.,  where  they  lived  one  year, 
when,  in  1856,  they  came  to  the  present 
place,  and  have  lived  here  since.  With  the 
exception  of  a  term  as  Assessor  by  Rich- 
ard, they  have  held  no  office,  except  con- 
nected with  the  school  and  road.  Richard 
Brown  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Morrison, 
of  Kentucky,  Sept.  23,  1852  ;  she  died 
Nov.  7,  1860.  They  had  five  children, 
two  living,  viz..  Sally  Ann  and  Mary  Jane. 
His  present  wife  was  Mrs.  O'Bannon, 
formerly  Miss  Elizabeth  Ann  Bridwell ; 
they  were  married  Feb.  16,  1862  ;  they 
have  two  children,  viz.,  Ida  B.  and  Rich- 
ard Alonzo.  He  owns  over  200  acres  in 
this  township,  which  he  has  earned  by  his 
own  labor  and  mana2;ement.  Daniel  Brown 
married  Miss  Mary  Morrison,  of  Ken- 
tucky, Dec.  3,  1853.  They  had  seven 
children,  five  living,  viz.,  John  P.,  Will- 
iam A.,  Susan  T.,  James  H.  and  Alburtis 
R.     He  owns  over  200  acres  in  this  town- 


634 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


ship,  which  ho  has  earned  by  his  own  labor 
and  management.  Brown  Bros.,  Hum- 
bolt,  111.  ;  all  kinds  of  grading  and  ditch- 
ing done ;  estimates  furnished. 

D.  A.  BOWMAN,  blacksmith  and  gen- 
eral jobber;  P.  0.  Hurabolt,  111.;  was  born 
in  Perry  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  5,  1845.  He 
married  Miss  Sarah  McCravy  Oct.  1,  1867  ; 
she  was  born  in  East  Tennessee  ;  they  had 
three  children,  two  living,  viz.,  Charles  A. 
and  Lydia  L.  He  lived  in  Ohio  three 
years,  when,  with  his  parents,  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  near  Robinson;  in 
1860,  he  began  to  learn  his  trade  with  T. 
J.  Sims,  plow-manufacturer  at  that  place. 
In  1864,  he  enlisted  in  the  135th  111.  Regt., 
he  being  Regimental  Fifer  ;  was  discharged 
in  November  following,  and  began  work  at 
his  trade  with  Mr.  Stifle,  of  Stiflesville  ; 
next  worked  at  Oblong  City  with  Mr. 
Zugler  ;  next  with  Mr.  Sentney,  in  Hum- 
bolt  ;  then  with  Miller  &  Miller,  of  Mat- 
toon,  and,  in  August,  1866,  he  began  work 
in  Areola  for  Mr.  Jacobs,  and,  in  June, 
1867,  he  worked  in  Humbolt  for  Mr. 
Sentney,  and,  in  October,  after  his  mar- 
riage, he  went  in  partnership  with  Mr. 
Jacobs,  of  Areola  ;  in  1868,  he  worked 
for  Mr.  Garrett,  in  Windsor,  and,  in  1869, 
he  opened  a  shop  of  his  own  in  Areola ; 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  came  to 
Humbolt  and  carried  on  wagon  and  car- 
riage making  and  blacksmithing  ;  in  1874, 
he  sold  his  wagon  business  and  rented  out 
his  blacksmith- shop  and  took  a  position  at 
Homer  in  the  carriage  factory  of  Mr.  Cu- 
sick;  in  1875,  he  returned  to  Humbolt  and 
resumed  business  in  his  former  stand,  and, 
as  will  be  seen,  his  nineteen  years'  experi- 
ence has  been  such  as  to  specially  adapt 
him  to  his  specialties  of  horse-shoeing  and 
plow-work. 

S.  C.  DORAN,  farming  and  stock ;  P. 
0.  Mattoon ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Grayson  Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  12, 
1827.  He  married  Miss  Eliza  A.  Wort- 
ham  Nov.  5,  1850;  she  was  born  in  the 
same  place  Nov.  18,  1830;  they  had  ten 
children,  seven  living,  viz.,  David  W., 
Mary  L.,  Edwin  W.,  George  M.,  Nannie 
A.,  Oscar  J.  and  John  H.  He  was  born 
on  his  father's  farm,  and  moved  to  Hart 
Co.,  Ky.,  with  his  parents,  in  1832,  and 
lived  there  until  1854;  he  then  went  to 
Grayson  Co.,  and  engaged  in  farming  ;  in 
1860,  he  came   to  Illinois  and    settled  on 


his  present  place.  He  has  held  no  office 
except  connected  with  the  road  and  school ; 
he  is  now  serving  in  his  second  term  as 
Commissioner  of  Highways.  He  owns  120 
acres  in  this  township,  upon  which,  in 
1878,  he  established  a  station  on  the  Illi- 
nois Central  R.  R. — which  passes  through 
his  farm — which  is  known  as  Doran's 
Crossing.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterians  since  1850. 
His  parents,  Thomas  and  Mary  Cleaver 
Doran,  were  natives  of  Nelson  and  Wash- 
ington Cos.,  Ky.;  they  died  in  1853  and 
1854,  respectively,  in  Kentucky. 

JAMES  EDGAR,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser ;  P.  0.  Humbolt ;  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Suffolk  Co.,  England, 
March  21,  1838.  He  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet Hilligoss  May  8,  1862  ;  she  was  born 
in  Rush  Co.,  Ind.,  Sept.  15,  1845  ;  they 
had  seven  children,  five  living,  viz.,  John 
P..  William  T.,  Ora  May,  James  Rue  and 
Leroy.  He  lived  in  England  fifteen  years  ; 
he  then  moved  to  Scotland,  where  he  lived 
two  years  and  returned  to  England ;  re- 
mained there  until  he  was  19,  when  he 
came  to  the  United  States,  arriving  at 
Chicago,  and,  in  1857,  he  came  to  Coles 
Co.,  and  settled  near  his  present  place  ;  in 
1858,  he  came  to  his  present  place  and  has 
lived  here  since.  He  has  held  the  office 
of  Collector,  Town  Clerk  and  has  been 
School  Director  some  nine  or  ten  years. 
He  owns  120  acres  in  this  township,  which 
he  has  earned  by  his  own  labor  and  man- 
agement. 

JACOB  ERNST,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Humbolt;  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany, 
March  30,  1839.  He  married  Miss  Julia 
Anna  Joose  Aug.  16,  1861  ;  she  was  born 
in  Baden,  Germany,  June  20,  1844  ;  they 
had  nine  children,  eight  living,  viz.,  George 
A.,  John  M.,  Flora  May,  Mary  A.,  Harry 
D.,  Willis  E.,  Clarence  and  Jacob  E.; 
Charlie  died  June  4,  1866.  He  lived  in 
Germany  about  fifteen  years,  when  he 
came  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in 
Meadville,  Penn.,  where  he  lived  until 
1855  ;  he  then  moved  to  Owen  Co.,  Ind.  ; 
thence  to  Hendricks  Co.,  and,  in  1857,  he 
came  to  Coles  Co.,  111.;  he  had  visited  here 
in  1856  ;  in  March,  1867,  he  came  to  his 
present  place,  and  has  lived  here  since. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  School  Director 
several  terms,  and  is   at  present  Commis- 


HUMBOLT  TOWNSHIP. 


63& 


sioner  of  Highways  in  this  township  ;  he 
owns  159  acres  in  this  township,  which  he 
has  earned  by  his  own  labor  and  manage- 
ment. 

J.  W.  FARRAR,  farmer  and  stock  ; 
P.  0.  Mattoon ;  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  near 
Charleston,  March  4,  1827.  He  married 
Miss  Ann  M.  Talbot  Oct.  12,  1851  ;  she 
was  born  in  Henderson  Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  9, 
1832  ;  they  had  eight  children,  two  living, 
viz.,  Joseph  F.  and  Lizzie  A.  He  lived 
about  eighteen  months  in  South  Carolina, 
when,  with  his  parents,  he  moved  to  Perry 
Co.,  Mo.,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
warehouse  and  wood  business;  he  lived 
here  with  his  parents  about  six  months, 
when,  with  his  grandparents,  he  went  to 
Illinois  and  settled  at  Lebanon,  in  St. 
Clair  Co.,  where  he  lived  until  he  was  8 
years  of  age ;  while  here  his  grandfather 
died,  and  his  grandmother  and  he  went  to 
Mount  Vernon,  Ind.,  where  they  lived  with 
her  son ;  he  lived  here  three  years ;  he 
then  went  to  New  Harmony  and  engaged 
on  a  farm,  where  he  worked  two  years; 
he  then  went  to  Stewartsville  and  appren- 
ticed to  the  tanning  business,  remaining 
three  and  a  half  years ;  he  then  returned 
to  Perry  Co.,  Mo.,  and  engaged  in  tan- 
ning, following  his  trade  some  four  years  ; 
he  then  engaged  in  shipping  fowls  to  New 
Orleans,  and  followed  the  business  about 
four  years  ;  he  then  followed  his  trade  for 
about  four  years  ;  he  then  went  to  Posey 
Co.,  Ind.,  and  engaged  in  farming,  remain- 
ing until  1861,  when  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  settled  in  Coles  Co.,  about  four  miles 
east  of  his  present  place,  and  in  1864  he 
came  to  his  present  place  and  has  lived 
here  since.  He  has  held  the  office  of  Road 
Commissioner  three  years,  that  of  School 
Trustee  some  four  years — also  Director  for 
a  number  of  years.  He  owns  310  acres 
of  land  in  this  county,  which  he  has  earned 
by  his  own  labor  and  management.  • 

WM.  B.  HAWKINS,  retired  farmer  ; 
P.  0.  Humbolt ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  town- 
ship ;  he  was  born  in  Boone  Co.,  Ky.,  July 
31,  1H21.  He  married  Miss  Abigail  Mor- 
gan Feb.  20,  1843;  she  was  born  in  Ohio, 
and  died  Oct.  8,  1846  ;  they  had  two  chil- 
dren, viz.,  Francis  M.  and  Louisa  A.  ;  his 
present  wife  was  Miss  Nancy  Danner;  they 
were  married  Oct.  4,  1848  ;  she  was  born 


in  Rush  Co.,  Ind.,  Oct.  11, 1823 ;  he  lived 
about  two  and  a  half  years  in  Kentucky, 
when,  with  his  parents,  he  moved  to  Rush 
Co.,  Ind.,  where  they  engaged  in  farming  ; 
he  lived  there  until  1840  ;  he  then  came 
to  Illinois  and  engaged  by  the  month  on  a 
farm  on  the  Okaw,  now  in  Coles  Co.  ;  he 
lived  there  about  eighteen  months,  then 
went  to  Indiana,  and  lived  there  until 
1850,  when  he  again  came  to  Coles  Co. 
and  settled  in  Humbolt  Tp.,  about  one 
mile  from  the  present  village  of  Humbolt ; 
at  this  time  there  were  less  than  one  dozen 
settlers  in  this  township  ;  he  lived  on  his 
farm  until  1865,  then  here  to  the  village ; 
he  was  the  first  Township  Collector  in  this 
township  and  served  in  offices  connected 
with  the  school  and  road  ;  though  he  yet 
retains  the  old  homestead,  he  takes  no  act- 
ive part  in  its  management ;  in  1866,  he 
engaged  in  the  drug  business  in  this  vil- 
lage, and  continued  the  business  until 
1874,  since  which  time  he  has  been  living 
retired. 

REV.  R.  C.  HILL,  farming  and  stock  ; 
P.  0.  Charleston  ;  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Sullivan  Co.,  Ind., 
Dec.  11,  1817.  He  married  Miss  Mary 
A.  Woods  Dec.  10,  1839  ;  she  was  borU' 
in  Sullivan  Co.,  Ind.,  May  23,  1817;  they 
had  six  children,  four  living,  viz.,  Frank- 
lin P.,  John  W.,  Martha  J.  and  Elizabeth 
M.  ;  he  lived  in  Indiana  twelve  years, 
when,  with  his  parents,  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  settled  in  Clark  Co.,  where  they  en- 
gaged in  farming;  in  1846,  he  came  to 
Coles  Co.  and  settled  in  La  Fayette  Tp.,  re- 
maining one  year ;  he  then  went  to 
Charleston  Tp.,  where  he  lived  about 
eighteen  months,  when  he  again  went  to 
La  Fayette  Tp.,  and,  in  1853,  he  came  to 
his  present  place,  and  has  lived  here  since, 
except  two  and  a  half  years  in  Charleston  ; 
he  has  been  connected  with  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church  for  forty-seven 
years,  and  has  been  preaching  since ; 
licensed  32  years  ago  ;  he  owns  160  acres  in 
this  county,  which  he  has  earned  entirely 
by  his  own  labor  and  management ;  his 
parents,  Rev.  Isaac  and  Margaret  Cun- 
ningham Hill,  were  natives  of  Kentucky 
and  Pennsylvania ;  they  were  married  in 
Kentucky  ;  he  died  in  Clark  Co.,  111.,  and 
she  died  here  in  Coles  Co.  ;  they  had 
thirteen  children,  eight  boys  and  five  girls  ; 
four  of  the  boys   studied    medicine,    two 


636 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  : 


engaged  in  the  grocery  and  pork  trade  and 
another  engaged  as  a  traveling  salesman  ; 
Mr.  F.  P.  Hill,  eldest  son  of  Rev.  R.  C. 
Hilll,  enlisted,  in  1862,  in  the  123d  111. 
V.  I.,  which  was  mounted  after  four 
months'  service  ;  he  remained  in  the  ser- 
vice until  the  close  of  the  war ;  he  took 
part  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga,  Selma, 
Atlanta,  and  the  other  battles  of  the  regi- 
ment. 

JAMES  HOOD,  farming  and  stock; 
P.  0.  Areola  ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  West  Union,  Adams  Co., 
Ohio,  Oct.  29,  1834.  He  married  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Willson  Jan.  1,  1861  ;  she  was 
born  in  Adams  Co.,  Ohio  ;  they  have  sev- 
en children,  viz.,  John  E.,  Mary  S.,  Sarah 
B.,  James  W.,  Annie  E.,  Robert  B.  and 
Clara  Dell.  His  father  was  engaged  in 
general  merchandise,  and  he  assisted  in 
the  business  until  he  was  about  26  years 
of  age ;  he  then  came  West  and  herded 
cattle  in  this  neighborhood  for  one  year ; 
he  then  went  back  to  Ohio  and  engaged 
in  the  milling  business,  renting  his  father's 
grist-mill ;  he  followed  the  business  one 
year ;  he  then  came  West  and  improved  a 
farm  in  this  township,  remaining  here  one 
year ;  he  again  went  back  to  Ohio,  and 
engaged  as  assistant  manager  of  the  Etna 
Furnace,  at  Ironton,  Ohio,  and  followed 
the  business  three  years,  when  for  the 
third  time  he  came  West,  and  finished  the 
improvements  on  his  farm,  and  lived  there 
until  1877,  when  he  came  to  his  present 
place.  He  is  no  office-seeker,  and  has 
held  no  office  except  connected  with  the 
schools.  He  owns  500  acres  in  this 
county. 

JOHN  JARVIS,  farming  and  stock ; 
P.  0.  Areola  ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  25, 
1809 ;  he  married  Miss  Polly  Ray,  Jan. 
22,  1830  ;  she  was  born,  same  place,  Aug. 
9,  1802  ;  they  had  eight  children,  two 
living,  viz.,  Robert  and  William.  He 
lived  in  Kentucky  until  1830,  when  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Edgar  Co., 
near  Paris,  where  he  lived  three  years  ;  he 
then  moved  to  Kentucky,  where  he  lived 
eleven  years ;  he  then  moved  again  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Edgar  Co.,  about 
fourteen  miles  west  of  Paris;  ho  lived  there 
about  nine  years  ;  he  then  moved  to 
Coles  Co.  and  settled  on  the  Embarrass ; 
while  here  his  wife  died ;  he  then  married 


^Irs.  Rodman  (formerly  Miss  Rachel 
Flora)  ;  she  was  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
In  1865,  they  moved  to  the  present  place ; 
in  March,  1868,  he  lost  his  second  wife; 
they  had  no  children.  June  16,  1868, 
he  married  Miss  Mary  Hedges ;  she  was 
born  in  Fountain  Co.,  Ind.,  iNov.  3, 1848  ; 
they  have  three  children,  viz.,  James  E., 
Melissa  C.  and  Loyal.  He  is  no  office- 
seeker,  having  all  he  can  do  to  attend  his 
private  business.  In  1874,  he  moved  to 
Nebraska  and  lived  there  three  years,  when 
he  returned  to  his  present  place ;  he  owns 
287  acres  in  this  county  and  240  in 
Nebraska,  which  he  has  earned  by  his  own 
labor  and  management. 

JOHN  JOHNSON,  farming  and  stock  ; 
P.  0.  Humbolt  ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  County  Fermana,  Ireland, 
1838  ;  he  married  Miss  Martha  E.  Smith 
Jan.  22,  1868 ;  she  was  born  in  North 
Okaw  Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  111.,  April  3,  1843  ; 
they  have  four  children,  viz.,  William, 
Allie,  John  and  Walter.  He  lived  in  Ire- 
land until  1850,  when,  with  his  parents, 
he  camed  to  the  United  States  and  settled 
in  Moultrie  Co.,  111.,  where  they  engaged 
in  farming;  he  lived  there  until  1868, 
though,  with  his  brothers,  he  helped  carry 
on  a  farm  in  North  Okaw  Tp.  since  1856 ; 
in  1868,  he  moved  to  the  same,  and  in  1877 
he  came  to  his  present  place.  He  is  no 
office-seeker,  and  has  held  no  office  except 
connected  with  the  schools ;  he  is  in  part- 
nership with  his  brothers,  William,  James 
and  Frederick ;  they  own  1441  acres  in 
this  county,  and  are  the  largest  stock 
raisers  in  this  part  of  the  county.  His 
parents,  John  and  Ann  Bell  Johnson, 
were  natives  of  Fermana  Co.,  Ireland, 
where  they  were  married ;  in  1850,  they 
came  to  the  United  States. 

C APT.  DAVID  McKINNEY,  farmer ; 
P.  0.  Areola ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  March  22, 
1837.  He  married  Miss  Catharine  Rork 
Jan.  25,  1866  ;  she  was  born  same  place; 
they  have  six  children,  viz.,  Ida  May, 
Oron  W.,  Charles  N.,  Jessie,  Otto  and 
Ruey  ;  he  lived  in  Ohio  until  he  was  21, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in 
Coles,  now  Douglas  Co.,  near  Areola;  in 
December,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  54th 
I.  Y.  I.,  he  being  Orderly  of  Co.  I,  and 
after  seven  months'  service  he  was  made 
Second  Lieutenant,  and  after  serving  one 


HUMBOLT  TOWNSHIP. 


637 


year  in  this  office,  he  was  elected  and  pro-- 
uioted  to  Captain  of  Co.  I ;  he  was  in  the 
service  four  years,  or  during  the  war,  and 
was  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Vicksburg, 
Helena,  Little  Rock,  Ashley  Station,  where 
he  was  taken  prisoner  and  was  paroled  after 
nineteen  days'  -captivity ;  then  being  ex- 
changed, he  resumed  his  command  and 
took  part  in  the  other  battles  of  the  regi- 
ment. After  returning  from  the  army,  he 
came  to  Areola  and  lived  there  until  1871  ; 
he  then  came  to  his  present  place  and  has 
lived  here  since ;  he  has  held  the  office  of 
Highway  Commissioner  and  School  Di- 
rector, and  is  at  present  School  Trustee  ; 
he  owns  120  acres  in  this  township,  which 
he  has  earned  by  his  own  labor  and  man- 
agement. 

JOHN  McBRIDE,  farming  and  stock; 
P.  0.  Areola ;  was  born  in  Somerset  Co., 
N.  J.,  Jan.  10,  1840.  He  married  Miss 
Annie  P.  Koymer  Dec.  1,  1864;  she  was 
born  same  place,  Dec.  1, 1847  ;  they  have 
one  child,  viz.,  Minnie.  He  lived  in  New 
Jersey  until  he  was  24  years  old,  when  on 
being  married  he  came  to  Illinois  and  set- 
tled in  North  Okaw  Tp.,  of  Coles  Co.;  in 
1867,  he  moved  to  this  township  and  set- 
tled near  his  present  place,  to  which  he 
came  in  1874  ;  he  has  been  Collector  in 
this  township  one  term  ;  he  owns  eighty 
acres  in  this  township,  which  he  has  earned 
by  his  own  labor  and  management.  His 
parents,  Robert  and  Mary  Whitehead 
Mc  Bride,  were  natives  of  New  Jersey  and 
England  ;  he  died  in  New  Jersey,  and  she 
died  in  this  county  while  on  a  visit. 

GEORGE  MOORE,  farming  and  stock  ; 
P.'  0.  Humbolt ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Adams  Co.,  Ohio,  June  17, 
1828.  He  married  Miss  Rebecca  Ann 
McKee  Jan.  30,  1851 ;  she  was  born  in 
Adams  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct:  20, 1833  ;  they  had 
-eight  children,  seven  living,  viz.,  Joseph 
N.,  Jennie.  John  C.,  George  W.,  Oscar  F., 
Stanley  B.  and  Jessie  ;  he  was  born  on  his 
father's  farm  and  lived  there  until  he  was 
26  years  of  age,  when  he  was  elected 
Treasurer  of  Adams  Co.,  Ohio,  and  moved 
to  West  Union,  the  county  seat ;  he  served 
in  this  position  four  years,  when  he  en- 
gaged in  the  general  merchandise  business 
at  same  place,  continuing  the  business  for 
six  years,  when,  in  1864,  he  sold  out  his 
business  and  came  to  his  present  place,  and 
has  lived  here  since  ;  though  not   one  of 


the  early  settlers,  he  has  had  an  active  in- 
terest in  the  affairs  of  the  county  ;  in  1868, 
he  served  as  Collector,  and,  in  1871,  he 
was  elected  Supervisor  of  Humbolt  Tp.; 
the  latter  office 'he  resigned  the  fall  follow- 
ing his  election,  he  being  elected  Treasurer 
of  Coles  Co.,  in  which  office  he  served 
two  years,  and  in  1874  he  was  elected 
Sheriff  of  the  county,  serving  two  years. 
He  owns  320  acres  in  this  county,  which 
he  has  earned  by  his  own  labor  and  man- 
agement, and  has  the  satisfaction  to  know 
that  he  has  so  hved  as  not  only  to  win  but 
also  to  deserve  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  all  who  know  him. 

JOHN  MOORE,  firming  and  stock  ; 
P.  0.  Humbolt ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Adams  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  22, 
1830.  He  married  Miss  Eliza  J.  Grooms, 
July  11,  1852;  she  was  born  in  Adams 
Co.,  Ohio,  June  18,  1834.  They  had 
eleven  children,  eight  living,  viz.,  Alfred 
F.,  Almira  F.,  Newton  B.,  S.  A.  Douglas, 
Ella  R.,  Ludora  J.,  Ida  I.  and  John  E. 
He  was  born  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
lived  therefor  twenty-seven  years;  he  then 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Coles  Co., 
on  his  present  place  ;  this  was  in  1857, 
and  has  lived  here  since  ;  he  has  always 
been  engaged  as  a  farmer  ;  he  has  held  the 
school  offices,  and  has  held  the  office  of 
of  Supervisor  of  Humbolt  Tp.  one 
term.  He  owns  909  acres  of  land  in  this 
county' — principally  in  this  township — 
which  he  has  earned  entirely  by  his  own 
labor  and  management.  His  parents, 
Newton  and  Rebecca  Burkitt  Moore,  were 
natives  of  Ohio,  and  were  both  born  and 
raised  on  the  farm  they  now  reside  on 
(the  present  farm  formerly  being  two). 
Both  are  now  living  on  the  old  homestead. 

H.  D.  MOORE,  farming  and  stock  ;  P. 

0.  Mattoon;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  Adams  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  14,  1840. 
He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Bayliss 
October,  1861 ;  she  was  born  in  the  same 
place,  and  died  in  the  fall  of  1865.  His 
present  wife  was  Miss  Sarah  M.  Thomas ; 
they  were  married  in  April,  1867  ;  she  was 
born  in  Adams  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  15,  1846. 
They  have  eight  children,  viz.,  Minnie  A., 
Florence  A.,  Cora  B.,  Eliza  M.,  Laura  R., 
Emmie,  Alfred  N.  and  Charles  B.  He 
lived  in  Ohio  twenty-one  years,  and  then, 
in  1861,  he  enlisted  in   the  70th  Ohio  V. 

1.  ;  was  in  the  service  three  years,  and  was 


638 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES : 


in  the  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Vicks- 
burg,  Missionary  Eidge,  Atlanta  campaign, 
etc.,  etc.  From  the  army  he  returned  to 
his  home  in  Ohio,  and  remaining  there 
about  one  month,  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  on  his  present  place,  and  has  lived 
here  since.  He  owns  240  acres  in  this 
township,  which  he  has  earned  by  his  own 
iabor  and  management. 

WILLIAM  A.  POOKMAN,  forming 
and  stock  ;  P.  0.  Humbolt,  111.;  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Humbolt 
Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  Ill,  March  7,  1842.  He 
married  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Wamsley  April 
9,  1866;  she  was  born  in  Adams  Co., 
Ohio;  they  have  four  children,  viz.,  Cur- 
tis E.,  Oscar  R.,  Sarah  E.  and  Edward  F. 
He  was  born  on  his  father's  farm,  probably 
the  second  child  born  in  this  township  ;  he 
lived  at  home  with  his  parents  until  1866, 
when,  on  being  married,  he  engaged  in 
farming  on  his  own  account,  working  part 
of  his  father's  farm  ;  in  1868,  he  came  to 
his  present  place,  and  has  lived  here  since. 
In  1864,  he  enlisted  in  the  143d  Regt. 
I.  V.  I.,  but,  owing  to  sickness,  did  not  go 
out  with  the  regiment.  He  has  held  the 
office  of  Town  Clerk,  and  has  been  School 
Director  a  number  of  years.  He  owns 
160  acres  of  land  in  this  township,  which 
he  has  earned  by  his  own  labor  and  man- 
agement. 

JAMES  SHOEMAKER,  farming  and 
stock ;  P.  0.  Loxa ;  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Va., 
Feb.  19,  1825.  He  married  Miss  Tabi- 
tha  Mason  Sept.  3,  1863  ;  she  was  born  in 
Fayette  Co.,  Ky.,  Aug.  30,  1840;  they 
had  seven  children,  four  living,  viz.,  Mary 
E.,  William  K.,  James  S.  and  Franklin 
R.  He  lived  in  Virginia  nearly  ten  years, 
when,  with  his  parents,  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  settled  in  Coles  Co.,  one  mile  north  of 
Charleston  ;  this  was  in  December,  1834  ; 
they  lived  there  four  years,  then  moved  to 
La  Fayette  Township,  on  the  Springfield 
road,  five  miles  west  of  Charleston  ;  while 
there,  his  father  died;  in  1850,  he  came 
to  his  present  place,  he  being  the  first  set- 
tler in  this  part  of  the  township.  In 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  123d  I.  V.  I., 
which,  after  four  months'  service,  was 
mounted  ;  he  held  the  position  of  First 
Lieutenant ;  he  remained  in  the  service 
nearly  one  year,  and  teok  part  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Perry  ville  and  Milton,  and  also  the 


minor  engagements  of  the  regiment.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  Assessor  two  years, 
and  was  Supervisor  of  Humbolt  Tp.  for 
the  years  1865  and  1866.  He  owns  382 
acres  in  this  county,  which  he  has  earned 
by  his  own  labor  and  management.  His 
parents,  John  and  Annie  Brown  Shoe- 
maker, were  natives  of  North  Carolina, 
where  they  were  married  ;  both  died  in 
this  county,  he  in  1843,  and  she  in  1856. 

JOHN  W.  SEAMAN,  farming  and 
stock  ;  P.  0.  Humbolt ;  was  born  in  Adams 
Co.,  Ohio,  May  28,  1837.  He  married 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Ellison  Feb.  15,1859; 
she  was  born  in  the  same  place  Sept.  1, 
1840  ;  they  have  ten  children,  viz.,  Emma 
J.,  James  H.,  FrankUn  A.,  Fred  J., 
Charlie,  Harry,  Lizzie  S.,  Thomas  E., 
Wm.  E.  and  Maggie.  He  lived  in  Ohio 
until  1862  ;  he  was  born  on  the  farm  and 
has  always  followed  farming;  in  1862,  he 
came  to  lUinois  and  settled  in  North  Okaw 
Tp.,  where  he  lived  three  years ;  he  then 
moved  to  Humbolt  Tp.,  and  leased  the 
Blue  Grass  Grove  farm,  and,  in  1869,  he 
came  to  his  present  place  and  has  lived 
here  since.  He  owns  360  acres  in  this 
township,  which  he  has  earned  entirely  by 
his  own  labor  and  management  and  prin- 
cipally during  the  short  time  he  has  lived 
in  this  township. 

RICHARD  THOMAS,  farming;  P.  0. 
Mattoon  ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  Carnarvonshire,  North  Wales, 
Great  Britain,  Dec.  18,  1832.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  L.  Worden  Dec.  12, 1853 ; 
she  was  born  in  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn., 
March  13,  1836  ;  they  had  seven  children, 
five  living,  viz.,  Robert  A.,  Laura  A., 
Annie  May,  Mary  Alice  and  Lizzie.  He 
lived  in  Wales  about  fifteen  years,  when 
he  came  to  the  United  States  with  some 
relatives  and  settled  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  he  engaged  in  farming,  remaining 
about  three  years,  when  he  moved  to  Fair- 
field Co.,  Conn.,  where  he  worked  on  a 
farm  and  followed  teaming  one  year;  he 
then  worked  in  the  rolling-mill  one  year, 
and  then  engaged  in  boating — first  run- 
ning packet  from  Greenwich  to  New  York, 
then  in  freighting,  following  the  business 
about  four  years  ;  he  then,  in  1856,  moved 
to  Franklin  Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming,  and  followed  same  until  1870, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in 
Cumberland    Co.,   where    he    lived    about 


SEVEN   HICKORY  TOWNSHIP. 


639 


nine  months,  and,  in  tlie  fall  of  1870,  he 
came  to  his  present  place  and  has  lived 
here  since.  He  has  held  no  office,  except 
connected  with  the  road  or  school.  He 
owns  eighty  acres  in  this  township,  which 
he  has  earned  by  his  own  labor  and  man- 
agement. 

GEO.  H.  TERRY,  grocer,  Humbolt ; 
is  a  native  of  Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio.  In 
August,  1875,  he  came  to  Coles  Co.,  and 
settled  here  in  Humbolt  and  engaged  in 
his  present  business ;  July  15,  1874,  he 
married  Miss  Dolly  Wells,  of  Humbolt, 
111.;  they  have  one  child,  viz.,  Mary  L. 
During  his  residence  in  Ohio,  aside  from 
obtaining  his  education,  he  was  principally 
engaged  in  teaching  school. 

ADAM  WHITMER,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Humbolt.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Perry  Co.,   Ohio,  Dec.  26, 


1832  ;  he  married  Miss  Clara  Jane  Bugh 
Nov.  1,  1864;  she  was  born  same  place 
Jan  11,  1838;  they  have  three  children, 
viz.,  Laura,  Elmo  and  Eva.  He  lived  in 
Ohio  until  1854,  when  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  settled  in  Crawford  Co.,  where  he 
lived  one  year ;  he  then  went  to  Dakota 
and  engaged  with  a  Grovernment  survey- 
ing party ;  he  camped  for  two  and  a  half 
years,  where  Yankton  now  stands ;  he 
lived  in  Dakota  until  1859,  when  he  went 
to  Colorado  and  engaged  in  mining,  and 
lived  there  until  1864,  when  he  returned 
to  Ohio,  and  in  1865  he  came  to  Coles  Co., 
111.,  and  settled  on  his  present  place  and 
has  lived  here  since.  He  has  been  Town- 
ship Collector  one  year  and  School  Director 
some  five  or  six  years.  He  owns  160 
acres,  in  this  township,  which  he  has 
earned  by  his  own  labor  and  management. 


SEVEN     HICKORY    TOWNSHIP. 


GEO.  W.  BAKER,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Charleston  ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  May  30, 
1824.  He  married  Miss  Susan  Bell 
Aug.  26,  1846;  she  was  born  in  Floyd 
Co.,  Ind.,  March  12,  1830,  and  died 
March  9,  1863 ;  they  had  six  children, 
three  living,  viz.,  George  B.,  Wm.  A.  and 
John  v.;  his  present  wife  was  Mrs.  Shaw, 
formerly  Miss  Jane  Hancock ;  they  were 
married  Oct.  19,  1863;  she  was  born  in 
Floyd  Co.,  Ind.,  Jan.  17,  1830  ;  she  had 
by  former  marriage  five  children,  two  liv- 
ing, viz.,  Flora  J.  Shaw  and  Sarah  E. 
Shaw.  He  lived  in  Philadelphia  about 
fourteen  years,  when,  with  his  parents,  he 
moved  to  Floyd  Co.,  Ind.,  where  his  father 
engaged  at  his  trade  of  shoemaking;  he 
lived  there  until  1859,  when  he  went  to 
Spencer  Co.,  Ind.,  and  engaged  in  farming, 
remaining  six  years ;  he  then  returned  to 
Floyd  Co.,  and,  after  remaining  two  years, 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  his  pres- 
ent place,  and  has  lived  here  since;  he 
owns  308  acres  in  this  county,  which 
he  has  earned  by  his  own  labor  and 
management.  His  parents,  Stephen  and 
Mary  Edwards  Baker,  were  natives  of 
Philadelphia  and  Maryland ;  they  were 
married   in    Philadelphia ;  in  1837,  they 


moved  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Flood  Co. 
where  they  died. 

A.  J.  BRADFORD,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Hinesboro,  Douglas  Co.;  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Greene 
Co.,  Penn.,  Nov.  12,  1832.  He  married 
Miss  Susan  S.  Emory  March  31,  1854; 
she  was  born  in  Licking  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec. 
24,  1836 ;  they  had  eight  children,  seven 
living,  viz.,  Henry  M.,  Mary  J.,  B.  Emory, 
Charles  C,  S.  Edwin,  John  B.  and  Perrie  ; 
Lineous  W.  died  Oct  10,  1865.  He  hved 
in  Pennsylvania  about  sixteen  years,  when, 
with  his  brother-in-law,  he  went  to  Ohio 
and  settled  in  Licking  Co,,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1857,  when  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  settled  in  Coles  (now  Douglas) 
Co.;  remained  one  year,  when  he  came  to 
his  present  place,  building  on  the  Coles 
Co.  part  of  farm ;  in  1876,  he  came  to  his 
present  residence ;  he  owns  240  acres, 
which  he  has  earned  by  his  own  labor  and 
management.  His  parents,  Henry  and 
Mrs.  Hannah  Morris  Bradford,  were  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania  ;  he  died  in  1839  ; 
she  is  living  near  the  old  homestead  with  a 
son. 

BUSH  BROS.,  farm  and  stock  ;  P.  0. 
Charleston ;  David,  John  and  Nelson ; 
David  was  born  in  NorthamDton  Co. ,  Penn., 


640 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES; 


March  1,  1832.  "  He  married  Miss  Elinor 
Stiff  Jan.  28, 1864  ;  she  was  born  in  Perry 
Co.,  Ohio ;  they  have  five  children — four 
livina;,  viz.,  Lillie  D.,  John  H.,  Eliza  M. 
and  Mary  F.  ;  he  lived  two  years  in  Penn- 
sylvania, when,  with  his  parents,  he  moved 
to  Ohio,  and,  in  1838,  they  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  settled  in  Edgar  Co.,  where  they 
lived  until  1849,  when  they  came  to  Coles 
Co.,  and  settled  about  two  and  a  half  miles 
west  of  Charleston,  and  in  1854,  they  came 
to  Seven  Hickory,  and  settled  near  the  pres- 
ent place.  John  H.  Bush  was  born  in  Perry 
Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  5,  1837.  He  married  Miss 
Polly  Ann  Jarvis  Oct.  27,  1874 ;  she  was 
born  in  Illinois  ;  they  have  one  child,  viz., 
Loyal  Nelson;  in  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the 
123d  111.  Inf.;  was  in  the  service  three 
years ;  after  one  year's  service  he  was  sent  to 
the  hospital,  remaining  six  months  ;  was 
then  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps,  and 
acted  as  guard.  Nelson  Bush  was  born  in 
Edgar  Co.,  111.,  May  8,  1846,  and  in  com- 
pany with  his  brothers  has  always  lived 
witli  his  parents ;  their  parents,  Jonathan 
and  Eliza  Lee  Bush,  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania ;  he  died  Oct.  6,  1856  ;  she  died 
in  January,  1872. 

COL.  JOHN  COFER,  of  Areola  Tp., 
Douglas  Co.,  111.;  the  subject  of  this 
memoir  was  born  near  Cave  Spring,  Bul- 
litt Co.,  Ky.,  July  9,  1804;  his  parents, 
Thomas  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Winn  Griffin 
Cofer,  were  natives  of  Virginia  and  Mary- 
land. Dec.  1,  1825,  he  married  Miss 
Mary  Eleanor  Macgill,  who  was  born  in 
Annapolis,  Md.,  Feb.  7,  1807  ;  her  parents, 
Robert  and  Mrs.  Helen  Stockett  Macgill, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Thomas  Noble  Stockett, 
of  Annapolis,  were  residents  of  Maryland. 
The  Colonel's  early  education  was  limited, 
but  his  thirst  for  knowledge  made  him  a 
good  student,  and  he  soon  became  a  pro- 
found thinker,  a  logical  reasoner  and 
ready  writer.  He  was  a  consistent  Wliig 
as  long  as  that  gallant  party  retained  its 
organization  ;  he  represented  Hardin  Co. 
in  the  Lower  House  of  the  Legislature  of 
Kentucky,  in  1838,  1839,  1848  and  1841, 
and  Hardin,  Meade  and  La  Rue  Cos.  in  the 
Senate  of  that  State  from  1848  to  1850  ; 
being  a  farmer,  he  became  the  champion 
of  the  great  interests  of  labor  and  pro- 
duction, an  advocate  of  economy  in  public 
expenditures,  a  system  of  general  educa- 
tion, internal  improvements,  and  charita- 


ble institutions ;  as  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee on  internal  improvements,  he  origi- 
nated and  aided  in   drafting  and  passing 
the  charter  of  the  Louisville  &  Nashville 
R.  R.  Co.,  now  the   most  prosperous  cor- 
poration in  Kentucky;   when  railroad   en- 
terprises were  untried  in  that  State,  he  was 
sent  as  one  of  a  committee  to  investigate 
the  operations  of  such  roads  in  the   East 
and  West,  and  made  an  able  report  there- 
on, which,  with  his  earnest  and  eloquent 
appeals  to  the  people  along  the  line  of  the 
proposed  road,  contributed  largely  to  in- 
duce them  to  vote  subscriptions  of  stock 
which  secured  the  building  of  the  same. 
In  1854,  he  removed  to  Illinois,  and  be- 
came   Postmaster   at    Rural    Retreat,    in 
Douglas    Co.,    Elector    on    the    Fillmore 
ticket  in  1856,  and  on  the  Bell  and  Ever- 
ett ticket  in    1860,  since  which   he  has 
been  Independent  in  politics,  though  gen- 
erally acting  with  the  Democratic  party ; 
devoted  to   the   Union   of  the   States,  he 
opposed,    with    manly    firmness,  nullifica- 
tion,   secession  and  emancipation   (unless 
gradual  and  accompanied  by  colonization); 
in     1871-72    he      represented      Douglas 
Co.  in  the  General  Assembly  with  his  ac- 
customed zeal  and  ability  ;  through  strict- 
ly   temperate     habits     and     indomitable 
energy,  he  has  been  successful  in  business, 
providing  homes  for  all  of  his  children,  of 
whom  six  out  of  ten  are  Hving,  viz.,  John 
S.,  who  married  Miss  Mary    K.   Wyeth, 
and  lives  near  Areola,  111.;  Mary  H.,  mar- 
ried Rev.  D.  T.  Shirley,  and  lives  in  Cook 
Co.,   Texas;     Thomas  N.,   married   Miss 
Rachel  E.  Combs,  and  lives  in  Coles  Co., 
111.;  William  H.   H.,  married  Miss  Mag- 
gie J.  Daly,  and  lives  in  Cook  Co.,  Texas; 
Henrietta  M.,  married  Mr.  Thomas  Mid- 
winter, and  lives  in  Areola  Tp.,  Douglas 
Co.,  111.;  Susan  A.,  married   Mr.   H.    M. 
McCrory,  and  lives  in  Texas.     The  Colonel 
retains    a    competency    for    himself    and 
wife  in  their  old  age.     He  has  been  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Methodist  Church 
for   more   than   fifty   years,   and  has    the 
proud  satisfaction,  while  remembering  that 
he  has  been  the  architect  of  his  own  for- 
tune, to  know  that  he  has  so  lived  as  not 
only  to  win  but  also  to  deserve  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him. 

DANIEL  S.  CARNEY,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser ;  P.  0.  Charleston ;  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Delaware 


SEVEN  HICKORY  TOWNSHIP. 


641 


Co.,  Ohio,  March  2,  1822.  He  married 
Miss  Margaret  Heminger  March  27,  1843  ; 
she  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio, 
Sept.  4,  1819;  they  had  five  children, 
four  living,  viz.,  Addie  D.,  Jasper  C, 
Sarah  F.  and  Charles  L.  He  lived  in 
Ohio  until  1864,  when  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  settled  on  his  present  place,  and  has 
lived  here  since  ;  he  owns  182  acres  in  this 
county,  wliich  he  has  earned  by  his  own 
labor  and  management ;  his  parents, 
Thomas  and  Sarah  Lot  Carney,  were  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania,  where  they  were 
married  May  22,  1808  ;  they  moved  to 
Ohio  in  1816,  and  settled  in  Delaware  Co., 
where  they  died  April  15,  1862.  and  May 


o,  1854. 


THOMAS  N.  COFER,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser;  P.O.  Areola;  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born  in  Hardin  Co.,  Ky., 
July  20,  1839.  He  married  Miss  Rachel 
E.  Combs  Nov.  23,  1870  ;  she  was  born 
in  Clarke  Co.,  Ind.,  July  29,  1851  ;  they 
have  three  children,  viz.,  Thomas  N.,  Jr., 
William  E.  and  John  C.  He  lived  in 
Kentucky  until  the  spring  of  1854,  when, 
with  his  parents  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Coles  (now  Douglas)  Co.,  at 
Rural  Retreat,  where  they  lived  about  three 
years;  he  then  moved  to  a  farm  near  by, 
where  he  remained  until  1870,  when  he 
moved  to  his  present  place,  and  has  lived 
here  since.  He  owns  320  acres,  which  he 
has  earned  by  his  own  labor  and  manage- 
ment ;  he  is  a  son  of  Col.  John  Cofer, 
whose  sketch  will  be  found  in  this  work. 

JACOB  K.  COTTONHAM,  farmer; 
P.  0.  Charleston ;  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Floyd  Co.,  Ind.,  Nov.  15, 
1831.  He  married  Miss  Sallie  Ann  Fow- 
ler March  5, 1855;  she  was  born  in  Coles 
Co.,  111.,  Dec.  13,  1843 ;  they  had  seven 
children,  six  living,  viz.,  William  E.,  Mar- 
garet L.,  George  A.,  Joseph  U.,  Charles 
D.  W.  and  Hervey  F.  He  lived  in  Indi- 
ana until  1855,  when  he  came  to  Illinois, 
and  settled  in  Coles  Co.,  near  Charleston, 
and  engaged  in  brickmaking,  and  continued 
in  the  business  nearly  eight  years,  when  he 
engaged  in  farming  ;  in  1874,  he  came  to 
his  present  place,  and  has  lived  here  since  ; 
he  owns  120  acres  here  and  49  in  Charles- 
ton Tp.,  which  he  has  principally  earned 
by  his  own  labor.  His  parents,  Andrew 
and  Margaret  Grant  Cottonham,  were  na- 
tives   of  Kentucky    and    Virginia ;    they 


were  married  in  Indiana ;  they  came  ta 
Coles  Co.  in  1855 ;  he  died  Aug.  29, 1869  ; 
she  is  living  herewith  her  son.  His  wife's 
parents  were  James  and  Susan  Ann  Lum- 
brick  Fowler ;  were  natives  of  Tennessee 
and  Coles  Co.,  111.  (probably),  they  being 
in  this  county  at  a  very  early  date  ;  they 
died  in  1843  and  1848,  respectively. 

ANDREW  J.  CRAIG,  farming  and 
stock ;  P.  0.  Charleston  ;  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born  in  Morgan  Tp.,  Coles 
Co.,  111.,  Sept.  11,  1846.  He  married 
Miss  Sarah  I.  Zink  Sept.  27,  1872;  she 
was  born  in  Grand  View  Tp.,  Edgar  Co., 
111.,  Aug.  9,  1848  ;  they  have  three  chil- 
dren, viz.,  Luther  Z.,  Franklin  H.  and 
Arthur  E.  He  was  born  on  the  farm  and 
lived  there  until  1856,  when,  with  his  par- 
ents, he  went  to  Sims  Tp.,  in  Edgar  Co., 
and  lived  there  until  he  was  21,  when  he 
came  to  his  present  place,  and  has  lived 
here  since,  the  place  being  wild  land  when 
he  settled ;  he  has  160  acres  under  culti- 
vation and  well-improved.  His  parents, 
Isaac  N.  and  Elizabeth  Blayer  Craig,  are 
spoken  of  at  length  elsewhere. 

J.  J.  FOSTER,  farming  and  stock  ;  P. 
0.  Areola  ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  Lawrence  Co.,  Ind.,  May  18, 
1831.  He  married  Miss  Catharine  Beggs 
Jan.  31 ,  1859  ;  she  was  born  in  Clarke  Co., 
Ind.,  May  10,  1838,  and  died  May  14, 
1866  ;  they  had  three  children,  viz., 
Eugenia,  Sarah  M.  and  Dela  J. ;  his  pres- 
ent wife  was  Miss  Melinda  C.  Beggs  ;  they 
were  married  Dec.  18,  1867;  she  was  a 
sister  of  his  first  wife ;  she  was  born  in 
Clarke  Co.,  Ind.,  Sept.  3, 1839  ;  they  have 
three  children,  viz.,  Orestes,  Claudius  B. 
and  Ida  C.  He  was  born  on  the  farm 
and  lived  there  for  twenty-five  years,  when 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Coles 
Co.  near  his  present  place,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  remained  for  seven 
years ;  he  then  moved  to  his  present 
place,  and  has  lived  here  since.  He  has 
held  the  office  of  School  Trustee  for  eleven 
years,  and  is  now  serving  his  third  term 
as  Supervisor  of  this  township.  He  owns 
310  acres  of  land  in  this  township.  His 
parents,  William  and  Mrs.  Sarah  McCor- 
mick  Foster,  were  natives  of  Virginia, 
where  they  were  married ;  they  moved  to 
Clarke  Co.,  Ind.  and  remained  two  years, 
when  they  moved  to  Lawrence  Co.,  Ind., 
where   they  died ;    Mrs.  Foster's    parents 


642 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES; 


were  Jamos  and  Mrs.  Matilda  Drummond 
Beggs ;  they  were  natives  of  Clark  Co., 
Ind.,  where  he  died ;  Mrs.  Beggs  is  living 
there  on  the  old  homestead. 

JOHN  FOREMAN,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Charleston  ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  the  District  of  Columbia  March 
17,  1823.  He  married  Miss  Harriet  E. 
Richardson  Oct.  10,  1842;  she  was  born 
in  Franklin  Co.,  Ohio,  March  24,  1820; 
they  have  seven  children,  viz.,  William 
T.,  John  R.,  Joseph,  Isaac  P.,  David  B., 
Thomas  N.  and  Edward  P.  He  lived  in 
the  District  of  Columbia  until  he  was  12 
years  of  age;  he  then  moved  to  Fayette 
Co.,  Ky.,  with  his  parents,  who  engaged 
in  farming,  and  he  remained  until  1853, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in 
Charleston,  where  he  lived  two  years  while 
improving  his  farm  ;  he  then  came  on  his 
present  place,  and  has  lived  here  since. 
In  1865,  he  was  elected  Supervisor  of 
Seven  Hickory  Tp. ;  he  was  also  one  of 
the  first  two  Justices  of  the  Peace  of  this 
township,  being  elected  in  1860,  and 
served  four  years;  he  has  also  served  as 
Commissioner  of  Highways  and  Township 
Trustee.  He  owns  260  acres  in  this 
county.  His  parents,  Joseph  and  Mrs. 
Chloe  Payne  Foreman,  were  natives  of 
England  and  Virginia  ;  they  were  married 
in  the  District  of  Columbia ;  they  moved 
to  Fayette  Co.,  Ky.,  in  1834,  where  his 
father  died  ;  his  mother  died  in  Lexing- 
ton, Ky. 

JACOB  HARRY,  farmer  and  stock; 
P.  0.  Humbolt ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Preble  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  14, 
1816;  he  married  Miss  Susannah  Tobey, 
Aug.  1,  1839;  she  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton Co.,  Md.,  Dec.  15,  1819.  They  had 
eleven  children,  nine  living,  viz.,  Jeffer- 
son, Madison  and  Amanda,  Hiram,  Nathan- 
iel, Franklin,  Clinton,  Stephen  A.  D.  and 
Nelson.  He  lived  in  Ohio  until  1855  ; 
he  was  raised  on  the  farm  and  also  learned 
the  brickmason's  trade ;  he  then  went 
west,  visited  Kansas  and  finally  settled  in 
Callaway  Co.,  Mo.,  near  Jefferson  City, 
where  he  engaged   in  farmin"',  remainins 

CD     CD  o'  a 

one  year;  ho  then,  in  1856,  came  to  Coles 
Co.,  111.,  and  settled  in  Humbolt  Tp., 
where  he  farmed  until  1865,  when  he 
came  to  his  present  place ;  in  1867,  he 
was  elected  Supervisor  of  Seven  Hickory 
Tp.,  and  held  the  office  for  three  terms  ;  he 


owns  167  acres  in  the  township  ;  his  par- 
ents, Jacob  and  Mrs.  Mary  Davis  Harry, 
were  natives  of  North  Carolina,  where  they 
were  married ;  they  moved  to  Ohio  in 
1811,  where  both  have  since  died. 

GEORGE  C.  KEMP,  farmer  and  stock  ; 
P.  0.  Areola ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Ohio  Co.,  Ind.,  Aug.  25, 
1846.  He  married  Miss  Minerva  D.  Stone 
Oct.  14,  1866;  she  was  born  same  place 
Dec.  6,  1845.  They  have  three  children, 
viz.,  Theodore,  born  April  16,  1869; 
Laura  B.,  born  Dec.  4,  1875,  and  Charles 
C,  born  Nov.  8,  1877.  He  lived  in  Indi- 
ana until  September,  1868,  when  he  came  to 
his  present  place ;  he  owns  349  acres  in 
this  township,  which  includes  the  original 
200  acres  given  him  by  his  father  Ezra, 
who  located  it  in  quite  a  novel  way — set- 
ting out  from  Indiana  on  horse,  he  stopped 
over  Sunday  with  a  farmer  living  in  the 
timber  about  eight  miles  east  of  here,  of 
whom  he  learned  there  was  vacant  land 
about  eight  miles  west,  but  no  one  there 
to  show  it,  and  no  marks  to  distinguish 
either  land  or  distance  ;  but  they  conceived 
the  plan  of  putting  the  horse  at  a  certain 
pace  and  keep  him  westward  for  a  certain 
time,  when  he  would  be  on  the  land,  and  in 
this  way  located  the  same ;  he  (Ezra 
Kemp)  married  Miss  Tryphena  Scranton  ; 
both  were  natives  of  Ohio  Co.,  Ind.,  where 
they  were  married  ;  he  died  Feb.  1,  1870; 
she  is  living  in  Rising  Sun,  Ind. 

JOB  W.  M  ASSEY,  farming  and  stock ; 
P.  0.  Charleston ;  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Cheshire,  England, 
June  28,  1822.  He  married  Miss  Sarah 
Gould  Dec.  4,  1847  ;  she  was  born  in 
North  Molton,  Devonshire,  England,  Feb. 
23,  1827,  and  died  Aug.  8,  1877.  They 
had  six  children,  viz.,  William  H.,  now 
living;  Job  Francis  died  at  the  age  of  17, 
child  died  in  infancy,  Nannie  now  living, 
George  E.  died  at  18  months  of  age  and 
Joseph  Charles  died  in  his  ISth  year,  from 
the  kick  of  a  horse.  He  lived  in  England 
about  six  years,  when,  with  his  parents,  he 
came  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in 
New  Jersey,  at  Bellville,  where  his  father 
engaged  at  his  business  of  contracting  ma- 
chinist, he  contracting  to  furnish  machin- 
ery for  some  large  calico  print  works  located 
there  ;  he  also  took  extensive  contracts  for 
cotton-mill  machinery  in  Tennessee.  In 
1835,  they  moved  to  Wappinger's  Falls, 


SEVEN  HICKORY  TOWNSHIP. 


643 


DutcWss  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived  eighteen 
yeavs,  except  one  year  (184-1),  when  he 
traveled  in  England  with  his  brother,  who 
was  an  invalid.  His  parents  died  during 
his  residence  at  the  Falls.  In  1853,  he 
went  to  Newburg,  and  engaged  in  model 
making,  remaining  three  years,  though 
part  of  the  time  he  worked  in  New  York 
City.  In  1856,  he  and  his  brother,  Henry, 
came  West,  looking  for  a  location  for  a 
general  merchandise  business.  After  vis- 
iting several  points,  Dubuque,  Iowa,  was 
selected,  but  owing  to  the  death,  of  his 
brother,  the  business  was  not  opened,  and 
he  determined  to  go  into  the  farming  and 
stock  business,  and  after  looking  around, 
he  located  on  his  present  place  in  1857, 
and  has  lived  here  since,  though  from 
1861  to  1871,  he  principally  carried  on 
model-making  in  Chicago,  his  family  re- 
siding here.  He  has  been  Assessor  four 
terms.  School  Director  some  eight  to  ten 
years,  also  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  seven 
years,  He  owns  120  acres  in  this  town- 
ship, well  improved  and  stocked,  which  he 
has  earned  by  his  own  labor  and  manage- 
ment. 

T.  J.  McMILLIN,  firm  and  stock  ; 
P.  0.  Kural  Retreat ;  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Clai-ke  Co.,  Ind.,  April 
6,  1840.  He  married  Miss  Margaret  J. 
Combs  Dec.  16,  1862  ;  she  was  born  in 
Clarke  Co.,  Ind.,  June  17,  1841  ;  they  had 
three  children — two  living,  viz.,  Rosella 
and  Maggie  P. ;  he  lived  in  Indiana  twen- 
ty years ;  he  then  moved  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Coles  Co.,  near  the  Humbolt 
line,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  re- 
mained until  1863,  when  he  came  to  his 
present  place,  and  has  lived  here  since. 
He  owns  240  acres  in  this  township,  which 
lie  has  earned  by  his  own  labor  and  man- 
agement ;  his  parents,  William  and  Mrs. 
Jane  Chambers  McMillin,  were  natives  of 
Kentucky  ;  when  they  were  married,  they 
moved  to  Indiana,  where  his  mother  died 
in  1853  ;  his  father  is  living  in  Clarke  Co., 
Ind.,  on  the  old  homestead. 

J.  M.  MOCK,  farming ;  P.  0.  Charles- 
ton ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Hocking  Co.,  Ohio,  April  1,  1839.  He 
married  Miss  Catharine  J.  Zimmerman 
Nov.  22,  1866  ;  she  was  born  in  Coles  Co., 
111.,  near  Ashmore,  June  17,  1843 ;  they 
had  six  children — four  living,  viz.,  Sarah 
C,  Edward  W.,  Oscar  B.  and  Florence  I. ; 


he  lived  in  Ohio  until  he  was  15  years  old> 
when,  with  his  parents  he  moved  to  Coles 
Co.,  111.,  and  settled  near  Oakland;  this 
was  in  1854 ;  they  engaged  in  farming, 
where  he  lived  until  1860 ;  they  then 
moved  to  Lafayette  Tp.,  remained  until 
1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  21st  111.  Inft., 
and  remained  in  the  service  over  four 
years ;  he  was  made  Corporal  during  the 
third  year's  service,  and  was  made  Captain 
after  his  re-enlistment ;  he  was  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Stone  River,  Resaca,  Chickamauga 
and  Atlanta  campaign,  also  Franklin,  where 
he  was  wounded.  He  owns  160  acres  in 
this  county ;  his  parents,  James  T.  and 
Sarah  Honnold  Mock,  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia and  Ohio  ;  he  died  Sept.  21,  1873  ; 
she  has  since  married  Mr.  John  Hurst, 
and  is  living  in  Lafayette  Tp. 

M.  E.  O'HAIR,  farming  and  stock;   P. 
0.  Charleston ;  was  born  in  Morgan  Co., 
Ky.,    Feb.  22,  1829.     He  married  Miss 
Catharine  R.  Zink  June  6, 1856  ;  she  was 
born  in  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  and    died    Dec.  7, 
1873 ;  they  had  six  children,  viz.,  Calvin 
L.,  Laura  B.,  Nettie  T.,  Harvey  Z.,  Gladys 
V.    and   Alvaretta    C.      He   married    his 
present  wife.  Miss  Sarah  E.  Bryant,  Oct. 
14,  1875;  she  was  born  in  Edgar  Co.,  111., 
July  29,  1852 ;  they  have  two  children, 
viz..    Charles    H.  and    Francina   D.     He 
lived  in   Kentucky  until  he  was   13  years 
old,   when,  with  his  parents,  he   came  to 
Illinois,   and    settled  in  Edgar  Co.,  where 
he  lived  until  he  became  of  age,  when  he 
went  to  California,  his  object  being  to  mine ; 
he  remained  two  years,  meeting  with  fair 
success ;  in  1852,  he  returned  to  his  home 
in  Edgar  Co.,  and    engaged  in  the    stock 
business  ;  in  1 853,  he  bought  part  of  his 
present  place,  and    settled    and  improved 
the  same;  in  1857,  he  removed  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Kansas,  in  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  general  merchandise  business, 
which  he  continued  about  four  years;   in 
1860,  he  moved  to  Paris,  and    served  as 
Sheriff  of  Edgar  Co.  for  two  years ;  he  was 
then  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff,  and  served 
two  years,  and,  in  1865,   he  returned    to 
his  present  place;  in  1871,  he  was  elected 
Supervisor  of  Seven  Hickory,  and  held  the 
office  four  years ;  since  which  time  he  has 
held  the  office  of  Highway  Commissioner. 
He  owns  700  acres  in  this  township,  which 
he  has  earned  by  his  own  labor  and   man- 
agement.    His    parents,    John  and    Mrs. 

9 


y 


644 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES; 


Eliza  Hardwick  O'Hair,  were  natives  of 
Kentucky,  where  they  were  married  ;  in 
in  1842,  they  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled 
in  Edgar  Co.,  where  they  now  reside. 

ISAAC  PERISHO,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Charleston ;  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born  in  Monroe  Co.,  Ind., 
May  2,  1818;  he  married  Miss  Sarah 
Zimerley  Jan.  9,  1838  ;  she  was  born  in 
Washington  Co.,  Va.,  Oct.  30,  1818,  and 
died  Dec.  25,  1842 ;  they  had  three  chil- 
dren, one  living,  viz.,  Jacob  W.  ;  his  second 
wife  was  Miss  Leoina  Purlee ;  they  were 
married  June  27,  1843  ;  she  was  born  in 
Washington  Co.,  Ind.,  July  27,  1818,  and 
died  Oct.  15,  1844;  they  had  one  child, 
viz.,  Hiram ;  his  present  wife  was  Mrs. 
Wells,  formerly  Miss  Rosanna  M.  O'Hair; 
they  were  married  June  12,  1845 ;  she 
was  born  in  Morgan,  now  Wolfe  Co.,  Ky., 
June  9,  1811;  they  had  five  children,  four 
living,  viz.,  Emily  J.,  John  E.,  Mary  E. 
and  Rosanna  S.  The  present  Mrs.  Perisho 
had  six  children  by  a  former  marriage ; 
two  are  living,  viz.,  William  W.  Wells  and 
Lucinda  F.  Wells.  He  lived  in  Indiana 
seven  years,  when,  with  his  parents,  he 
moved  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Grand 
View  Tp.,  of  Edgar  Co.,  and  engaged  in 
farming ;  this  was  in  1825  ;  he  lived  with 
his  parents  until  1838,  when  he  moved  to 
a  farm  near  by,  where  he  lived  until  1840, 
when  he  went  to  Jasper  Co.,  HI.,  and  im- 
proved a  farm,  remaining  three  years  ;  he 
then  returned  to  Edgar  Co.  and  engaged  in 
farming,  in  what  is  now  known  as  Sims  Tp. ; 
he  remained  there  until  1855,  when  he 
came  to  Coles  Co.,  and  settled  on  his  present 
place.  He  is  no  office-seeker,  his  only  office 
being  connected  with  the  school  and  road. 
He  has  owned  about  400  acres  in  this 
county,  but,  having  divided  a  large  portion 
among  his  children,  he  retains  but  160  acres 
as  a  competency  for  himself  and  wife.  His 
parents,  Joseph  and  Mrs.  Barbara  Zink 
Perisho,  were  natives  of  North  Carolina 
and  Virginia  ;  they  were  married  in  Wash- 
ington Co.,  Ind.,  and  settled  in  Edgar  Co., 
111.,  in  1825,  where  they  died  April  23, 
1838,  and  Aug.  4,  1872,  respectively. 

GRANVILLE  F.  RAPER,  farmer; 
P.  0.  Areola ;  is  a  native  of  Owen  Co., 
Ind.,  where  he  was  born  Jan.  28,  1836. 
He  married  Miss  Mary  H.  Roberts  Aug. 
5,  1855  ;  she  was  born  in  Greene  Co., 
Ind.,  Sept.  13,  1832  ;  they  hi.d  nine  chil- 


dren, six  living,  viz.,  James  A.,  California 
J.,  Laura  S.,  William  0.,  Albert  H.  and 
Granville  S.  He  lived  twenty-one  years 
in  Indiana,  when  he  moved  to  Hancock 
Co.,  111.,  and  engaged  in  farming;  remain- 
ing there  three  years,  he  returned  to  his  old 
home  in  Indiana  and  lived  there  two  years  ; 
he  then  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in 
Douglas  Co.,  near  Tuscola,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years ;  he  then  came  to 
Coles  Co.  and  settled  in  Humbolt  Tp.,  and 
engaged  in  farming,  which  he  continued 
for  four  years,  when  he  moved  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Milton,  now  Humbolt,  and  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business,  remaining  one 
year  ;  he  then  came  to  Seven  Hickory  and 
settled  on  a  farm  near  the  plankroad, 
where  he  lived  one  year ;  he  then  came  to 
his  present  place,  and  has  lived  here  since ; 
he  owns  160  acres,  which  he  has  earned 
entirely  by  his  own  labor  and  management. 
His  parents  were  Berry  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Evans  Raper  ;  they  were  natives  of  Indi- 
ana and  Kentucky  ;  they  were  married  in 
Indiana,  where  his  father  died  Jan.  20, 
1837;  his  mother  married  Mr.  Thomas 
Evans,  who  has  since  died  ;  she  is  now 
living  in  Owen  Co.,  Ind. 

LEVI  ROSEBROUGH,  farm  and 
stock  ;  P.  0.  Charleston ;  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born  in  Warren  Co.,  Ind., 
April  3,  1832.  He  married  Miss  Frances 
Fisher  Sept.  5,  1852 ;  she  was  born  in 
Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  2,  1832  ;  they  had 
eight  children,  seven  living,  viz.,  William 
L,  James  B.,  Albert,  Sarah  E.,  Rhoda  M., 
Eva  and  Eli.  He  lived  in  Indiana  until 
he  was  12  years  of  age,  when,  with  his 
parents,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in 
Coles  Co.,  near  his  present  place — this  was 
in  1843 — where  he  lived  until  he  was  19; 
he  then  worked  by  the  month  until  1852, 
when,  on  being  married,  he  rented  his 
father's  place  and  farmed  the  same  one 
year.  In  1853,  leaving  his  wife  here,  he 
went  to  California,  going  the  overland 
route  by  oxen — object,  mining — remain- 
ing two  years  ;  he  met  with  fair  success  ; 
in  1855,  he  returned  via  Panama  and  New 
York,  to  this  county,  renting  a  farm  and 
farming  the  same  until  1859,  when  be 
bought  sixty  acres,  being  a  part  of  his 
present  place;  in  1867,  he  built  his  pres- 
ent residence,  and  has  lived  here  since. 
In  September,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  5th 
I.  V.  C,  and  was  in   service  over  three 


SEVEN  HICKORY  TOWNSHIP, 


645 


years ;  was  in  the  battles  of  Vicksburg. 
Meridien,  Jackson,  and  many  minor  en- 
gagements. He  owns  120  acres  in  this 
township,  which  he  has  earned  by  his  own 
labor  and  management.  His  parents, 
John  and  Nancy  White  Rosebrough,  were 
natives  of  Ohio  ;  they  were  married  there 
and  moved  to  Indiana,  where  she  died 
about  1842  ;  he  then  married  Miss  Zemru- 
dia  Stewart,  who  was  a  native  of  Illinois ; 
they  came  to  this  county  in  1843,  where 
he  died  in  1856;  Mrs.  Rosebrough  mar- 
ried again,  and  is  now  living  in  Kansas. 

J.  SPRINGER, farmer;  P.  0.  Charles- 
ton. The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
on  the  line  between  Fayette  and  Jessa- 
mine Counties,  Ky.,  Feb.  13,  1808  ;  he 
married  Miss  Lucy  A.  Pay  ton  on  Easter 
Sunday,  1838 ;  she  was  born  in  Fayette 
Co.,  Ky.,  Sept.,  7,  1814.  They  had  six 
children,  three  living,  viz.,  Angeline,  Nan- 
nie J.  and  Mary  M.  He  lived  in  Ken- 
tucky twenty-one  years ;  he  then  went  to 
Missouri  and  settled  in  Clay  Co.,  where  he 
engaged  at  his  trade  of  wagon  making, 
and  remained  seven  or  eight  years;  he 
then  returned  to  Kentucky  and  followed 
his  trade  about  twelve  years,  when  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  followed  his  trade  in 
Edgar  Co.,  remaining  four  years.  He 
then  came  to  Coles  Co.  and  engaged  in  the 
stock  business  with  Mr.  Peyton,  in  Mor- 
gan Tp.,  remaining  four  years ;  he  then 
came  to  his  present  place,  where  the  part- 
nership was  continued  four  years  longer. 
In  1871,  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  served  four  years  ;  he  has  been 
Commissioner  of  Highways  two  terms  ;  he 
has  divided  considerable  land  among  his 
children,  and  retains  a  competency  for 
himself  and  wife  ;  his  children  are  all  mar- 
ried and  living  in  sight. 

LILBURN  SWINFORD,  farm  and 
stock ;  P.  0.  Charleston ;  was  born  in 
Harrison  Co.,  Ky.,  Jan.  31,  1808;  he 
married  Miss  Frances  Hendricks  in  Sep- 
tember, 1829  ;  she  was  born  in  Pendleton 
Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  19,  1809.  They  had  eleven 
childi'en,  eight  living,  viz.,  William  H., 
Martha  A.,  Mary  E.,  Julia  A.,  Lucy,  Lou- 
isa, Josephine  and  Benjamin  F.  He  lived 
in  Kentucky  until  1839,  when  he  moved 
to  Indiana  and  settled  near  Greencastle, 
where  he  remained  until  1847  ;  he  then 
moved  to  Illinois  and  settled  near  Ash- 
more,  in  Coles  Co.,  and  in   1865  he  came 


to  his  present  place ;  he  owns  200  acres  in 
this  county,  which   he  has  earned  by  his 
own  labor  and  management.     His  parents, 
James  and  Sarah   Adams   Swinford,  were 
natives  of  South   Carolina  and   Virginia ; 
they   were   married    in    Kentucky ;  both 
have  died,  she  in  Kentucky,  he  in  Indiana. 
JAMES    WHEATLEY,   farmer    and 
stock-raiser  ;  P.  0.  Hinesboro  ;  the  subject 
of  this   sketch    was    born  in   Charleston, 
Clarke  Co.,  Ind.,  Aug.  9, 1826  ;  he  married 
Miss  Mary  E.   Work  Jan.  10,  1850  ;  she 
was  born  in  Clarke  Co.,  Ind.,  Dec.  20, 1831  ; 
they    had   six  children,   five    living,    viz., 
Junius,  Dessie,  Carlos,  Lucien  and  Ozeta ; 
he  lived  in  Indiana  about  eight  years,  when, 
with  his  father,  he  went  to  Kentucky  and 
lived  in  Lexington  and  Harrodsburg  until 
his  18th  year,  when  he  returned  to  his  birth- 
place in  Indiana  and  engaged  in  farming 
until  he  was  married  ;  after  his  marriage,  he 
removed  to  Southern   Kentucky,  and,   in 
April,  18^3,  to  Coles  Co.,  and  settled  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides  ;  his  parents, 
Walter  and  Catharine   (Beggs)  Wheatley, 
were  natives  of  Maryland  and  Virginia;  they 
were  married  in  Clarke  Co.,  Ind.  ;  he  was 
born  July  12,  1791  ;  in  1836,  he  went  to 
Harrodsburg,  and  was  appointed  Postmas- 
ter of  the  place  in  1843,  which   office    he 
held  until  1861,  since  which  time  he  has 
not  engaged  in   any  business ;  he  is  now 
living  with  a  son   in   West    Virginia ;  his 
wife's  parents,  John  and  Hannah  (Thomas) 
Beggs,  were  natives  of  Augusta  and  Rock- 
ingham Cos.,  Va.,  and  were  born  in  Janu- 
ary, 1766,   and  November,   1764,  respect- 
ively ;  they    were    married  in    1788,  and 
moved  to  Kentucky  in  1792  or  1793,  and 
to  Clarke  Co.,  Ind.,  in  1799,  and  died  on 
the  farm  which  they  settled,  in  April,  1845, 
and   May,     1853,    respectively;    of  their 
nine  children  two  survive,  viz.,  Mary  Stil- 
well  (of  Jackson  Co.,  Ind.)  and  Ruth  Cole 
(of  Douglas  Co.,  111.)     The   present  Mrs. 
Wheatley's  parents,  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Henley)  Work,  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  North  Carolina ;  he  emigrated  to 
Bear  Grass,  Ky.,  where  his  father  died;  the 
care  of  the  family  then  fell  to   him,    and 
they  moved  to  Clarke  Co.,  Ind.,  and  engaged 
in  farming,   where  he  died  on  a  form  ad- 
joining the  old  homestead  ;  his   wife's  par- 
ents, Jesse  and  Catharine    Henley,    were 
natives  of  North  Carolina,  where  he  had 
been  a  slaveholder,  having  some    forty-odd 


646 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


slaves,  who,  owing  to   his  political   views 
(of  the  Abolition  school)    were  freed  ;  he 


moved  to  Clarke  Co.,  Ind.,  about  the  year 
1800,  where  he  engaged  in  farming. 


NORTH    OKAW    TOWNSHIP. 


NELSON  W.  AMES,  farmer  and 
stock -raiser ;  P.  0.  Mattoon ;  one  of  the 
most  prominent  settlers ;  was  born  in 
Wayne  Co.,  Penn.,  Feb.  9,  1817;  h^  is 
the  son  of  Mr.  Joseph  Ames,  now  'de- 
ceased, who  was  born  in  Connecticut,  and 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  married  Miss  Gertrude 
Schenck,  and  where  Mr.  N.  W.  Ames,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born.  He  was 
married  Jan.  9,  1840,  to  Miss  Nancy 
Hoalley,  who  was  fborn  in  Pennsylvania 
May  6,  1818,  and  who  died  Oct.  3,  1847. 
Mr.  Ames  removed  from  his  native  State 
to  New  Jersey,  where  he  remained  several 
years.  On  April  12,  1849,  he  was  mar- 
ried again,  to  Miss  Susan  A.  Cramer,  who 
was  born  in  New  Jersey  June  2,  1 830  ; 
they  have  seven  children,  viz.,  Oliver, 
George,  Rutser,  Newton,  Louisa,  Sarah 
and  John.  Mr.  Ames  came  to  this  State 
and  settled  in  Coles  Co.  in  1857 ;  the 
farm  which  he  owns,  and  upon  which  he 
now  resides,  he  purchased  from  the  Railroad 
Co.  in  the  same  year ;  it  consists  of  212 
acres,  valued  at  $8,500.     George,  the  sec- 


ond 
teer  in 


son  of 
the 


Mr.  Ames,  served  as  a  volun- 


late  war  three 


listed  in   the  123d  L  V.  L, 

the 


years 


he  en- 


charged 


and  was   dis- 
close  of  the 


with   honor  at 
war. 

GEORGE  BE  ATT Y,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Mattoon";  was  born  in 
the  West  Riding  of  Yorkshire,  England, 
April  6,  1810  ;  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1830,  to  this  State,  and  settled  in  Coles 
Co.  in  1865.  He  was  married  April  13, 
1834,  to  Miss  Anne  Clegg,  now  deceased; 
she  was  born  in  Derbyshire,  England,  Oc- 
tober, 1812,  and  died  Jan.  15,  1873; 
Elizabeth  is  the  only  child  they  have  had. 
The  farm  of  Mr.  Beatty  consists  of  eighty 
acres,  valued  at  $3,000. 

A.  J.  BIGELOW,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Fuller's  Point ;  one  of  the 
early  settlers ;  was  born  in  Massachusetts 
Oct.  10,  1829 ;  came  to  this  State  in 
1852,  and  settled  in  Edgar  Co.;  he  removed 


to  Coles  Co.  in  1852,  where  he  has  since 
resided ;  his  farm  consists  of  254  acres, 
valued  at  $7,000.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Ada  Green,  who  was  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts ;  they  have  two  children — Levi 
and  Charley  E.  Since  his  residence  in 
the  township,  he  has  held  the  office  of 
Supervisor  one  year  and  School  Director 
ten  years.  He  was  a  participant  in  the 
late  war,  having  enlisted  in  the  79th  I.  V. 
I.;  after  volunteering,  he  was  commissioned 
Second  Lieutenant,  and  later  was  promoted 
to  First  Lieutenant,  and  as  such  served 
faithfully  for  several  months,  when  he  was 
proinoted  to  Captain  ;  he  served  in  the  war 
about  three  years,  and  was  discharged  with 
honor  at  its  close. 

J.  A.  BROTHERTON,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser ;  P.  0.  Mattoon  ;  was  born  in 
Indiana  Nov.  12,  1841 ;  came  to  this 
State  and  settled  in  Coles  Co.  in  1860  ;  his 
farm  consists  of  eighty  acres,  valued  at 
$2,400.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Cathar- 
ine Earls,  who  was  born  in  Illinois  ;  they 
have  seven  children,  viz.,  Sarah,  Delia, 
William  M.,  Lawrence,  Lewis,  Eva  and 
Robert.  Since  Mr.  B.'s  residence  in  the 
township,  he  has  held  the  office  of  School 
Director  three  years. 

THOMAS  FURNESS,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  ;  P.  0.  Fuller's  Point ;  one  of 
the  early  settlers  ;  was  born  in  Pickaway 
Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  17.  1825 ;  came  to  this 
State  and  settled  in  Coles  Co.  in  1856,  and 
with  the  exception  of  five  years'  residence 
in  Moultrie  Co.,  his  home  has  been  in 
Coles  Co.  ;  his  farm,  which  is  located  in 
both  counties,  consists  of  240  acres,  val- 
ued at  $7,200.  He  was  married  Dec.  25, 
1848,  to  Miss  Mary  Kepler,  who  was  born 
in  Pickaway  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  9,  1829;  they 
have  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing, viz.,  Louisa,  Francis  and  Johnny, 
deceased ;  Theodore,  James,  Cornelia, 
Willie,  Laura,  Georgie,  and  Walter. 

JOHN  HENTON,  farmer  and  scock- 
raiser  ;  P.  O.  Coles  Station ;  one  of  the 
most  prominent  settlers  ;   was  born  in  Fair- 


NORTH   OKAW  TOWNSHIP. 


647 


field  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  11,  1826;  came 
to  this  State  with  his  father's  family,  and 
settled  in  Moultrie  Co.  in  18-17,  and  in 
1879,  he  removed  to  Coles  Co.,  and  settled 
in  North  Okaw  Tp.  ;  his  farm  consists  of 
410^  acres,  valued  at  $8,000.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Pheba  Staley,  who  was 
born  in  White  Co.,  111. ;  they  have  six 
children,  viz.,  Alvaretta,  Greorge  W.,  Oily, 
Melvin,  Emma  and  Pheba  L.  During 
Mr.  Henton's  residence  in  Moultrie  Co.,  he 
has  held  the  offices  of  Township  Supervisor 
and  School  Trustee,  and  Director,  etc., 
seven  years. 

JAMES  M.  HUNT,  retired  farmer; 
P.  0.  Cook's  Mills  ;  was  born  in  Indiana 
Jan.  16,  1840  ;  his  father,  James  Hunt, 
now  deceased,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  that  State  ;  they  moved  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Coles  Co.  in  1868  ;  Mr.  Hunt 
has  followed  the  pursuits  of  a  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  from  boyhood  ;  he  enlisted  in 
the  83d  Ind.  V.  I.;  served  nearly  three 
years,  and  was  discharged  at  the  close  of 
the  war ;  at  the  battle  of  Dallas  he  was 
wounded,  the  eflfects  of  which  now  compel 
him  to  retire  from  business.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Rachel  R.  Janes  April  13, 
1875,  who  was  born  in  Illinois.  Oct.  17. 
1857. 

ALEXANDER  HITCH,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Cook's  Mills;  one  of 
the  early  settlers  ;  was  born  in  Louisville, 
Ky.,  Jan.  9,  1827  ;  moved  to  Ohio  with 
his  parents  when  he  was  1  year  old  ;  lie 
was  raised  there,  in  Ross  Co.,  and  in  1850 
he  came  from  Ohio  to  this  State  and  set- 
tled in  Coles  Co.  He  was  married  May 
10,  1855,  to  Miss  Permelia  Ellis,  who  was 
born  in  Kentucky  Oct.  13,  1833  ;  they 
have  had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living,  viz.,  Belle,  Sarah  L.  and  Melissa  E.  ; 
deceased,  Francis  Marion.  The  farm  of  Mr. 
Hitch  consists  of  200  acres,  valued  at  | 
$5,000 ;  since  Mr.  Hitch's  residence  in 
the  township  he  has  held  office  of  School 
Director  three  years.  Of  the  firm  he 
now  owns,  eighty  acres  of  it  he  purchased 
from  the  R.  R.  Co.  in  1862  ;  the  balance,  | 
which  consists  of  120  acres,  he  has  since 
purchased,  the  entire  amount  of  which  he 
has  made  by  his  own  labor  and  manage- 
ment. Since  1860  he  been  a  member  of  the 
Missionary  Baptist  Association,  and  in 
1863  he  was  ordained  Deacon  in  that  de- 
nomination. 


JAMES  HAMILTON,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser ;  P.  0.  Cook's  Mills  ;  one  of 
the  early  settlers ;  was  born  in  Ohio,  May 
1,  1826  ;  came  to  this  State  in  1852,  and 
settled  in  Coles  Co.  in  the  same  year.  He 
was  married  Nov.  16,  1853,  to  Miss  M.  L. 
Hoskins,  who  was  born  in  Illinois,  July 
12,  1831  ;  they  have  seven  children,  viz., 
John  R.,  William  H.,  James  L.  (twins), 
David  W.,  Albert  G.,  Samuel  L.  and  Mar- 
garet I.  Their  farm  consists  of  108  acres, 
valued  at  $3,500.  Since  Mr.  Hamilton's 
residence  in  the  township  he  has  held  the 
office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  three  years 
and  on  the  Board  of  Commissioners  six 
years  ;  he  was  also  a  participant  in  the  late 
war,  he  having  enlisted  in  the  130th  I.  Y .  I., 
served  about  eight  months,  and  was  dis- 
charged with  honor  on  account  of  disabili- 
ties. 

3IRS.  ELLEN  HOOTS,  farming  and 
stock-raising ;  P.  0.  Cook's  Mills  ;  one  of 
the  natives  of  Illinois  ;  was  born  in  Clark 
Co.,  July  4,  1845.  She  is  the  widow  of 
the  late  Francis  M.  Hoots  ;  they  were  mar- 
ried Nov.  21,  1861  ;  they  have  had  ten 
children,  eight  of  whom  are  living,  viz., 
Edwin,  Wm.  A.,  Linea  M.,  Albia,  Bertie 
N.,  Arthur  A.,  Nora  Eva,  and  Francis 
M. ;  deceased,  Albert  B.  and  Rosa.  The 
farm  of  Mrs.  Hoots  is  principally  managed 
by  herself  and  her  children  ;  it  contains 
316]  acres,  valued  at  $9,500. 

DUDLEY  HOPPER,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Mattoon  ;  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Coles 
Co.;  was  born  in  Knox  Co.,  Ky.,  Aug.  18, 
1826  ;  came  to  this  State  with  his  father's 
family  in  1837,  when  he  was  but  a  boy. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  Dixon,  now 
deceased  ;  they  have  had  four  children,  viz., 
Felitha,  George,  Harvey  and  Matilda. 
Mr.  Hopper  was  married  the  second  time 
to  Miss  Margaret  Easter.  His  farm  con- 
sists of  330  acres,  valued  at  $9,900;  since 
his  residence  in  the  township,  he  has  held 
the  office  of  Commissioner  three  years. 
He  was  a  participant  in  the  Mexican  war, 
where  he  served  eighteen  months.  His 
land,  on  which  he  now  resides,  was  par- 
tially entered  by  himself  from  the  Govern- 
ment. 

HENRY  D.  JENKINS,  M.  D.,  Ar- 
eola ;  one  of  the  early  settlers  ;  was  born 
in  Bourbon  Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  30,  1822; 
came  to  this  State  and  settled  in  what  was 
then  Coles  Co.  in   1855  ;    his  firm,  being 


648 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


now  located  in  Douglas  Co.,  where  he  first 
settled,  and  which  was  at  the  time  of  his 
settlement  all  Coles  Co.,  consists  of  310 
acres.  The  Doctor  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Transylvania  University,  located  at  Lex- 
ington, Ky.;  since  his  residence  in  this 
county,  he  has  practiced  his  profession  as 
physician  but  very  little  ;  his  pursuits  have 
been  that  of  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 
which  seems  to  be  his  natural  proclivity. 
In  1866,  he  married  Miss  Mary  F.  Black- 
well,  who  was  born  in  North  Carolina  Dec. 
26,  184:1 ;  they  have  two  children,  viz., 
John  B.  and  Elisa  D. 

WILLIAM  JOHNSON,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Cook's  Mills;  one  of 
the  early  settlers ;  was  born  March  22, 
1822  ;  came  to  this  State  in  1850,  and  to 
this  county  and  settled  in  North  Okaw 
Tp.  in  1857.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  J.  Miller,  who  was  born  July  22, 
1834  ;  they  have  four  children,  viz., 
Kobert  M.,  Anna  A.,  Sarah  J.  and  Frank- 
lin. The  farm  of  Mr.  Johnson  consists  of 
240  acres,  valued  at  $7,000.  Since  his 
residence  in  the  township  he  has  held  the 
office  of  School  Trustee  and  Director 
several  year.-^. 

A.  KITCHENS,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Cook's  Mills ;  one  of  the 
natives  of  Illinois ;  was  born  in  Clark 
Co.,  Jan.  23,  1843  ;  he  is  the  son  of  Eli 
E.  Kitchens,  deceased,  who  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  the  State.  His  farm  con- 
sists of  100  acres,  valued  at  82,000.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  E.  Hoskins, 
now  deceased  ;  they  have  had  two  children, 
viz.,  Maria  E.  and  Susan  L. 

McCAGHA  PHILLIPS,  farmer ;  P.  0. 
Fuller's  Point;  one  of  the  natives  of 
Illinois;  was  born  in  Moultrie  Co.,  Jan.  7, 
1856  ;  he  is  the  son  of  Mr.  Calvin  Phillips, 
of  Mattoon  Tp.,  who  is  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Coles  Co.  ;  his  farm  consists  of 
136  acres,  valued  at  $4,500.  He  was 
married  June  10,  1877,  to  Mi.ss  Mary  A. 
Gilmer,  who  was  born  in  Russell  Co.,  Va., 
April  27,  1856  ;  Leon  is  their  only  child. 

MARTIN  PRICE,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Cook's  Mills;  one  of  the  early  settlers; 
was  born  in  Alabama  March  4,  1827 ; 
came  to  this  State  in  1830,  to  Coles  Co.  in 
1842,  and  settled  in  North  Okaw.  He 
was  married  Feb.  15,  1849  to  Miss  Mary 
J.  Hoskins,  who  was  born  in  Illinois  Jan. 
7,   1830;    they    have   ten   children,   viz.. 


Mary  Ann,  Margaret  M.,  Martha  J.,  Lu- 
cinda  D.,  Joseph  A.,  Nancy  M.,.Lowery 
M.,  Ruth,  Belle,  William  E.  and  James 
F.  Since  Mr.  Price's  residence  in  the 
township  he  has  held  the  office  of  Com- 
missioner of  Highways  four  years,  School 
Director  twenty  years,  and  is  at  present 
Supervisor,  this  being  his  fourth  term  in 
that  office.  His  farm  consists  of  sixty 
acres,  valued  at  $2,000. 

THOMAS  SENTENEY,  farmer  and 
stock-raiser ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills ;  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  the  county,  was  born 
in  Kentucky  May  16,  1819 ;  came  to  this 
State  in  1842,  Coles  Co.  in  1853,  and  set- 
tled in  North  Okaw  Tp. ;  his  farm  con- 
sists of  104  acres,  valued  at  $3,000,  and 
since  his  residence  in  the  township  he  has 
held  the  office  of  Assessor  one  term, 
School  Trustee  and  Director  twelve  years. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Anne  Flemming, 
who  was  born  in  Indiana ;  they  have  had 
seven  children,  viz.,  John  T.,  Sarah, 
Mark,  James  L.,  Mary  J.,  Samuel  A.  and 
Emma. 

THOMAS  SMITH,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Mattoon ;  was  born  in  Coles 
Co  ,  111.,  Oct.  19.  1853;  he  is  the  son  of 
Mr.  W.  H.  Smith,  deceased,  and  Mary  A. 
Smith,  deceased,  who  was  formerly  Miss 
Mary  A.  Osborn.  The  estate  being  un- 
settled, he  is  one  of  seven  heirs  to  the 
homestead  ;  it  contains  680  acres,  valued 
at  $20,400  ;  the  balance  of  the  heirs,  who 
are  brothers  and  sisters  of  Mr.  Smith,  are 
Isabel,  Martha,  Delphine,  Alice,  Willis 
and  Joseph. 

JOHN  TURNER,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Fuller's  Point ;  one  of  the 
first  settlers  and  pioneers,  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia Dec.  16,  1812;  came  to  this  State 
and  settled  in  Coles  Co.  in  1830;  his  first 
settlement  was  in  what  is  now  the  town- 
ship of  Paradise  ;  he  cannot  tell  now  that 
the  township  at  that  time  had  a  name,  and 
through  it  there  was  no  mail-route ;  in 
1835,  he  removed  to  North  Okaw  ;  this 
section  of  country  was  at  that  time  all 
called  Okaw  ;  it  derives  its  name  from  the 
two  streams  running  through  it ;  Mr.  Turner 
is  now  the  oldest  living  settler  in  the  town- 
ship. He  was  married  to  Miss  Elsie  J. 
Robison ;  they  have  four  children,  viz., 
Mary  J.,  John  W.,  Francis  M.  and  Walter 
W.;  he  was  previously  married  to  Miss 
Matilda   F.    Simms,    now  deceased;   they 


PARADISE  TOWNSHIP. 


649 


have  had  one  child,  viz.,  Rebecca  J.  The 
farm  of  Mr.  Turner  consists  of  ninety-two 
acres,  valued  at  $2,000 ;  since  his  resi- 
dence in  the  township,  he  has  held  the 
offices  of   Assessor,  Supervisor   and    Col- 

WILLIAM  WRIGHTSELL,  farmer; 
P.  0.  Turner's  Point ;  was  born  in  Jefferson 
Co.,  Tenn.,  Oct.  9,  1811;  came  to  this 
State  and  settled  in  Coles  Co.,  in  1856. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Permelia  White 
Oct.  31,  184'4;  she  was  born  in  Jefferson 
Co.,  Tenn.,  Nov.  15, 1825  ;  they  have  four 
children,  viz.,  Sarah  J.,  James  M.,  Louisa 
E.,  and  Margaret  Ann.  The  farm  of  Mr. 
Wrightsell  consists  of  sixty  acres  valued  at 
$1,800.  He  was  a  participant  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war,  and  is  quite  an  early  settler  in 
the  western  part  of  Coles  Co. 

JOHN    WILSON,  farmer,   and    Con- 
stable for  Coles  Co  ;  P.  0.  Cook's  Millss  ; 
was  born  in  Grermany,   March   8,   1840; 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1857,  and  to  ! 
this  State  in   1865    and  to   Coles  Co.   in  ' 


1871.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
Ann  Prince,  who  was  born  in  Indiana 
Jan.  19,  1848  ;  they  have  two  children 
deceased,  viz.,  Mary  C.  and  Louisa.  Mr. 
Wilson  has  served  a  term  in  the  United 
States  Regular  Army ;  he  enlisted  from 
New  York  City  in  Co.  D,  in  1861  ;  he 
served  all  through  the  late  rebellion,  and 
at  its  close  was  discharged  with  honor. 

JAMES  P.  WHITE,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  ;  P.  0.  Mattoon ;  was  born  in  Ten- 
nessee, March  5,  1841  ;  came  to  this  State 
in  1856,  and  to  Coles  Co.,  and  settled  in 
North  Okaw  Tp.  in  1 858  ;  his  farm  con- 
sists of  forty-nine  and  a  third  acres,  val- 
ued at  ^1,500.  He  was  married  Nov.  23, 
1865,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Wade,  who  was 
born  in  Coles  Co.,  111.,  June  4,  1847; 
they  have  had  six  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living,  viz.,  Mary  A.,  Nancy  E.,  EfFa 
N.,  Minnie  and  James  E.  ;  deceased,  Jes- 
sie. Since  Mr.  White's  residence  in  the 
township,  he  has  held  the  office  of  School 
Director  six  years. 


PARADISE    TOWNSHIP. 


HENRY  E.  ALEXANDER,  farmer ; 
P.  0.  Paradise  ;  is  the  son  of  Ebenezer  and 
Dorcas  Alexander  ;  was  born  in  Tennessee, 
Obion  Co.,  Sept.  2,  1827  ;  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Coles  Co.  Dec.  20,  1828.  Is 
the  owner  of  210  acres  of  land  valued  at 
or  near  $8,000  ;  School  Director  two  or 
three  terms.  Was  married  to  Mary  B. 
Curry,  of  Coles  Co.,  June  10, 1852  ;  names 
of  children — boys — James  E.,  William  D., 
George  0.  (Edward  F.,  deceased)  ;  girls, 
Mary  D.,  Margaret  J.  (Nancy  E.,  de- 
ceased) ;  Edward  F.  died  June  16,  1865  ; 
Nancy  E.,  Aug.  1,  1878 ;  his  father,  Ebe- 
nezer Alexander,  died  Jan.  8,  1857,  at  64 
years  of  age;  his  mother  died  April  12, 
1871  ;  his  father  was  one  among  the  oldest 
settlers  in  this  county,  and  was  Justice  of 
the  Peace  until  the  time  of  his  death. 

WM.  W.  APPERSON,  farmer ;  P.  0. 
Mattoon;  was  born  March  19,1834,  in 
Paradise  Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  111.  Owns  240  acres 
of  land  all  well  improved  but  40  acres,  prob- 
able value  $9,000  or  $10,000  ;  public  offices 
held — Supervisor,  one  year.  Commissioner 
of  Highways,  three  years.    Maiden  name  of 


wife  Barbara  Ann  Rhoads  ;  names  of  chil- 
dren— boys,  George  H.,  Frank  B.,  William 
E.,  John  J.  and  Charley  B.  ;  girls,  Sels- 
worth ;  Wm.  N.  Apperson  is  the  son  of 
Dr.  John  Apperson  (deceased)  ;  was  born 
in  Culpeper  Co.,  Va.,  Jan.  8,  1794; 
moved  to  Coles  Co.,  Paradise  Tp.,  Oct. 
14,  1829  ;  died  June  5,  1877  ;  was  father 
of  Sidney,  Thomas  A.,  D.  H.,  J.  R.,  Wm. 
W.,  Margaret,  Isabella  E.,  Mary  M.  Apper- 
son. Dr.  John  Apperson  was  in  the  war 
of  1812  ;  served  as  Sergeant  Major. 

CHARLES  W.  BISHOP,  physician  i 
P.  0.  Etna ;  is  the  son  of  H.  S.  and  Har- 
riet L.  Bishop ;  was  born  in  Litchfield, 
Ky.,  Dec.  15,  1846 ;  moved  to  Coles  Co. 
Jan.  12,  1869,  and  stayed  ten  months,  and 
then  moved  to  Missouri;  from  there  to 
Wilson  Co.,  Kan.,  then  back  to  Kentucky, 
and  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine 
in  Litchfield,  and  practiced  two  and  one- 
half  years,  then  came  back  to  Coles  Co., 
111.,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine here,  which  he  still  continues ;  was  a 
graduate  of  Louisville  Medical  University 
Oct.    1,   1866.     Is   the   owner   of  ninety 


650 


BIuGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 


acres  of"  land,  valued  at  $2,400.  He  was 
married  to  Emma  E.  Clark,  of  Coles 
Co. ;  the  names  of  the  children  by  this 
union  are  a  boy,  Francis  E.  Bishop,  born 
Nov.  27,  1876.  His  father  is  still  living 
in  Litchfield,  Ky.;  his  mother  died  Dec.  21, 
18G3,   in  the  39th  year  of  her  age. 

GEORGE  W.  BENEFIEL,  farmer; 
P.  0.  Etna  ;  is  the  son  of  Robert  and 
Nancy  Benefiel ;  was  born  in  Lawrence 
Co.,  111.,  on  the  1st  day  of  July,  1817. 
He  was  married  to  Jane  Ryker  the  23d 
day  of  January,  1838,  and  moved  to  Coles 
Co.  Oct.  19,  1855  ;  names  of  children, 
boys — Robert  N.,  James  H.,  John  S., 
Peter  R.,  Francis  M.  ;  girls — Sarah  A., 
Amy  A.,  Ida  M.  His  wife,  Jane  Bene- 
fiel, died  Sept.  7,  1867.  His  son  John 
S.  died  in  the  army  March  1,  1863,  and 
his  daughter  Ida  died  Dec.  4,  1873. 
He  served  in  the  late  war  as  Wagonmas- 
ter  and  Battalion  Sergeant  in  Co.  E,  5th 
I.  V.  C.  He  was  married  to  his  second 
wife,  Diantha  F.  Smith,  of  Coles  Co.,  111., 
Feb.  6, 1868.  Mr.  G.  W.  Benefiel  is  one  of 
the  oldest  settlers  of  Lawrence  Co.,  Illi- 
nois, and  the  second  white  child  born 
in  that  county  ;  his  father  was  one  of  the 
three  first  settlers  of  this  State ;  was  in 
Government  service. 

PATRICK  BRADLEY,  farmer;  P. 
0.  Mattoon  ;  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Elizabeth  Bradley  ;  was  born  in  Morgan 
Co.,  Ind.,  Jan.  17,  1830,  and  moved  to 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  Oct.  12,  1866;  is  the 
owner  of  110  acres  of  land,  valued  at  or 
near  $3,000 ;  was  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways three  years,  also  School  Trustee  a 
number  of  years.  Was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Stroble  Feb.  26,  1 854 ;  names  of  chil- 
dren, boys — John  C.  F.,  born  July  14, 
1856;  Zachary,  born  Aug.  24,  1862; 
James  B.,  born  July  1,  1866;  girl — 
Estella,  born  Jan.  5,  1872.  His  father, 
Benjamin  Bradley,  was  one  of  the  oldest 
settlers  of  Morgan  Co.,  Ind. ;  settled 
Nov.  12,  1829;  died  Nov.  11,  1865,  in 
the  77th  year  of  his  age ;  his  mother, 
Elizabeth  Bradley,  died  March  24,  1862, 
in  the  64th  year  of  her  age. 

MRS.  DIANTHA  F.  BENEFIEL, 
farmer;  P  0.  Etna;  is  the  daughter  of 
James  and  Elizabeth  Shores,  of  Bradford 
Co.,  Pa.;  moved  to  Coles  Co.,  Oct.  12, 
1843;  was  born  in  Bradford  Co.,  Penn., 
Shesheciuin    Tp.,    April    22,    1823;    her 


maiden  name  was  Diantha  F.  Shores ; 
was  married  to  her  first  husband,  William 
N.  Smith,  March  31,  1844;  names  of 
children,  boys — George  W.,  Miren  h.y 
Julius  E.,  William  W.  ;  girls — Elizabeth 
H.,  Arloa  N.,  Irena  S.  George  W.  died 
Jan.  24,  1871 .  Her  husband,  William  W. 
Smith,  died  April  8.  1861  ;  is  the  owner 
of  320  acres  of  land,  also  a  large  flour-mill 
at  Kickapoo,  also  three  oflBces  and  four 
stone  houses  in  Mattoon  ;  is  all  valued  at 
or  near  $30,000  ;  was  married  to  her  second 
husband,  Mr.  George  W.  Benefiel,  Feb.  6, 
1868 ;  has  no  children  by  her  second 
husband ;  her  first  husband's  parents'  names 
were  Jerrad  and  Clarinda  Smith,  of  Coles 
Co.,  Ill;  Jerrad  died  Sept.,  26,  1844; 
Clarinda  died  Sept.  18,  1850. 

JAMES  M.  BRESEE,  farmor;  P.  0. 
Etna ;  is  the  son  of  Dorous  and  Fanny 
Bresee ;  was  born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  111., 
Jan.  30,  1847 ;  moved  to  Coles  Co.  Feb. 
12,  1870;  is  the  owner  of  120  acres  of 
land  valued  at  near  five  thousand  dol- 
lars ;  was  Road  Overseer  and  School  Di- 
rector for  ten  years  or  mure ;  was  mar- 
ried to  Sarah  J.  Stowers,  of  Coles  Co., 
April  5, 1868.  Names  of  children — boys: 
Bird  E.,  born  Nov.  18,  1875;  girls:  Min- 
nie v.,  born  Aug.  22,  1869;  Lillie  E., 
born  Oct.  17,  1871  ;  Hellen  M.,  born 
March  1,  1873,  Was  in  the  late  war, 
156th  I.  V.  I.,  Company  A.  His  father, 
Dorous  Bresee,  died  in  California  July  15, 
1852.  His  mother  is  still  living  in  Mat- 
toon; was  born  July  5,  1821. 

JOSEPH  CAVINS,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Mattoon  ;  was  born  in  Marion  Co.,  Ohio, 
Jan.  24,  1838;  moved  to  Coles  Co.,  Para- 
dise Tp.,  111.,  in  1840;  was  married  Dec. 
25,  1862 ;  maiden  name  of  wife  Melissa  E. 
Ferguson.  Names  of  children:  Elmer 
W.,  Joseph  0.,  Elzy  C,  William  F., 
Stanley  T.,  Lester  B.  Owns  80  acres  of 
land  worth  about  six  thousand  dollars. 
Public  ofiices  held :  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Town  Clerk,  School  Trustee,  Supervisor, 
and  taught  school  nine  terms  in  the  same 
District;  was  also  in  "the  late  war.  His 
father  and  mother,  Joseph  and  Nancy 
Cavins,  were  born  in  Loudoun  Co.,  Va. ; 
moved  to  Coles  Co.,  Paradise  Tp.,  111., 
in  1840.  His  father  died  about  May 
12,  1846  ;  his  mother  Aug.  20,  1852,  or 
there  about.  Names  of  their  children — 
boys :  John,    James,    Randolph,  William, 


PARADISE  TOWNSHIP. 


651 


Joseph  and  Thomas  ;  girls  :  Martha,  Mary, 
and  Sarah. 

PHAON  H.  DORNBLASER,tarmer; 

P.  0.  Etna  ;  is  the  son  of  Felix  and  Eliza 
Dornblaser,  of  Lehigh  Co.,  Penn.;  was  born 
in  the  same  county  and  Sfate  April  20, 
1838 ;  moved  with  his  parents  to  Coles 
Co.,  Paradise  Tp.,  111.,  April  20,  1855  ; 
is  the  owner  of  170  acres  of  land,  proba- 
ble value,  S7,000  ;  was  School  Director  six 
years,  also  Road  Overseer  one  year.  Was 
married  to  Mary  E.  Jeffries,  of  Coles  Co., 
Dec.  29,  18G0  ;  was  the  daughter  of  Jain es 
and  Matilda  Jeffries  ;  names  of  children, 
boys— French  I.,  born  Jan.  28,  1862; 
James  A.,  born  Feb.  6,  1868;  Edward 
(deceased),  born  Nov.  18,  1869,  died 
March  20,  1872  ;  girl — Antoinette,  born 
Nov.  28,  1864.  His  father,  Felix  Dorn- 
blaser,  served  his  time,  three  years,  in  the 
late  war ;  died  on  his  way  home  on  the 
boat,  near  St.  Louis,  August  12,  1864 ; 
5th  Cavalry  111. 

JOSEPH  F.  GOAR,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  ;  P,  0.  Etna  ;  was  born  in  Parke  Co., 
Ind.  Jan.  8, 1832  ;  he  is  a  son  of  Clemme 
and  Elizabeth  (Hart)  Goar  ;  in  183G,  his 
father  came  to  Coles  Co.  and  entered  a 
large  amount  of  Government  land,  return- 
ing for  his  family  in  1837  ;  he  built  the 
first  steam  mill  in  the  county,  and  was  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Paradise  Tp.  until 
1862,  when  he  removed  to  Jacksonville, 
III,  where  he  now  resides  ;  his  mother 
died  in  this  county  in  1855.  Joseph  F. 
was  raised  on  the  farm,  and  on  the  2d  of 
Oct.,  1855,  married  Miss  Mary  L.  Buckles, 
of  Hardin  Co.,  Ky.;  they  have  three  chil- 
dren— Robert  C,  Kate  M.  and  Sarah  B.; 
Mr.  Goar  resides  on  a  farm  of  220  acres, 
adjoining  the  old  homestead  ;  he  served 
six  years  as  Constable,  and  resigned  the 
office  in  August,  1862,  to  enter  the  Union 
army  as  a  member  of  Co.  D,  123d  I.  V.  I., 
serving  through  the  war  ;  among  the  en- 
gagements in  which  he  participated  may 
be  mentioned  the  battles  of  Milton,  Tenn., 
Hoover's  Gap.  Chickamauga,  Farmington, 
Peach-Tree  Creek,  seige  of  Atlanta,  bat- 
tles of  Jonesboro  and  Selma.  In  1867  he 
was  elected  Commissioner  of  Highways, 
and  served  three  years  ;  in  1 874,  he  was 
chosen  Collector  of  his  township,  and  on 
the  6th  of  Nov.,  1877,  was  elected  County 
Treasurer  of  Coles  Co.,  which  office  he 
now  holds. 


WILLIAM  B.  FERGUSON,  farmer  ; 
P.  0.  Mattoon  ;  is  the  son  of  William  and 
Nancy  Ferguson ;  was  born  in  Bradford 
Co.,  Penn.,  Dec.  8, 1828  ;  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Paradise  Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Oct. 
15,  1839  ;  is  the  owner  of  601  acres,  val- 
ued at  or  near  $18,000.  Was  married  to 
Fanny  M.  Hart,  of  this  county  and  town- 
ship;  she  is  the  daughter  of  Miles  H.  and 
Catherine  Hart,  and  was  born  Dec.  13, 
1837  ;  married  March  8,  1854;  there  are 
eight  children  by  this  union,  viz.,  Ed, 
Thomas,  James,  George,  Ella,  Ann  and 
Almira;  (deceased)  Mellissa,  Deckard  died 
Jan.  28,  1878.  His  father,  William  Fer- 
guson, was  born  in  1805,  died  in  1877,  in 
the  73d  year  of  his  age ;  his  mother  was 
born  in  1805,  died  in  1877,  in  the  73d  year  of 
her  age.  He  has  held  the  office  of  Super- 
visor two  years.  Assessor  one  year  and 
School  Trustee  three  years. 

ADAM  B.  GREEN,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Mattoon ;  is  the  son  of  Ira  and  Mary 
Green,  of  Washington  Co.,  Tenn.;  was 
born  in  Green  Co.,  Tenn.,  April  17,  1827  ; 
moved  to  Paradise  Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  111., 
Feb.  12,  1867.  Was  married  to  Caroline 
E.  Peters  May  5,  1866;  they  are  the 
parents  of  six  children,  viz.,  James  B., 
Dora  D.  and  Laura  (deceased),  George  W., 
Amanda  M.  and  Ida  M.  Mr.  Green  is 
the  owner  of  163  acres  of  land,  valued  at 
S6,500.  He  was  in  the  late  war  and 
served  three  years  as  Sergeant.  His 
mother  died  April  12,  1861,  and  his  father 
Aug.  20, 1848.  Children  deceased,  George 
M.,  died  May  27,  1870,  aged  2  years 
10  months  and  19  days;  girls,  Amanda 
M.,  Oct.  21,  1869,  aged  1  month  and 
15  days;  Ida  M.,  June  17,  1871, 
aged  2  months  and  17  days ;  children 
living,  girls,  Dora,  born  June  19,  1872; 
Laura,  born  Sept.  16,  1875;  boy,  born 
(James  B.)  April  27,  1878.  Florence  A. 
Green  is  a  neice  of  A.  B.  Green,  and 
makes  her  home  with  him  ;  aged  18  ;  born 
Dec.  25,  1860. 

R.  GANNAWAY,  farmer;  P.  O. 
Paradise;  is  the  son  of  Wm.  and  Saliie 
Gannany  ;  was  born  in  Grayson  Co.,  Ky., 
Oct.  23,  1810;  moved  with  his  folks  to 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  March  27,  1828;  is  the 
owner  of  131|  acres  of  land,  valued  at  or 
near  $7,000.,  Was  School  Director,  Road 
Overseer  for  several  years.  Was  married 
to  Elizabeth  Gannaway,  of  Coles  Co.,  111., 


652 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES; 


Dec.  28,  1836;  names  of  children — boys, 
Robert,  Samuel,  James  W.;  deceased, 
John  W. ;  jrirls,  Roda  J., Susan;  deceased, 
Louisa.  His  father,  William  Gannaway, 
was  in  the  war  of  1812,  served  as  Captain, 
came  home  and  died  Sept.  12,  1814.  His 
mother  is  still  living  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa, 
in  the  91st  year  of  her  age. 

ADAM  W.  HART,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Mattoon  ;  is  the  son  of  Silas  and  Hannah 
Hart,  of  Davis  Co.,  Ky. ;  was  born  in 
White  Co.,  HI.,  Jan.  3,  1823  ;  moved  with 
his  parents  to  Coles  Co.,  Paradise  Tp., 
Jan.  3,  1827  ;  is  the  owner  of  475  acres, 
valued  at  $20,000.  Was  married  to 
Nancy  D.  Gannaway,  of  Coles  Co.,  Dec. 
28,  1843.  Was  Supervisor,  School  Trustee, 
Director,  Treasurer  and  Road  Commis- 
sioner. The  names  of  their  children  are 
Amanda  E.,  Elizabeth  J.,  Hannah  M., 
Polly  A.  and  Mercena;  deceased,  Abraham 
D.  and  Thomas,  who  died  in  infancy ; 
Mary,  Louisa  jind  Adda  and  three  infants 
not  named.  His  father,  Silas  Hart,  was 
the  oldest  settler  of  this  township ;  died 
Oct.  12,  1848;  his  mother,  Hannah  Hart, 
died  in  this  county  and  township  Sept.  18, 
1863,  in  the  68th  year  of  her  age. 

AMBROSE  Y.HART,  Jr.,  farmer; 
P.  0.  Pai'adise ;  is  the  son  of  Miles  H. 
and  Catharine  C.  Hart ;  was  born  in 
Effingham  Co.,  111.,  Nov.  15,  1834; 
moved  to  Coles  Co.  Feb.  12,  1836 ;  is  the 
owner  of  fifty  acres  of  land,  valued  at 
$2,000.  Is  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  has 
been  for  twelve  years ;  also  Town  Clerk, 
School  Treasurer  and  Commissioner  of 
Highways.  Was  married  to  Nancy  Sex- 
son  of  Coles  Co.  Jan.  22,  1857  ;  the  re- 
sult of  this  marriage  is — David  S.,  John 
M. ;  deceased,  Miles  0.,  Willie  A.,  Cath- 
arine C.  and  Ada.  Mr.  Hart  was  in  the 
late  war,  serving  as  Corporal  of  Co.  D.  123d 
111.  Reg.  His  flxther,  Miles  H.  Hart, 
died  in  Coles  Co.  Feb.  17,  1855,  in  the 
59th  year  of  his  age ;  his  mother,  Cath- 
erine C.  Hart,  died  in  Coles  Co.  Nov.  12, 
1872,  in  the  68th  year  of  her  age;  they 
were  one  of  the  three  first  families  who  set- 
tled in  this  township. 

JAMES  L.  HART,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Etna ;  is  the  son  of  Oliver  and  Zorada 
Hart ;  was  born  in  Grayson  Co.,  Ky.,  June 
18,  1846 ;  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Coles  Co.,  111.,  Oct.  12,  1848;  is  the 
owner  of  seventy-six  acres  of  land,  valued 


at  near  $3,500.  Was  Postmaster  at  Etna 
for  one  year.  Was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Smith,  of  Coles  Co.,  Sept.  24,  1866,  His 
father,  Oliver  Hart,  was  born  in  Grayson  Co., 
Ky.,  March  31,  1825;  died  Jan.  25,  1867, 
in  the  42d  year  of  his  age  ;  his  mother,  Zo- 
rada Hart,  was  born  in  Hardin  Co.,  Ky., 
Oct.  26,' 1823,  and  is  now  living  in  Cle- 
burne, Johnson  Co.,  Texas ;  his  wife's 
folks  are  still  living,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George 
N.  Benefiel,  of  this  county,  township  and 
State.  His  father  was  the  first  man  who 
built  a  house  south  of  Etna,  and  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  this  township. 

THOMAS  HART,  farmer ;  P.  O.  Para- 
dise ;  is  the  son  of  Miles  H.  and  Catharine 
C.  Hart,  of  Coles  Co.  ;  was  born  in  Hardin 
Co.,  Ky.,  Sept.  5,  1824;  moved  to  Coles 
Co.  with  his  parents  March  12,  1826 ;  was 
Assessor,  School  Trustee,  Overseer  of  the 
Poor  and  Road  Overseer.  Was  married 
to  Vianna  Sexson,  of  Coles  Co.,  March  2, 
1851  ;  names  of  children :  Mary  E., 
Hallie  B.  ;  deceased — Annie  Hart.  His 
father.  Miles  H.  Hart,  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  July  24,  1796  ;  was  married  to 
Catharine  C.  Yocum,  of  Kentucky,  and 
moved  to  Wayne  Co.,  111.,  and  then  to 
Coles  Co.  ;  names  of  children — boys,  Thom- 
as, Joseph  B.,  John  D.,  Ambrosa  ;  girls, 
EHza  A.,  Martha  P.,  Mary  H.,  Fanny  M. ; 
deceased,  Joseph  B.  (^died  in  Paradise,  Coles 
Co.,  Jan.  26,  1874) ;  all  living  in  this 
county  with  the  exception  of  Mary  H., 
and  she  now  lives  in  Harrison  Co.,  Mo. 

BENJAMIN  D.  HAMBLEN,  farmer ; 
P.  O.  Etna;  is  the  son  of  Francis  and 
Martha  B.  Hamblen  ;  was  born  in  Mt. 
Pleasant,  Hardin  Co.,Ky.,  March  17, 1840; 
moved  with  his  parents  Dec.  24,  1852,  to 
Moultrie  Co.,  and  then  to  Coles  Co.,  March 
13, 1868  ;  is  the  owner  of  120  acres  of  land, 
valued  at  or  near  $5,000  ;  was  Justice  of 
the  Peace  five  years  ;  also  School  Director 
and  Road  Overseer.  Was  married  to  Sarah 
M.  Newport,  the  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Ellen  Newport,  of  Coles  Co.,  111.; 
names  of  children — boys,  Henry  F.  (born 
Oct.  3,  1870)  ;  girls,  Nellie  M.  (born  Dec. 
28,  1871),  RossaM.  (born  Dec.  6,  1873) ; 
deceased — boys,  Claude  (died  Aug.  4, 
1876).  He  was  in  the  late  war;  served  as 
a  Duty  Sergeant  of  Co.  C,  10th  I.  V. 
C.  ;  his  father,  Francis  Hamblen,  died 
Oct.  27,  1877  ;  his  mother  died  Nov.  12, 
1865. 


PARADISE  TOWNSHIP. 


653 


JOHN  A.  MOSS,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Etna; 
is  the  son  of  James  H.  and  Catharine 
Moss,  was  born  in  Fleming  Co.,  Ky.,July 
25,  1837  ;  moved  to  Coles  Co.  March  12, 
1878  ;  is  the  owner  of  forty  acres  of  land, 
valued  at  $1,000.  Was  married  to  his  first 
wife,  Mary  Johnston,  April  5,  1866,  died 
Feb.  16, 1872  ;  names  of  children  deceased 
(boy)  Willard  S.,  died  March  11,  1872  ; 
girls  deceased,  Dulta  B.,  died  Aug.  11, 
1870 ;  was  married  to  his  second  wife, 
Phebe  Eaton,  of  Rush  Co.,  Ind.,  Dec.  21, 
1873;  names  of  children  (living),  girl, 
Bushna,  born  April  20,  1875;  deceased 
girl  infant,  died  Jan.  17, 1874.  His  father, 
James  H.  Moss,  was  born  May  15,  1809, 
died  Jan.  8,  1876,  in  the  67th  year  of  his 
age  ;  his  mother,  Catharine  Moss,  was  born 
April  15,  1810,  died  Sept.  12,  1866,  in 
the  56th  year  of  her  age. 

GEORGE  W.  PETERS,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Mattoon ;  was  born  in  Green  Co.,  Tenn., 
Sept.  14,  1814  ;  is  the  son  of  Reuben 
and  Elizabeth  Peters,  of  the  same  county 
and  State;  is  the  owner  of  163  acres  of 
land,  valued  at  $6,500  ;  has  held  no  public 
office.  Was  married  to  Harriet  Rector 
March  22,  1838;  the  names  of  the  chil- 
dren by  this  union  are  Alexander  S.,  Reu- 
ben A.,  George  W.,  Lewis  B.,  John  R., 
Caroline  E.;  deceased,  Reuben  A.,  died 
July  17,  1875,  aged  34  years  6  months  16 
days;  living,  Alexander  S.,  born  March 
22,  1839;  George  W.,  May  3,  1843; 
Lewis  B.,  Dec.  3,  1846 ;  John  R.,  May  3, 
1856;  Caroline  E.,  born  Jan.  2,1852. 
Reuben  and  George  served  three  years  in 
the  late  war,  in  Co.  I,  1st  Tenn.  V.  C.  A. 
S.  is  in  Oakland,  Oregon ;  George  is  in 
Sumner  Co.,  Kan.;  the  rest  are  living 
here. 

JOHN  A.  WILSON,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Etna  ;  is  the  son  of  John  A.  and  Eliza- 
beth Wilson,  of  Coles  Co.;  was  born 
March  16,  1842;  is  the  owner  of  ninety- 
two  acres  of  land,  valued  at  $2,500.  Was 
married  to  Elizabeth  Jones,  of  Paradise 
Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  Dec.  3,  1868 ;  the  names 
of  the  children  by  this  union,  are  William 
S.,  George  N.,  John  0.,  James  M.  (died 
Oct.  3, 1874),  Mary  E.  and  Effie  G.  Mr. 
Wilson  served  in  the  late  war  in  Co.  D, 
123d  Regiment  I.  V.  I.  His  flither, 
John  A.  Wilson,  died  Oct.  12,  1842,  in 
St.  Louis,  and  his  mother,  June  18,  1852  ; 
Mr.    Wilson's    father   and    mother    were 


among  the  first  settlers  of  this  town- 
ship. 

BASIL  C.  WHEAT,  Paradise;  is  the 
son  of  James  0.  and  Margaret  Wheat ; 
was     born    in     Jackson,     Miss.,     March 

27,  1853;  moved  to  Coles  Co.,  111., 
March  12,  1863  ;  is  the  owner  of  fifty- 
five  acres  of  land,  valued  at  $2,500. 
Was  married  to  Mary  D.  Alexander,  of 
this  township,  Sept.  25,  1870 ;  the  names 
of  the  children  are  James  0.,  born  Feb. 

28,  1873 ;  Margaret  A.,  deceased ;  Nora 
J.,  born  Oct.  29,  1874;  Cora  M.,  born 
March  29,  1876;  Henrietta,  born  Aug. 
24,  1878.  Mr.  Wheat's  father,  James  0. 
Wheat,  is  still  living,  and  is  practicing 
medicine  in  this  township.  Was  in  the 
late  war  as  surgeon  in  21st  Kentucky  Reg- 
iment. His  mother,  Margaret  Wheat, 
died  Sept.  12,  1861,  in  the  25th  year  of 
her  age.  His  father  was  Legislator  two 
terms  in  Kentucky. 

GEORGE  W.  WILLSON,  farmer  ;  P. 
0.  Etna  ;  is  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
Willson  ;  was  born  in  Maryland,  Aug.  12, 
1826 ;  moved  to  Coles  Co.,  111.,  Sept.  12, 
1836,;  is  the  owner  of  700  acres  of  land, 
valued  at  or  near  $21,000  ;  was  Justice  of 
the  Peace  and  Road  Commissioner  for  a 
number  of  years.  Was  married  to  his 
first  wife,  July  12,  1836,  Sarah  Floyd; 
names  of  children,  boy,  Nicholas  P. ;  girls, 
Lillia  A.,  Rossy  J. ;  was  married  to  his 
second  wife,  Mary  S.  Myers,  widow  of 
Henry  H.  Tucher,  April  13,  1868  ;  names 
of  boys  living,  Francis  A.,  John  A. 
(deceased),  William  (deceased) ;  girl, Mag- 
gie E. ;  the  names  of  Mr.  Henry  Tucher's 
children,  living — girls,  Ada  U.,  Eva  B. ; 
children  dead — boy,  Arthur  S. ;  girl.  Bell 
L.  Henry  H.  Tucher  died  Aug.  25, 1866  ; 
was  born  Jan.  27,  1819. 

JAMES H.  WILLIAMS,  farmer;  P.O. 
Etna  ;  is  the  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
Williams,  of  Culpeper  Co.,  Va. ;  was  born 
June  12,  1826,  in  Culpeper  Co.,  Va. ; 
moved  with  his  folks  to  Coles  Co.,  Paradise 
Tp.,  111.,  on  Dec.  20,  1836;  is  the  owner 
of  171  acres  of  land,  valued  at  $4,500. 
Is  Commissioner  of  Highways,  and  has 
been  for  seven  years,  also  School  Director 
for  eight  years,  and  is  at  the,  present  time. 
Never  was  married.  His  father,  William 
Williams,  was  born  in  Culpeper  Co.,  Va., 
Aug.  3,  1789,  died  Jan  7,  1855,  in  the 
67th  year  of  his  age ;  his  mother  (Eliza- 


654 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 


beth  Williams)  was  born  in  Culpeper  Co.,  i  the  late  war  three  years,  in   Company  D., 
Va.,  April  22,  17U2,  died  Nov.  30,  1873,  I   123d  Volunteer  IlL 
in  the  84th  year  of  her  age.     He  served  in 


LA    FAYETTE    TOWNSHIP. 


G.  B.  DAVIS,  farmer,  Sec.  23;  P.  0. 
Loxa;  b(irn  in  Flutton  Tp.,  Coles  Co.,  Dec. 
12,  Ibolj  ;  was  brought  up  a  farmer;  re- 
ceived his  education  in  a  common  school 
during  the  winter  months.  Mr.  D.  re- 
sided at  home  with  his  parents  until  he 
was  32  years  of  age,  during  which  time  he 
assisted  on  the  farm  and  also  taught  school  ; 
he  taught  school  in  Button  Tp.  and  the  dis- 
trict where  he  now  resides  104  months  in  all. 
He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Atkins  Aus. 
12,  1869  ;  she  was  born  in  Clark  Co.,  this 
State,  Sept.  3,  1844;  have  two  children — 
Sarah  Annie  and  Mattic  L.  Held  office 
of  Town  Clerk  one  year,  and  Justice  of 
the  Peace  eight  years  ;  was  a  soldier  in  the 
late  war ;  served  in  Co.  C,  t)8th  I.  V.  I.  ; 
held  rank  of  Second  Lieutenant ;  went  j 
from  Charleston.  He  was  in  the  expedi- 
tion that  captured  John  Morgan  at  the 
time  of  his  famous  raid  in  Ohio.  Mr.  D. 
is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mrs. 
D.  belongs  to  the  Church  of  United  Breth- 
ren.  His  parents,  John  C.  and  Eliza- 
beth, were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
this  county.     Both  are  now  deceased. 

RICHARD  J.  HANCOCK,  farmer, 
Sec.  13  ;  P.  0.  Loxa  ;  owns  150  acres  ;  was 
born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides, 
Oct.  20,  1838;  was  raised  a  farmer.  Mar- 
ried Mary  E.  Snitt  (daughter  of  John  S. 
Snitt,  Esq.)  Nov.  30,  1865;  she  was  born 
in  Guernsey  Co.,  Ohio,  April  3,  1848  ;  have 
six  children — Nona,  Anna,  Nellie,  John 
C,  Carrie  and  Amanda  S.  Mr.  H.'s 
father  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  March 
13, 1797  ;  went  to  Kentucky  with  his  par- 
en  rs  when  an  infant.  At  the  age  of  10 
years  he  went  to  Indiana,  and  then  to  this 
county  in  1830.  His  death  occurred  Feb. 
19,  1871,  where  the  subject  of  this  s^ketch 
now  resides.  His  first  settlement  was  on 
this  farm  ;  here  he  raised  a  family  of  ten 
children,  only  two  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing ( the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  Mrs. 
Jones,  of  Loxa).  Mr.  H.'s  mother  (Keziah)  , 
was  born  in  Virginia,  April  13,  1801  ;  her 


death  occurred  here  April  4,  1876.  Mr. 
H.  had  two  brothers  in  the  army  during 
the  late  war — John  F.,  killed  at  Perry- 
ville,  Ky.,  Oct.  8,  1862,  and  William  T., 
who  died  at  home,  Jan.  20,  1872.  Both 
were  members  of  the  123d  I.  V.  I. 

WILLIAM  R.  JONES,  farmer,  Sec. 
28;  P.  0.  Mattoon;  owns  726  acres  ;  born 
in  Harrison  Co.,  Ky.,  Aug.  14,  1808 ; 
came  to  this  township  in  1834  and  made 
a  crop  ;  then  went  to  Kentucky  and  worked 
four  years  on  his  mother's  farm,  his  father 
having  died  when  he  (the  subject  of  this 
sketch)  was  23  years  old  ;  he  then  re- 
turned to  this  county  in  company  with 
his  mother  and  a  sister,  and  settled  where 
he  now  resides.  He  was  married  to  Eliza 
P.  Threlkeld  (daughter  of  the  late  Rev. 
Thomas  Threlkeld)  Oct.  18,  1853;  she 
died  Dec.  31,  1856  ;  had  two  children  by 
this  marriage — Thomas  T.  (born  Oct.  12, 
1854)  and  William  (born  Nov.  21,  1856)  ; 
both  are  now  living  ;  his  second  marriage 
was  to  Elizabeth  Ewing,  March  25,  1862  ; 
she  was  born  Dec.  28,  1829 ;  by  this 
union  they  have  one  child — Sarah  Louisa, 
born  April  7,  1866.  Mr.  J.  was  the  first 
Supervisor  in  the  township  and  held  that 
office  three  terms.  Mr.  J.  was  formerly  a 
Henry  Clay  Whig,  after  which  he  became 
identified  with  the  Republican  party,  the 
principles  of  which  he  is  a  strong  supporter ; 
Mr.  J.  has  never  had  but  two  homes — the 
place  where  he  was  born  in  Kentucky  and 
his  present  home  ;  he  is  an  extensive  farmer 
and  raises  large  quantities  of  stock  and 
grain.  Mr.  J.  was  a  warm  friend  of  the 
soldiers  during  the  late  war  ;  a  more  kind 
and  benevolent  man  to  the  poor  probably 
does  not  exist  in  Coles  Co. 

WILLIAM  LEITCH,  far.,  Sec.  20  ; 
P.  0.  Mattoon  ;  owns  115  acres;  born  in 
Highland  (formerly  Pendleton)  Co.,  Va., 
Nov.  11,  1816  ;  was  raised  a  farmer;  has 
also  worked  at  blacksmithing  and  cooper- 
ing; is  also  a  millwright.  Married  Eunice 
Raines  Nov.  18,  1841  ;  she  was  also  born 


LA  FAYETTE  TOWNSHIP. 


655 


in  Highland  Co.,  March  12,  1822;  she 
died  March  28,  1877  ;  had  ten  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  now  living — Andrew  J., 
Huldah,  Mary,  Susan,  Frank,  Ingabo 
Ridley  (Indian  name),  Irene  and  Charles; 
the  names  of  the  deceased  were  John 
Russell  and  Leva.  Mr.  L.  holds  the  oflBce 
of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  office  he 
has  held  for  twenty-seven  years  ;  has  held 
every  office  in  the  town  except  Collector ; 
Mr.  L.  formerly  kept  a  docket ;  he  now 
does  most  of  the  legal  business  in  the 
township.  Mr.  L.  came  to  this  county 
Nov.  11,  1845  ;  he  made  the  trip  in  a  two- 
horse  wagon  ;  Mr.  L.  is  noted  for  his  re- 
markable memory  and  good  judgment ;  his 
schooling  was  limited  —  about  eighteen 
months  in  all.  His  son  Andrew  was  a 
soldier  during  the  late  war,  and  partici- 
pated in  the  destruction  of  Spanish  Fort; 
was  under  Gen.  Steele. 

B.  B.  SHINN,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Mattoon; 
owns  142  acres  ;  was  born  in  Montgomery 
Co.,  Ohio,  March  10,1824;  was  brousiht 
up  a  farmer.  He  married  Margaret  Bar- 
calow  Jan.  1,  1845  ;  she  was  born  in  But- 
ler Co.,  Ohio,  July  14,  1824;  they  have 
had  three  children ;  only  one  (G.  B.)  is 
now  living ;  he  was  born  in  Bartholomew 
Co.,  Ind.,  Oct.  20,  1851.  He  married 
Cornelia  M.  Ricketts  Feb.  11,  1872;  she 
was  born  in  Charleston  March  19,  1853; 
is  a  daughter  of  Joshua  Ricketts,  Esq.,  of 
Ashmore  Tp. ;  they  have  had  three  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  now  living — Nellie 
and  0.  Morton  ;  Katie  is  the  name  of  the 
deceased.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  had 
two  other  children — James,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  22  years ;  a  twin  to  the  latter 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  S.  has  held  the  office 
of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Supervisor  and 
Town  Clerk.  He,  in  company  with  his 
wife,  spent  five  months  at  the  Centennial 
Exhibition  in  Philadelphia,  in  1876.  He 
was  appointed  by  the  Governor  of  this 
State  as  Assistant  Commissioner  at  that 
exhibition  ;  he  purchased  a  county  right 
for  a  patent  farm-gate,  while  at  that  Exhi- 
bition, that  is  worth  the  attention  of  every 
farmer ;  it  is  simple  and  cheap,  and  a  per- 
son does  not  have  to  alight  from  a  load  of 
hay  or  a  wagon  to  open  it ;  it  costs  no  more 
than  a  common  gate ;  the  inventor  was  a 
Canadian,  and,  of  course,  it  is  constructed 
so  that  deep  snows  are  no  hindrance  to  its 
being  opened  or  shut  at  any  time  without 


the  trouble  of  shoveling  snow  ;  it  will  pay 
any  person  to  travel  a  long  distance  to  see 
this  gate  ;  there  is  no  doubt  but  what  they 
will  come  in  general  use  just  as  fast  as  the 
people  find  out  that  there  is  such  a  simple 
device  in  existence. 

THOMAS  T.  THRELKELD,  farmer 
and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Mattoon;  is  a  na- 
tive of  Coles  Co.;  he  was  born  in  La  Fay- 
ette Tp.  May  22,  1848  ;  he  is  a  son  of 
Matthew  P.  Threlkeld,  and  a  grandson  of 
Thomas  Threlkeld,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
this  county,  who  came  from  Scott  Co.,  Ky., 
in  1830;  his  grandfather  was  a  Baptist 
minister,  and  a  prominent  citizen,  being, 
in  1840,  a  member  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature ;  he  entered  a  large  farm  in  what  is 
now  La  Fayette  Tp.,  and  resided  there  till 
his  death,  in  1863.  Matthew  P.  Threl- 
keld, his  son,  and  the  father  of  Thomas 
T.,  is  now  a  resident  of  the  township. 
Thomas  T.  Threlkeld  was  married  Feb.  9, 
1875,  to  Miss  Emma  Monroe,  a  daughter 
of  the  late  Dr.  John  Monroe,  of  Charles- 
ton ;  they  have  one  child — PJrle. 

MATTHEW  P.  THRELKELD,  Sec. 
15,  farmer;  P.  0.  Mattoon;  born  in  Har- 
rison Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  7,  1816;  was  raised 
a  farmer;  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
county  in  1830 ;  was  married  Aug.  25, 
1842,  to  Martha  A.  Gruelle  ;  she  was  born 
in  Harrison  Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  16,  1822;  she 
came  to  this  county  with  her  parents  in 
1834 ;  have  had  seven  children,  three  of 
whom  are  now  living — Thomas  T.,  Martha 
E.  and  Susan  E. ;  the  names  of  the  de- 
ceased were  Nancy,  Mary,  Maria  and  Isaac. 
Martha  E.  was  married  Dec.  4,  1874,  to 
W.  J.  Guthrie ;  he  was  born  in  this  town- 
ship April  10,  1846;  Mr.  T.'s  parents, 
Thomas  and  Patsy,  were  among  the  first 
settlers  of  this  township  ;  his  father  was 
born  Nov.  7,  1793,  died  April  19,  1865  ; 
his  mother  was  born  Oct.  21,  1790,  and 
died  June  28,  1862  ;  their  marriage  took 
place  Dec.  1,  1813.  Mr.  T.'s  father  was 
a  regular  ordained  Baptist  minister;  he 
was  baptized  in  March  1812  ;  commenced 
preaching  in  Kentucky  in  1819  ;  was  the 
first  preacher  in  this  township  in  1830  ; 
attended  four  churches  and  continued  in 
the  work  until  his  death ;  was  well  and 
favorably  known  throughout  the  section 
where  he  resided.  Nearly  all  the  marriage 
ceremonies  of  the  early  days  of  the  settle- 
ment  of  the    county  were  performed  by 


656 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES 


him.  Mr.  Guthrie  resides  on  the  home- 
stead with  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and 
carries  on  the  business  of  farming  ;  he  has 
held  several   town  offices ;    is  at  present 


School  Trustee  ;  he  has  had  three  children, 
two  living  and  one  deceased  ;  the  names  of 
the  living  are  Edward  Thomas  and  Leila ; 
the  deceased  was  named  Mabel. 


EHR^T^. 


BIOGRAPHIES  TOO  LATE  FOR  INSERTION  IN  PROPER  PLACE. 


MATTOON    TOWNSHIP. 


ISAAC  N.  McPHERON,  farmer ;  P. 
0.  Mattoon  ;  is  the  son  of  Alexander  and 
Sarah  McPheron,  of  Alabama ;  was  born 
Nov.  20,  1825,  in  Alabama;  moved  to 
Coles  Co.,  Paradise  Tp.,  Jan.  15, 1877.  Is 
the  owner  of  89  acres  of  land  valued  at  or 
near  $3,500 ;  held  no  public  office  in  this 
township.  Was  married  to  Matilda  Shook 
Feb.  11,  1846  ;  names  of  children — boys, 
Samuel  B.,  John  A.,  Oscar  P.,  Allen,  Lo- 
gan ;  (deceased,  boy,  Leuellen) ;  girls, 
Carrie  A.,  Alice,  Flora  T. ;  deceased,  girls. 
(Roxanna  and  Henrietta  R.);  his  father 
is  dead  ;  died  in  Mattoon  Jan.  26,  1873, 
in  the  72d  year  of  his  age ;  his  mother 
died  in  Montezuma,  Ind.,  May  3,  1847, 
in  the  50th  year  of  her  age. 

THOMAS  J.  CURRY,  farmer;  P.  0. 
Mattoon  ;     is  a  son  of  James   and  Polly 


Curry,  of  Coles  Co.,  111.  ;  was  born  in 
Lincoln  Co.,  Tenn.,  Sept.  7, 1812  ;  moved 
to  Coles  Co.  with  his  folks  Dec.  12,  1832. 
Is  the  owner  of  250  acres  of  land  valued  at 
or  near  $10,000  ;  was  School  Trustee  and 
Director  for  a  number  of  terms.  Was  mar- 
ried to  first  wife,  Martha  Langston,  March 
29, 1833  ;  names  of  children — boys,  James 
E.,  William  L.,  (Thomas  T.,  deceased)  ; 
girls,  Mary  A.,  Stacy  J.,  Penia  N.  Was 
married  to  his  second  wife,  Debora  Mat- 
thews, Dec.  8,  1846  ;  names  of  children — 
John  H.,  Daniel  W. ;  girls,  Martha  E., 
Sarah  B.  Ange;  his  father,  James  Curry, 
died  March  6,  1846,  in  the  55th  year  of  his 
age;  his  mother  died  Aug.  5,  1855, in  the 
60th  year  of  her  age  ;  both  died  in  this 
county  and  Paradise  Tp. 


TAX-PAYEES  OF  COLES  COUNTY. 


^BBRE'VIA.'TIONS. 


Adv Adventist 

agt agent 

Bapt Baptist 

bkpr bookkeeper 

bwr brewer 

brklayr bricklayer 

carp carpenter 

Cath Catholic 

elk clerk 

Ch Church 

Co Company  or  County 

com.  mer commission  merchant 

Cong Congregational 

Bem Democrat 

dlr dealer 

dgst druggist 

Episcopal Episcopal 

Evang Evangelist 

Ind 7. Independent 

I.  V.  I Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry 

I.  "V.  C Illinois  Volunteer  Cavalry 

I.  V.  A Illinois  Volunteer  Artillery 

far farmer 


fdry foundry 

gro grocer 

lab laborer 

Meth Methodist 

mfr manufacturer 

macb machinist 

mkr maker 

mech mechanic 

mer merchant 

min minister 

phot photographer 

phys physician 

Presb Presbyterian 

pr printer 

ptr painter 

prop proprietor 

Kep Bepublican 

Rev Eeverend 

sec section  or  secretary 

slsmn salesman 

Spir Spiritualist 

supt superintendent 

treas treasurer 


CHARLESTON    TOWNSHIP. 

(P.  O.  CHARLESTON.) 


American  Express  Company. 

Adams,  Samuel,  farmer. 

Alvay,J.M.,  City  Mills. 

Alexander,  R.,  breeder  of  Poland-China 

swine. 
Aslimore  &  Mitchell,  boots  and  shoes. 
Arnold,  Stephen,  farmer. 
Anderson,  Henerly,  jeweler. 
Adkins,  J.  M.,  Sr.,  farmer. 
Adkins,  W.  R.,  farmer. 
Adkins,  G.  M.,  farmer. 
Adkins.  liTathaniel,  farmer. 
Alwell,  Thomas,  laborer. 
Ashmore,  H.  M.,  stock-dealer. 
Adkins,  J.  M.,  Jr.,  farmer. 
Adkins,  J.  "W.,  farmer. 
Ashmore,  James  M.,  stock-dealer. 
Bagley,  Tillman,  horticulturist. 
Barnes,  Silas,  druggist. 
Buel,  George  IST.,  laborer. 
Beadle,  Richard,  laborer. 
Ball,  Tennessee,  farmer. 
Baiter,  M.,  cigar-maker. 
Bergfeld,  Richard,  saloon. 
Baughman,  A. 
Bunnell,  James  W. 
Buckner,  J.  M.,  engineer. 
Bates,  J.  R.,  farmer. 
Bates,  John,  farmer. 
Brown,  J.  O.,  farmer. 


Buckner,  H.  P., 

Bishop,  Stephen,  farmer. 

Barnard,  H.  C,  physician  and  surgeon. 

Birch,  George,  farmer. 

Byers,  James,  farmer. 

Bishop,  r.  L.,  dry   goods,  notions  and 

millinery. 
Ball,  J.  W.,  farmer. 

Bain,  A.  N.,  foundry  and  machine-shop. 
Brewer,  George,  attorney  at  law. 
Berner,  Elias,  boot  and  shoe  mfr. 
Briggs,  C.    R.,    portrait   and   live-stock 

painter. 
Briggs,  Andrew,  stone-cutter. 
Barton.  Patrick,  grocer. 
Briggs,  Alex.,  marble  and  stone  works. 
Berry,  William  T. 
Brown,  J.  I.,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
Beckom.  John,  carpenter. 
Brooks,  Flavins. 

Brazelton,  William  A.,  carpenter. 
Blankenbaker,  N.  J.,  farmer. 
Bemont,  Dennis,  laborer. 
Bailes,  Arch.,  farmer. 
Bowlen,  Daniel,  farmer. 
Brown,  J.  W.,  farmer. 
Batty,  William  C,  cooper. 
Briggs,  P.  G.,  cooper. 
Bain,  J.  A.,  agent. 
Buck,  E.  B.,  publisher  Charleston  Courier. 


658 


TAX-PAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY; 


Bowhall,  v.,  farmer. 

Burk,  Thomas,  farmer. 

Burk,  James,  farmer. 

Brown,  Alexander,  farmer. 

Brown,  M.  G..  farmer. 

Brown,  W.  Y.,  farmer. 

Brown,  M.  D.,  farmer. 

Bails,  Andrew,  farmer. 

Balch,  Amelia,  widow. 

Burton,  G.  W.,  plasterer. 

Blakeman,  E.,  miller. 

Bradley,  H.  E.,  grocer. 

Chainbers,  AV.  M.,  Sr.,  physician  and  sur- 
geon. 

Curd,  Daniel,  liarness-maker. 

Cramer,  Nicholas,  blacksmith  and 
wagon-maker. 

Corbin,  Elliott,  farmer. 

Cunningham,  J.  R.,  County  Judge. 

Curd,  Edmond.  retired. 

Curd,  V.  K.,  broker. 

Cox,  C.  F.,  horse  trader. 

Clark,  E.  H.,  undertaker. 

Connolly,  J.  A.,  attorney  at  law. 

Crim,  liufus  S.,  cooper. 

Clark,  P.,  laborer. 

Clark,  J.  T.,  lal)orer. 

Cossell,  James,  laborer. 

Compton,  A.,  retired. 

Chambers,  G.  R.,  dry  goods. 

Cooper,  Andrew,  farmer. 

Cook,  John,  farmer. 

Chadwick,  H.  M.,  guard  at  R.  R.  bridge. 

Case,  Phillip  B.,  farmer. 

Case,  J.  P.,  farmer. 

Cooper,  r.,  stock-dealer. 

Clary,  Chas.,  Cashier  Second  Nat'l  Bank. 

Chambers,  T.  G.,  Pres.  First  Nat'l  Bank. 

Coon,  W.  S.,  contractor  and  builder. 

Curd,  J.  E.,  harness,  saddlery,  etc. 

Clark,  C,  retired. 

Clary,  Robert  B.,  traveling  agent. 

Clarke,  E.  C,  attorney  at  law. 

Calvert,  D.  II.,  druggist. 

Catlin,  George  L.,  carpenter. 

Chintz,  Barl)ara. 

Cross,  Alfred,  farm  hand. 

Courtoney,  George  W.,  carpenter. 

Cox,  Giles,  farmer. 

Chambers,  W.  M.,  Jr.,  physician. 

Collier,  H.  A.,  miller. 

Cassady,  Daniel,  farmer. 

Cassady,  D.  M.,  farmer. 

Corbin,  William,  farmer. 

Colvey,  Lewis,  broom-maker. 

Craig,  I.  N.,  i-etired. 

Chainbers,  J.  A.,  carpenter. 

Coon,  Christopher,  carpenter. 

Cliapman,  A.  H.,  land  agent. 

Clark,  J.  H.,  abstract  office. 

Cox,  Robert  N. 

Clark,  I.  N.,  farmer. 

Cassady,  Jolni,  farmer. 

Comer,"  Morton,  farmer. 

Carben,  W.,  farmer. 

Channey,  James,  farmer. 

Corbin,  8.  D.,  farmer. 

Corbin,  R.,  farmer. 


Clark,  Thomas,  laborer. 

Curd,  O.  T.,  clerk. 

Cossell,  Lydia,  widow. 

Courtney,  W.,  widow. 

Carman,  J.  C,  Mrs.,  widow. 

Caylor,  J.W.,  brickmaker, 

Courtney,  G.  A.,  farmer. 

Collom,  J.  M.,  farmer. 

Calhoun,  E.  J.,  widow. 

Coverstone,  L.  C.,  laborer. 

Chilton,  James,  farmer. 

Dunbar,  Lucian  S.,  grocer. 

Dunbar,  A.  M.,  teacher. 

Dougherty,  John,  laborer. 

Debboldt,  John,  laborer. 

Denman,  L.  M. 

Decker,  Emily. 

Davis,  Warren,  groceries. 

Davis,  Jewell,  physician. 

Davis,  R.  J.,  farrner. 

Davis,  C.  L.,  Teller  First  National  Bank. 

Davis,  Louisa,  Mrs.,  widow, 

Dickens,  Eunice,  boarding-house. 

Dowling,  R.  J.,  widow. 

Dunbar,  A.  P.,  attorney  at  law. 

Davis,  0.  P.,  farmer. 

Dowling,  Thomas,  carpenter,  etc. 

De  Vault,  J.  F.,  blacksmith. 

De  Vault,  M.,  blacksmith  and  plow-shop 

Dodds,  B.  W.,  grocer. 

Doty,  James,  farmer. 

Doty,  .James,  Jr.,  farmer. 

Dora,  John  F.,  farmer. 

Doty,  Levi,  farmer. 

Doty,  Samuel,  farmer. 

Doty,  J.  W.,  farmer. 

Doty,  J.  I.,  farmer. 

Doty,  J.  M..  farmer. 

Doty,  E.  T.,  farmer. 

Dikbb,  J.  W.,  jeweler. 

Dadman,  D.,  clerk. 

Decker,  J.  K.,  retired. 

Dawson,  Benjamin,  dry  goods. 

Dannett,  D.  E.,  miller. 

Davis,  Otis,  butcher. 

Eaton,  Stirling,  carpenter. 

Eastin,  H.,  wood-worker. 

Eastin,  Elisha,  retired  merchant. 

Ennis,  J.  R.,  farmer. 

Evans,  J.  W..  boots  and  shoes. 

Evans  &  Rail,  boots  and  shoes. 

Evinger,  D.  P.,  miller. 

Fowler,  H. 

Fisher,  W.  W.,  pump-shop. 

Fildes,  Joseph  8.,  carder. 

Fancier,  David,  engineer. 

Farell,  Eli,  farmer. 

Frommel,  F.,  woolen  manufacturer. 

Funk,  John,  broom-winder. 

Freeman,  H.  B.,  contractor  and  builder. 

Ficklin,  A.  C.  attorney  at  law. 

Ferrish.  E.  R.,  clerk. 

Finch,  James,  farmer. 

Field,  D.  T.,  farmer. 

Fackler,  Lee,  carpenter. 

Frost,  Lewis,  farmer. 

Frost,  II.  T.,  farmer. 

Ferguson,  E.  H.,  farmer. 


CHARLESTON  TOWNSHIP. 


659 


"Feiguson,  Clark,  farmer. 

"JFrench,  W.  H.,  blacksmith. 

Flemming,  Arch.,  plasterer. 

riemming,  J.,  farmer. 

Ferguson,  W.  T.,  laborer. 

Fisher,  J.  M.,  farmer. 

Frisbie,  Fred,  farmer. 

Fudge,  W.  F.,  farmer. 

Feagan,  Andrew,  farmer. 

Feagaii,  J.  W.,  farmer. 

Francis,  G.  W.,  laborer. 

Fisher,  A.  M.,  traveling  salesman. 

Ficklin,  O.  B.,  attorney  at  law. 

Fryer,  A.  J.,  attorney  at  law. 

Ferguson,  Susan  P.,  widow. 

Ginther,  W.  E.,  hardware,  farin  machin- 
ery and  insurance. 

Groves,  A.  M.,  thresher. 

Groves,  J.  W.  B.,  farmer. 

Gilman,  li.,  laborer. 

Goodwin,  George,  farmer. 

Goodwin,  \V.  A.,  farmer. 

Gerard,  M.  D.,  farmer. 

Gerard,  B.  C,  farmer. 

Gerard.  O.  H.,  farmer. 

Goodman,  George,  farmer. 

Gee,  James. 

Grigsby,  G.  H.,  plasterer. 

Graham,  Hannah,  widow. 

Gobble,  John,  farmer. 

Goodman,  Wilson,  Road  Supervisor. 

Guiney,  C,  laborer. 

Goodrich,  Samuel  W.,  sexton. 

Gray,  A.  E.,  carpenter. 

Goodman,  Thomas,  clergyman. 

Glosser,  J.  IT. 

Glassco,  S.  M.,  farmer. 

Glassco,  Milford,  farmer. 

Glassco,  A.  E.,  farmer. 

Glassco,  Emmett,  farmer. 

Griinth,  Joseph  Z.,  clerk. 

Griffin,  G.  B.,  book-keeper  and  salesman. 

Gordon,  John,  farmer. 

Gilbert,  George,  farmer. 

Gallagher,  Rachel,  widow. 

Griffith,  J.  C,  salesman. 

Gage,  G.  N.,  lumber. 

Garver,  John,  farmer. 

Green,  J.  F.,  farmer. 

Green,  J.  W.,  farmer. 

Gofl,  H.  L.,  farmer. 

Griffith,  John,  farmer. 

GofC.  W.  H.,  farmer. 

Gillett,  J.  I.,  farmer. 

Goodman,  P.  F.,  carpenter. 

Gray,  I.  P.,  drayman. 

•Gramesly,  C,  liquor-dealer. 

Ginther,  W.E.,  hardware,  farm  machin- 
ery and  insurance. 

Gage,  Joseph,  miller. 

Hughes,  William,  farmer. 

Hayes,  Richard,  laborer. 

Hersey,  W.  E.,  clothing. 

Hill,  J.  B.,  grocer. 

Hinkley,  P.,  hardware,  etc. 

Hayden,  J.  C,  plasterer. 

Hill,  Lucinda. 

Hill,  James  B.,  grocer. 


Hutchinson,  C.  W.,  drug  clerk. 

Hill  &  Co.,  grocers. 

Hederich,  John,  tobacco. 

Hutton,  Thomas,  grocer. 

Hughs,  John,  cook. 

Henderson,  John. 

Harry,  W.  E.,  blacksmith. 

Harding,  Eveline,  widow. 

Hutchinson,  Corbin,  retired. 

Hackett,  R.  P.,  farmer. 

Huntington,  S.  G.,  farmer. 

Hackett,  R.  M.,  farmer. 

Harris,  D.  Ij.,  farmer. 

Howlett,  E.,  farmer. 

Hutchinson,  R.  M.,  farmer. 

Hall,  J.  C,  dentist. 

Hall,  J.  W.,  clothing,  etc. 

Haselton,  J.  B..  hotel  and  livery. 

Harding,  William  L.,  clerk. 

Harrah,  J.  P.,  attorney  at  law. 

Hedrick,  T.  J. 

Hampton,  Mrs.,  widow. 

Harr,  Charles,  salesman. 

Hutchinson,  P.  Mrs., 

Huson,  G.  E.,  laborer. 

Howard,  Julia,  laundress. 

Hughes,  Isaac  L.,  carpenter. 

Huffman,  James,  farmer. 

Hughes,  Charles,  engineer. 

Hughes,  William  G.,  laborer. 

Harr,  Margarett,  boarding-house. 

Harlow,  John,  farmer. 

Hall,  J.  P.,  farmer. 

Hutchinson,  J.  L.,  farmer 

Hall,  Millard,  farmer. 

Holland,  J.  M.,  farmer. 

Hardesty,  Eliza  C,  farmer. 

Harvev,  John,  farmer. 

Handwork,  Albert,  farmer. 

Hutton,  Letitia,  widow. 

Hutchison,  M.  J. 

Hughes,  J.  W.,  clerk  and  book-keeper. 

Henderson,  W.  W.,  farmer. 

Hill,  X.  W. 

Henderson,  J.  F. 

Hiser,  Jacob,  farmer. 

Heater,  A.,  farmer. 

Hill,  Benjamin,  farmer. 

Howlett,  J.,  laborer. 

Heath,  J.  K.,  marble  agent. 

Higinbotham,  R.  S.,  capenter. 

Hayes,  James  P.,  laborer. 

Howlett,  Thomas,  laborer. 

Huron,  Eli,  books  and  stationery. 

Hodgen,  A.  C,  groceries. 

Hendrick,  John. 

Heath,  Henry,  trader. 

Hall,  John,  farmer. 

Henderson,  A.  L.,  farmer. 

Hawkins,  F.  A.,  farmer. 

Hardesty,  J.  D.,  molder. 

Huffman,  IST.  B.,  farmer. 

Hardesty,  J.  E.,  molder. 

Huffman,  J.  T.,  farmer. 

Hart,  R.  W.  S.,  laborer. 

Hunt,  G.  W.,  farmer. 

Hildreth.  John,  farmer. 

Huffman,  William,  farmer. 


660 


TAX-PAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY  : 


Hunt,  Mary  A.,  farmer. 
Hampton,  George,  laborer. 
Heath,  E.  M.,  farmer. 
Heath,  C.  E.,  farmer. 
Holston,  M.  O.,  laborer. 
Hill,  E.  8.,  farmer. 
Heddins.  Oscar,  farmer. 
Heddins,  Charles,  farmer. 
Highland,  W.  K.,  County  Clerk. 
Hampton,  E.  H.,  laborer. 
Hibbard,  G.  J.,  insurance  agent. 
Huckaba,  Albert,  farmer. 
Hodgen,  E.  S.,  abstract  office. 
Hodgen,  A.  E.,  widow. 
Hedden,  B.  F.,  farmer. 
Hampton,  W.  E.,  dry  goods. 
Jenkins,  E.  A.,  dry  goods. 
Jenkins,  AV.  M..  dry  goods. 
Jefferies,  Bell,  millinery. 
Johnston,  I.  H.,  Pres.  Second  Nat'l  Bk. 
Johnston,  Felix,  Teller  Second  Nat'l  Bk. 
Jones,  Harvey,  farmer. 
Johnson,  E.  0.,  clothing. 
Johnson,  J.  A.,  farmer. 
Johnson,  J.  J.,  farmer. 
"?iJones  M.  James. 
Johns,  S.  S.,  carpenter. 
Jones,  S.  J.,  boarding-house. 
Jefferies,  Martha,  widow. 
Johnson,  S- 
James,  John,  laborer. 
Kellogg,  George,  Mrs.,  widow. 
Kershaw,  M.,  spinner. 
King,  A.,  laborer. 
Knock,  F.,  pattern-maker. 
Keist,  F.  M.,  painter. 
Koontz,  P.,  musician. 
Kelly,  E.  L.,  farmer. 
Kelly,  J.  S..  farmer. 
Kenedy,  S..  Mrs.,  widow. 
King,  Hayden,  farmer. 
Kaw,  Peter,  farmer. 
Kaw,  Philip,  farmer. 
Kaw,  E.  A.,  farmer. 
Keller,  J.  E. 
Keist,  S.  J.,  cooper. 
Kelley,  Thomas,  laborer. 
Kible'r,  W.  jST.,  drayman. 
Kane,  Eobert,  cooper. 
Keleher,  M.,  farmer. 
Kelly,  Michael,  farmer. 
Landes  &  Son,  merchant  tailors. 
Linder,  G.  W..  farmer. 
J-iOtta,  A.  B.,  farmer. 
Joinder,  Jacob,  farmer. 
Letner,  C  C,  laborer. 
J^ane,  Nelson  W. 
Landes,  Samuel,  harness-maker. 
l.,umbrick,  J.,  farmer. 
Letner,  Ezra  M..  farmer. 
Lanman,  S.  W.,  farmer. 
Lutz,  Frederick,  gardener. 
Eogan,  Charles,  farmer, 
Liston,  J.,  harness,  saddlery,  etc. 
Lewis,  Thomas,  laborer. 
Eiuder  &  Stinnel,  farmers  and  traders. 
Lemmons,  Jack,  farmer. 
WcNutt,  E.  F.,  house-furnishing  goods. 


McNutt,  Mary  E.,  widow. 

McHenry,  C. 

Mason,  Austin  &  Co.,  meat-market. 

Mitchell.  I.  B.,  groceries  and  provisions. 

Mitchell,  Alex.  C,  books  and  stationery. 

Miles,  T.  C,  veterinary  surgeon. 

Moore,  Andrew,  jeweler  and  druggist. 

Morton,  F.  M. 

Messick,  Thomas  W.,  salesman. 

Mischler,  P.  P.,  cigar  manufacturer. 

Mumtord,  L.  S.,  Captain  Hose  Company. 

McDonald,  Charles,  miller. 

Mvers,  Amos,  retired. 

McCrory,  W.  E.,  Cashier  First  Nat.  Bk. 

Mannifold,  E.,  laborer. 

McConnell  &  Co.,  publishers  Charleston 
Plaindeale)-. 

Mason,  C,  meat-market. 

Mitchell,  A.  C,  books  and  stationery. 

Mitchell,  L.  C,  farmer. 

JSfcNutt,  S.  M.,  farmer. 

Mitchell,  J.  A.,  farmer. 

Millege,  Henry,  farmer. 

McHugh,  Francis,  E.  E.  section  bos.s. 

McMullen.  E.,  farmer. 

Mullen,  Josepliine,  millinery. 

Mullen,  Joanah,  millinery. 

Monroe,  Hannah,  widow. 

Monroe,  Lewis,  flour-mills.  i 

Martin,  E.  J.,  laborer. 

Meyer,  Solomon,  clothing. 

Mitchell,  G.  M.,  Postmaster. 

March,  T.  J.,  Sr.,  furniture. 

March,  T.  J.,  Jr.,  undertaker. 

Miller,  James  M.,  dry  goods. 

Minton,  W.  S-,  City  Mills. 

Minton,  Alvey  «fe  Co.,  City  Mills. 

Miller,  Charles,  farmer. 

Moore,  John,  teamster. 

Malone,  Thomas,  laborer. 

Moore.  J.  W.,  laborer, 

Metzler,  Adam,  meat  market. 

McNutt,  G.  T.,  house-furnishing  goods. 

Martin,  Jonathan,  farmer. 

Meyers,  Christ.,  farmer. 

Myers,  John,  farmer. 

Myers,  Abel,  farmer. 

McKinzie,  David,  farmer. 

McKinzie,  J.  A.,  farmer. 

Mock,  J.  W.,  miller. 

Miller,  Alexander,  farmer. 

Mason,  C,  butcher. 

Mock,  G.,  farmer. 

Millage.  James,  farmer. 

Millage,  George,  farmer. 

McDermit,  M.  M..  broom-maker. 

Morris,  W.  D.,  blacksmith   and  wagon- 
maker. 

McConnaha,  S.  F.,  hostler. 

Maishall,  B.  S.,  broom-maker. 

Marshall,  Ellen  I.,  widow. 

McCormick.  J.,  painter. 

McMurlrie.  David  F.,  carpenter. 

Moore,  Alaska,  farmer. 

McKee,  Thomas,  laborer. 

McKee,  Alexander,  farmer. 

McComas,  M.  V.,  farmer. 

Morgan,  John,  farmer. 


CHARLESTON  TOWNSHIP. 


661 


Merritt,  Samuel  H.,  blacksmith. 

Moore,  Levi,  farmer. 

McLelland,  James  H.,  farmer. 

McComas,  B.  F.,  carpenter. 

Marymee,  M.  T.,  photographer. 

Miles,  John  A.,  Assistant  Postmaster. 

Myers,  William,  carpenter. 

Morgan,  E.  P. 

Morris,  D.  P.,  bootmaker. 

Maxwell,  Luther,  farmer. 

Mullen,  James,  section  boss. 

Mount,  Elizabeth,  farmer. 

Monfort,  W.  H.,  farmer. 

Maxwell,  B.  E.,  carpenter. 

Moffltt,  Joseph,  farmer. 

Mitchell,  J.  D.,  plasterer. 

Mitchell,  A.  M.,  boots  and  shoes. 

Neal,  J.  F.,  grocer. 

Norfolk,  Sina. 

Neal,  J.  W.,  physician  and  surgeon. 

Nees,  Thomas,  farmer. 

Nees,  J.,  farmer. 

Nesbit,  S.  H.,  book-keeper. 

Nation,  Samuel,  cooper. 

Newby,  Albert  S.,  carpenter. 

Nicholson,  Isaac,  gardener. 

Norfolk,  Henry  E. C,  farmer. 

North,  F.  E.,  farmer. 

Nixon,  M.  C,  broom-manufacturer. 

Neal,  H..  A.,  attorney  at  law. 

Norris,  J.  E.,  farmer. 

Noble,  Luke,  farmer. 

Nation,  G.  F.,  cooper. 

Oliver,  James  A.,  farmer. 

Oliver,  J.  M.,  farmer. 

Oliver,  S.  H..  farmer. 

Oliver,  Fannie,  farmer. 

Oldham,  Mary,  farmer. 

O'Conor,  James,  farmer. 

Overhoalst,  B.,  farmer. 

01s en,  Ingel,  farmer. 

O'Grady,  D.  C,  painter. 

Overholsen,  A.,  farmer. 

Overholsen.  Aaron,  farmei-. 

Owens,  Benjamin,  farmer. 

Olmsted,  Charles,  farmer. 

Osborne,  M.,  widow. 

Prevo,  A.  II.,  farmer. 

Piper,  J.  A.,  Pastor  Presb.  Church. 

Plank,T.  J.,  clerk. 

Patterson,  Thomas,  farmer. 

Peyton,  Charles  A.,  physician. 

Perkins,  Alexander,  grocer. 

Poxton  &  Mitchell,  books  and  stationery. 

Post,  Edwin,  farmer. 

Peyton,  .Joseph,  farmer. 

Peake,  W.  O.,  clerk. 

Pinatel,  Charles,  retired. 

Paulding,  J.  B.,  carriage-maker. 

Parker,  J.  A.,  farmer. 

Patton,  W.  E.,  physician  and  surgeon. 

Pugh,  James,  blacksmith. 

Parker.  13.  A.,  farmer. 

Pearman,  E.,  retired. 

Parker,  I.  H.,  farmer. 

Padget,  K.,  widow. 

Ping,  S.  J.,  dressmaker. 

Pearcy,  J.  W.,  farmer. 


Plew,  J.  D.,  farmer. 
Poole,  Thomas  J.,  carpenter. 
Parker,  Margaret. 
Parker,  A.  A.,  farmer. 
Parker,  D.  M.,  farmer. 
Perrill,  Hugh,  plasterer. 
Quiggins,  H.  C.,  teamster. 
Eoberts,  S.  M.,  Mrs.,  widow. 
Eodgers,  J.  W.,  laborer. 
Eeynolds,  J.  W.,  farmer. 
Eyan,  John,  painter. 
Eeat,  Emeline,  widow. 
Bix,  Samuel,  farmer. 
Eosebrough,  J.  B.,  farmer. 
Eeynolds,  Joseph  B.,  laborer. 
Eobinson,  E.  W .,  farmer. 
Eamsey.  A.,  blacksmith. 
Eoss,  W.  T.,  farmer. 
Eeprogle,  M.,  farmer. 
Eeprogle,  E.  S.,  farmer. 
Eobinson,  W.  E.,  Circuit  Clerk. 
Eader,  A.  L.,  attorney  at  law. 
Bobbins,  M.  W.,  clerk. 
Eeynolds,  L.  C,  farmer. 
Eicketts,  ^V.  S.,  clerk. 
Eeid,  John  J^.,  farmer.  *" 

Eay,  S.  E.,  dry  goods. 
Eay  &  Hampton,  dry  goods. 
Eogers,  S.  W.,  farmer. 
Eobinson,  J.  W.,  farmer 
Eeeord,  S.  H.,  drain-tile  manufacturer. 
Eogers,  ('.  C,  druggist. 
Eobertson,  I.  M.,  teamster. 
Ehoads,  T.  B.,  farmer. 
Earodin,  J.  K.,  attorney  at  law. 
Eitchey,  A.,  boots  and  shoes. 
Eice,  John,  blacksmith. 
Eicketts,  J.  A.,  marble  works. 
Eicketts,  Wm.,  real  estate  and  claim  ag't 
Eicketts,  J.  T.,  marble-cutter. 
Eobertson,  W.,  shoemaker. 
Eamsey,  A.  J.,  laborer. 
Eeat,  J.  W.,  farmer. 
Eay,  L.  D.,  farmer. 
Eeat,  Eobert  L.,  farmer. 
Sisk,  Elias,  horse-dealer. 
Shorts,  J.,  speculator. 
Spears,  A.  K.,  physician  and  surgeon. 
Streeter,  Alexander. 
Sternberg,  A.,  clothing. 
Sternberg,  B.,  clothing. 
Stoddert,  Eichard,  hardware  and  lumber. 
Shriver,  M.  L.,  tinner. 
Said,  Harvey,  miller. 
Shaw,  A.  F.",  Police  Magistrate. 
Scheytt,  Conrad,  machinist. 
Spence,  Susan,  widow. 
Stoner,  F.,  farmer. 
Smith,  Nicholas,  laborer. 
Sanders,  Thomas,  farmer. 
Sutton,  H.  M.,  laborer. 
Stevens,  William,  farmer. 
Sells,  William,  farmer. 
Stevens,  James  W.,  farmer. 
Stoddert,  E.,  &  Sons,  hardware  and  lum- 
ber. 
Shriver,  L.  L.,  tinner. 
Skidmore  &  Co.,  harness,  saddlery,  etc. 


662 


TAX-PAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY: 


Skidmore,  O.,  harness,  saddlery,  etc. 

Stites,  Eicliard,  farmer. 

Skidmore,  James,  harness-maker. 

Simpson.  John  W.,  broom-maker. 

Smith,  J .  U.,  teamster. 

Schnorf,  Arthur,  farmer. 

Stiles,  James,  farmer. 

Starkweather,  C  C,  clerk. 

Stoddert,  Henry,  hardware  and  lumber. 

Scheytt,  Christian  J.,  saloon. 

Siller,  II.  C,  photographer. 

Shriver,  A.  C.,  stoves,  tinware  and  house- 
furnishing  goods. 

Shriver,  Charles  W.,  stoves,  tinware  and 
house-furnishing  goods. 

Sarchett,  G.  B.,  physician  and  surgeon. 

Swartz,  Cyrus,  bakery  and  confectionery. 

Swartz,  Scott  W.  S.,  laborer. 

Snider,  G.  W.,  grocer. 

Shafer,  Peter,  farmer. 

Scott,  James,  plasterer. 

Shoots.  E.  A.,  widow. 

Said,  Harvey,  miller. 

Shasberger,  Fred,  cooper. 

Snyder, "^Tohn  M.,  farmer. 

Smith,  M.  M.,  dressmaker. 

Shaw,  John  C.,  broom-maker. 

Sublet,  Thomas  C,  engineer. 

Scharer,  Dominick,  miller. 

Songer,  James  H.,  farmer. 

Sutton,  A.  M.,  farmer. 

Stites,  Jonathan,  farmer. 

Stites,  William,  farmer. 

Silance,  James  H.,  farmer. 

Stites,  John  M.,  farmer. 

Silverthorn,  L.  L.,  physician  and  surgeon. 

Steigman,  George,  Charleston  Pork-Pack- 
ing Houses. 

Sisk,  G.  W.,  cooper. 

Shriver,  L.  B.,  tinner. 

Shackleford,  James,  farmer. 

Sparks,  L.  B.,  Mrs.,  sewing-machine  agt. 

Stoner,  John,  farmer. 

Stephens,  John,  farmer. 

Sowers,  John,  farmer. 

Stein,  J.  G.,  painter. 

Smith,  Lewis,  farmer. 

Sarchett,  S.  B.,  dairyman. 

Shultz.  Ilousten,  farmer. 

Snyder,  William  S.,  laborer. 

Sidenstricker,  H.  K.,  farmer. 

Stites.  David,  farmer. 

Sallee,  E.  M.,  carpenter. 

Sampson,  Isaac,  teamster. 

Stoddert,  Thomas,  dry  goods. 

Shoemaker,  T.  T.,  farmer. 

Stewart,  l^obert,  carder. 

Shannahan,  Patrick,  railroad  laborer. 

Shafer,  L.,  farmer. 

Stimmel,  A.  J.,  farmer. 

Stoddert,  Thomas,  Jr.,  dry  goods. 

Sullivan,  Patrick,  laborer. 

Theaker,  J.  S.,  book  canvasser. 

Tillotston,  T.  E.,  book-keeper. 

Thayer,  W.  H.,  farmer. 

Tinkey,  Henry,  miller. 

Thompson,  C.  W.,  laborer. 

Tucker,  John  AV.,  brickmason. 


Traver,  W.  H.,  Mrs.,  broom-manufacturer. 

Theaker,  W.  C,  book  canvasser. 

Thomas,  L.  N.,  farmer. 

Tomlinson,  M.,  widow. 

Traver,  R.  A.,  broom-manufacturer. 

Trott,  Jolin,  broom-winder. 

Traver  &  Nixon,  broom-manufacturers. 

Trower,  Polly  A.,  Mrs. 

Temple,  A.  G.,  farmer-. 

Tucker,  George,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Thompson,  John,  farmer. 

Tremble,  D.  H.,  Deputy  Treasurer. 

Tuttle,  Daniel. 

Turman,  .lolm,  laborer. 

Trowel,  Adam,  farmer. 

Thrall,  S.  M.,  wool-sorter. 

Tinkle,  Mary  A.,  boarding-house. 

Troutman,  G.  B.,  grocer. 

Threlkeld,-  Thomas,  farmer. 

Taggart,  J.  M.,  farmer. 

Vantassel,  J.  W.,  farmer. 

Yeach,  .Jesse,  farmer. 

Yanderford,  Chas.,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Yeach,  John  P.,  farmer. 

Yail,  D.  D.,  carpenter. 

YaiU  Isaac,  livery-stable. 

Yeacli,  B.,  farmer. 

Yan  Sickle,  Daniel  A.,  Charleston  Hotel. 

Yan  Meter,  Sam'l,  physician  and  surgeon. 

Yan  Sickle,  J.  W.,  engineer. 

Yan  Sickle,  Aaron,  mechanic. 

Yan  Dyke,  Isaac  N.,  attorney  at  law. 

YanDeren,  J.  X. 

Yeneman,  J.  C,  clerk  Charleston  Hotel. 

Woodrum,  John  L.,  farmer. 

Woodworth,  A.  T.  C,  farmer. 

Wallace,  Joseph,  laborer. 

Watson,  M.  P.,  teamster. 

Wright,  Samuel,  salesman. 

Wright,  W.  G.,  groceries  and  provisions. 

Wesley,  Mary,  widow. 

Woods,  William  E.,  farmer. 

Wilber,  II.  U.,  &  Son,  farmers. 

Wesley,  Charles,  molder. 

Winters,  William,  teamster. 

Woodruff,  X.  Z.,  grocer. 

Whelan,  M.,  farmer. 

Wilson,  Charles  E.,  Charleston  Pork- 
Packing  House. 

White,  Benjamin,  laborer. 

Wigal,  George,  L.,  broom-maker. 

Woods,  T.  E.,  carpenter. 

White,  G.  W.,  farmer. 

Walker,  Eveline,  widow. 

Walker,  Henry,  farmer. 

Walker,  A.  F.,  farmer. 

Woodrum.  A.,  farmer. 

Walker,  ]SIary  F. 

Walton,  iST.,  salesman. 

Wenz,  John,  drayman. 

Weber,  John,  baker  and  confectioner. 

Weber  Bros.,  bakers  and  confectioners. 

Weber,  Daniel,  baker  and  confectioner. 

Weber,  Frances,  widow 

Weiss  &  Frommel,  woolen  manfrs. 

Weiss,  Ginther,  woolen  manufacturer. 

Wright,  Ilodgen  &  Co.,  groceries  and 
provisions. 


MATTOON  TOWNSHIP. 


663 


Winters,  Isaac,  merchant  tailor. 
Warden,  E.  B.,  clerk. 
Woods,  Samuel  W.,  farmer. 
Whittemore,  W.  A.,  horse-breeder. 
Wait,  Stephen. 
White,  John  H.,  farmer. 
Wright,  George  L.,  restaurant. 
White,  Owens,  farmer. 
Walker,  Mary,  Mrs.,  farmer. 
Walter,  W.  H.,  blacksmith. 
Walter,  George,  gardener. 
Warren,  James,  laborer. 
Whalen,  A.  Perry,  molder. 
Wenz,  William,  billiards. 
Wilson,  Sarah,  widow. 
Wilson,  J.  C. 


Wilson,  C.  E„  Charleston  Pork-Packing 

House. 
Watts,  Charles,  foreman . 
Wright,  James,  farmer. 
Weaver,  J.  W.,  farmer. 
Willingham,  J.  H.,  farmer. 
Waters,  L.  M.,  laborer. 
White,  William  H.,  farmer. 
Waters,  George  W.,  farmer. 
Weaver,  Henry,  farmer. 
Walker,  Edward,  horse-trader. 
Wissel,  Peter,  farmer. 
Wiley,  Eli,  attorney  at  law. 
Young,  T.  J.,  farmer. 
Young,  C.  M.,  sewing  machines. 
Young,  Robert,  sewing  machines. 


MATTOON    TOWNSHIP. 

(P.  O.  MATTOON.) 


Alshular,  Charles,  tr.  agt. 

Anderson,  Wm.  W.,  farmer. 

Anderson,  L.,  machinist. 

Adams,  Jesse,  Constable. 

Anderson,  Jacob,  col.  cook  Essex  House. 

Alshular,  Moses,  dry  goods  merchant. 

Aldrich,  I.  H.,  fruit  grower. 

Aubert,  John  L.,  surveyor. 

Anderson,  T.  P.,  laborer. 

Anderson,  George,  machinist. 

Augur,  W.  H.,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Abell  H.  F.,  left  State. 

Allen,  Charles  H.,  tinner. 

Allison,  John  L.,  butcher. 

Ayer,  H.  A.  Mrs.,  fruit  garden. 

Adams.  Luther. 

Anderson,  J.  S.,  Sec.  Masonic  B.  S. 

Allen,  S.  J.,  Mrs. 

Alshular,  Samuel,  milling  and  photo. 

Ayers,  I.  J.,  book  and  news  dealer. 

Ashbrook,  Samuel,  farmer. 

Abell,  M.  B.,  moved  to  Earned,  Kan. 

Ashworth,  Prank  A.,  grain  merchant. 

Anderson,  Peter. 

Anderson,  Charles  W.,  engineer. 

Anderson,  Philip,  Cooper. 

Auger,  S.  G.  butcher. 

Allison,  F.  A.,  attorney. 

Artaburn,  James  H.,  farmer. 

Alexander,  John. 

Adrian,  M.  M.,  farmer. 

Adrian,  John,  farmer. 

Ahrens,  Amelia. 

Albeck,  Jacob,  laborer. 

Ashbrook,  R.  W.,  farmer. 

Barney,  Homer,  mechanic. 

Baurn,  H.,  Mrs. 

Bennett,  Charles,  attorney. 

Brainard,  A.,  carpenter. 

Brawdy,  James,  laborer. 

Bond,  Holland,  laborer. 

Booth,  T.  D.,  Mrs.,  fruit  farm. 

Black,  Fred,  farmer. 

Beachum,  Bennett,  laborer. 


Brand,  Jonathan,  laborer. 
Bell,  J.  N.,  farmer. 
Bales,  T.  T.,  farmer. 
Bell,  Wm.  A.,  machinist. 
Benee,  M.  P.,  laborer. 
Bell,  Joseph,  farmer. 
Bell,  Isaac,  farmer. 
Brinager,  James  M.,  farmer. 
Barker,  H.  B.,  farmer. 
Barker,  M.  B.,  farmer. 
Barx',  Sarah,  farmer. 
Bellamy,  E.  E.,  farmer. 
Bellamy,  C  A.,  farmer. 
Barrett,  Richard. 
Burnett,  Eli,  engineer. 
Bombery,  Wm.,  boiler-maker. 
Burnett,  Mary  J.,  boarding-house. 
Barnett,  P.  H.,  insurance  agent. 
Bradshaw,  George,  coal  merchant. 
Bridwell,  H.  L.,  farmer. 
Bedford,  Mary. 
Brock,  T.  A.,  clerk. 
Bryant,  Thomas. 
Blakley,  Wm. 
Brown,  Wm. 
Bell,  Wm.  A.,  farmer. 
Berviller,  Nickerson,  retired. 
Benetiel,  J.  B.,  butcher. 
Bridges,  V.  R-,  physician. 
Baker,  Michael,  laborer. 
Barr,  Alexander,  barber. 
Barnes,  I.  W.,  restaurant. 
Branham,  Wm.,  retired. 
Buck,  David,  machinist. 
Blackman,  M.  D.,  merchant. 
Brown,  C.  M.,  Mrs. 
Bodendick,  Wm.,  machinist. 
Berry,  B.  N.,  farmer. 
Bland,  Thomas,  laborer. 
Baldridge,  David,  retired. 
Brawdy,  George,  laborer. 
Brewner,  A.  J.,  mason. 
Barwick,  W.  D.,  huckster. 
Bostwick,  C.  B.,  editor. 


664 


TAX-PAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY; 


Boridgman,  A.  C. 

Bayley,  A.  13.,  merchant. 

Bayle,  Joseph,  laborer. 

Barkee,  E.,  farmer. 

Bush,  Jacob  A.,  farmer. 

Bautle,  Eugene,  jeweler. 

Birch,  John  F.,  shoemaker. 

Ballantine,  Jason,  machinist. 

Bennett,  L.  D.,  engineer. 

Baker,  John,  engineer. 

Bryan,  John,  laborer. 

Bliss,  J.  A.,  merchant. 

Bowin,  J.  N. 

Becker,  Wm.,  merchant. 

JJeck,  A.  D.,  laborer. 

Bray,  Solomon,  baggage-master. 

Burges,  Wm.,  boots  and  shoes. 

Bell,  J.  J.,  Justice. 

Brady,  James,  laborer. 

Currens,  E.  T.,  merchant. 

Curtis,  Charles. 

Chapman,  Robert,  painter. 

Chapen,  Leonidas,  farmer. 

Cummingham,  John,  attorney. 

Cox,  Jason,  merchant  tailor. 

Clark,  M.  S.,  liveryman. 

Clark,  H.  S.,  attorney. 

Clark,  W.  T. 

Chettle.  Wm.  M.,  telegraph  operator. 

Clark,  P.  B.,  blacksmith. 

Currens,  Michael,  laborer. 

Codington,  I.  V.,  lumber  merchant. 

Collard,  S.  W.,  carpenter. 

Collard,  George  W.,  carpenter. 

Cushman,  A.  F.,  Mrs. 

Crandell,  A.  B.,  carpenter. 

Clegg,  Thomas,  traveling  agent. 

Claybaugh,  J.  W.,  carpenter. 

Cunningham,  Robert,  farmer.  . 

Colson,  G.  E.,  merchant. 

Carter,  Robert. 

Clark,  Jason  H. 

Colson,  Allie  F.,  confectioner. 

Collins,  F.  C,  clerk. 

Cox,  I.  L. 

Cyphers,  M.,  boarding-house. 

Cooper,  B.  S-,  carpenter. 

Christian,  F.  A.,  carpenter. 

Calhoun,  A.  B.,  farmer. 

Cunningham,  W.  C,  carpenter. 

Cadington,  S.  R.,  lumber  merchant. 

Capen,  B.  S..  carpenter. 

Confer,  M.  J.,  Mrs.,  baker. 

Coats,  R.  W.,  dairyman. 

Coats,  A.  W. 

Clark,  John. 

Clark,  George  W.,  lawyer. 

Claughly,  John. 

Collins,  A.,  clerk. 

Cranan,  Jeremiah,  laborer. 

Clark,  Joseph  II.,  banker. 

Campbell,  S.  A. 

Coon,  D.  S.,  shoemaker. 

Cornelians,  Cronains. 

Chuse,  J.  F.,  macliinist. 

Currens,  George,  retired  boot  and  shoe 

merchant. 
Cuningham,  J.  S.,  dry  goods  clerk. 


Coppage,  W.  R.,  druggist. 

Clark,  E.  M.,  merchant. 

Cassell,  J.  D.,  restaurant. 

Coulter,  H.  M.,  farmer. 

Church,  Ransom. 

Curry,  W.  P.,  farmer. 

Curry,  T.  J.,  farmer. 

Curry,  D.  W.,  farmer. 

Clark,  Wm.,  farmer. 

Corder,  Wm.,  farmer. 

Carter,  John,  laborer. 

Curry,  J.  H.,  farmer. 

Champion,  Wm.  H. 

Clark,  Wm.  H. 

Cole,  Wm. 

Corder,  W.  R.,  farmer. 

Carter,  George. 

Chandion,  A.  J.,  drayman. 

Carlton,  A.  W. 

Craig,  A.  W. 

Clark,  H.  S.,  attorney. 

Cadwell,  E.  C,  insurance  agent. 

Cox,  Hiram,  farmer. 

Davis,  Thomas. 

Dora,  I.  W.,  physician. 

Downing,  Thomas. 

Drish,  J.  F.,  hardware. 

Donnell,  John  K.,  wholesale  grocer. 

Donnell,  Thomas,  tombstones. 

Dolan,  Thomas. 

Dahling.  Henry. 

Dunlap,  W.  B.,  Cashier  First  iN'at'l  Bank. 

Dunn,  Morris,  laborer. 

Davis,  W.  H. 

Duncan,  J.  R.,  paper  and  stationery  dealer. 

Diddle,  A.  J.,  clerk  in  railroad  oflBce. 

Duncan,  Maggie,  Mrs. 

Detwiler,  W.  H.,  plasterer. 

Doran,  J.  W.,  farmer. 

Dolton,  Wm.,  laborer. 

Danhiser,  A.,  upholsterer. 

Dota,  Isaac,  laborer. 

Darnblazer,  J.,  auctioneer. 

Dozier,  Wm.,  farmer. 

Dole,  S.  D.,  farmer. 

Dole,  J.  C,  farmer. 

,Davis,  B. 

Dewald,  George. 

Dale.  C.  M. 

Durnell,  A.  ^J". 

Elder,  A.  C,  druggist. 

Ewing,  J.  M.,  paintei'. 

Everharty,  Mat,  butcher. 

Everfleld,  Thomas,  tinner. 

Ewing,  A.  C 

Elliott,  Thomas,  shoemaker. 

Evans,  John,  laborer. 

Eler,  John,  carpenter. 

Elenstin,  Hugo,  laborer. 

Ewing,  R.  L.,  groceryman. 

Ewalt,  J.  H.,  laborer. 

Earl,  Frank,  laboi-er. 

Edson,  Wilson. 

Edington,  James  D.,  farmer. 

Estes,  W.  B. 

Essex  House,  hotel. 

Filcer,  A.  J. 

Fry,  Charles  B.,  physician. 


MATTOON  TOWNSHIP. 


665 


Foot,  W.  D;  carpenter. 

Ford,  S.  J. 

Ferguson,  M.  J.,  Mrs. 

Fickes,  George,  laborer. 

Fickes,  Samuel,  laborer. 

Fickes,  Jacob,  laborer. 

Fairbros,  Wm.,  laborer. 

Figenbaum,  Henry,  laborer. 

Faught,  W.  n.,  left  city. 

Fuller,  J.  D. 

Fitzgerald,  Joshua,  laborer. 

Ferel,  Marv. 

Flynn,  Thomas,  saloon-keeper. 

Fallin,  D.  A.,  groceryman. 

Fallin,  J.  S.,  groceryman. 

Futures,  Charles,  groceryman. 

Fooba,  Tim. 

Fudge,  L.,  mechanic. 

Fullin,  Wm.,  real  estate. 

Frakes,  James,  laborer. 

Fulcher,  Wm.  J.,  City  Treasurer. 

Farris,  B.,  laborer. 

Fallin,  Henry,  farmer. 

Fulton,  D.  W.,  farmer. 

Ferree,  Reuben  J.,  farmer. 

Frost,  Peter,  farmer. 

Fox,  Samuel. 

Frakes,  Wm. 

Francis,  Benjamin. 

Fugate,  C. 

Fugate,  Stephen. 

Flemming,  W.  C 

Fisher,  J.  M.,  insurance  agent. 

Oavin,  Richard. 

Gordan,  A.  H.,  painter. 

Gibbs,  I.  N.,  horse-dealer. 

Glunt,  John. 

Gucker,  F. 

Geary,  S.  D.,  mechanic. 

Garthwait,  Frank,  dry  good.s. 

Goodyear,  John  S. 

Guyott,  Fred. 

Guvott,  Wm. 

Goins,  W. 

GifBn,  Morgan,  saloon-keeper. 

Gogin,  A.  D.,  mail  agent. 

Goldgart,  George,  retired  merchant. 

Guilfoil,  John,  engineer  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R. 

Garrett,  Zachariah. 

Gibler,  L.,  leader  in  brass  band. 

Goodpaston,  John,  feed  store. 

Gray,  Robert,  Prosecuting  Attorney. 

Gowgin,  O.  W.,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Gray,  George. 

Oawger,  John,  conductor  I.  &  St.  L.  R.R. 

Oaw,  John. 

Gaw,  Peter. 

Goold,  Joseph. 

Gidelle,  Elizabeth. 

Gardner,  S.  D.,  farmer. 

Griffith,  John,  carpenter  I.  &  St.  L.  shops. 

Guilduff,  James,  engineer  I.  &St.  L.  R.R. 

Hughs,  James  F.,  attorney. 

Hinkle,  B.  C,  lumber-dealer. 

Hart,  Thomas,  farmer. 

Howard,  Lucian,  farmer. 

Hays,  George  W.,  laborer. 

Hermon,  John,  miller. 


Hermon,  J.   T.,   traveling    patent-riglit 

man. 
Herber,  Israel,  carpenter. 
Hunt,  John,  butcher. 
Hoddy,  Nelson,  groceryman. 
Haskill,  C.  A.,  laborer. 
Holmes,  George,  carpenter. 
Hogue,  John  B.,  tile  manufacturer. 
Howell,  S.  W.,  carpenter. 
Heath,  N.  P.,  minister  M.  E.  (Uiurch. 
Hardy,  Charles,  engineer  disp. 
Horn,  Joseph,  tailor. 
Harris,  J.  B.,  collector. 
Hodeger,  George. 
Huston,  J.  B.,  laborer. 
Henly,  L.  C,  attorney. 
Horn,  George,  tailor. 
Hunt,  B.  F.,  cooper. 
Hennessee,  Pat.,  groceryman. 
Hodly,  0.  E.,  groceryman. 
Handford,  G.  F.,  boot  and  shoe  dealer. 
Hasbrook,  A.  V.,  hardware  dealer. 
Hanna,  John  W.,  books  and  stationery. 
Hennessee,  John,  carpenter. 
Hayden,  Mathew,  laborer  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R. 
Huffman,  E.,  laborer. 
Handsucker,  Joseph,  laborer  in  railroad 

shops. 
Horn,  Wm.,  foreman  machine  shop  I.  & 

St.  L.  R.  R. 
Henry,  A.  M.,  Dr.,  physician. 
Hawes,  J.  S.,  saloon-keeper. 
Hoff,  Joseph,  shoemaker. 
Higdon,  J.  J.,  shoemaker. 
Heap,  Harry,  works  in  R.  R.  shops. 
Hightsman,  Wm.,  works  in  R.  R.  shops. 
Hall,  Jeff  M.,  carpenter. 
Herman,  Theodore,  expressman. 
Herman,  John,  lal)orer. 
Hodgson,  E.,  ice  dealer. 
Harison,  Bela,  farmer. 
Heath,  John,  farmer. 
Harding,  Harriet,  Mrs. 
Handraham,  Michael,  Jr.,  laborer. 
Henly,  James,  laborer. 
Hamilton,  Wm.,  laborer. 
Hortenstine,  Jacob,  laborer. 
Holland,  Ambrose,  laborer. 
Hyner,  C.  C,  farmer. 
Hartenstine,  John,  farmer. 
Hunt,  Philip  O.,  farmer. 
Hays,  B.  F.,  drayman. 
Herkimer,  J.  D.,  farmer. 
Hinkle,  W.  S.,  wall-paper  dealer 
Isaac,  Samuel,  clothier. 
Isgrigg,  M.,  laborer.    . 
Igo,  B.,  watchman  D.  M..  &  S.  R.  R. 
James,  Ira,  President  gas  company. 
Jones,  Riley,  painter. 
Jennings,  J.,  grain-dealer. 
Jennings.  E.,  grain-dealer. 
Joseph,  H.,  jeweler. 
Jout,  Theo.,  saddle  and  harness  maker. 
Jones,  W.  H.,  laborer. 
Johnson,  John  T.,  cooper. 
Jones,  Charles  II.,  farmer. 
Jones,  Henry,  Col.,  barber. 
Jackson,  Ira  B.,  insurance  agent. 


t)66 


TAX-PAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY 


Jenkins,  David  S.,  engineer. 

Jones,  Eufus,  laborer. 

Johnson,  J.  A.,  laborer. 

Jameson,  James,  carpenter. 

Jeferson,  Jacob,  farmer. 

Jordan,  James,  laborer. 

Jones,  Joel,  laborer. 

Jeffries,  Geo.  K.,  laborer. 

Jordan,  G.  W.,  mail  agent,  M.  &  D.  R.  R 

James,  D.  D.,  merchant  mitter. 

Kinkead,  Eley,  saloon-keeper. 

Kelly,  John  M.,  clerk  J.  R.  Duncan. 

King,  John  Y.,  laborer. 

Kennedy,  Patrick, freightman  I.  C.  R.  R. 

Khlore,  Philip. 

Killer,  E.  C,  clerk  J.  F.  Drish. 

Khlore,  Henry. 

Kerns,  James,  laborer. 

Kinser,  J.  B.,  laborer. 

Kilner,  George,  physician. 

Kilner,  G.  T.,  druggist. 

Kemp,  William,  saddler. 

Kelly,  J  as.  M.,  shoemaker. 

Kinzel,  Fred,  saloon-keeper. 

Kely,  H.  F.,  carpenter. 

Killer,  A.  D.,  City  Marshal. 

Krebs,  David,  laborer,  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R. 

Kuhule,  G..  blacksmith. 

Kilner,  J.  A.,  clerk  in  drug  store. 

Ketz  &  Frolick,  clothiers. 

Kern,  Frank,  dry  goods. 

Kinner,  Oliver. 

Killer,  W.  A.,  farmer. 

Kurtz,  J.  F. 

Krebs,  Rubin,  gunsmith. 

Killerman,  John,  saloon-keeper. 

Krozen,  George,  brickmason. 

Kirk,  H.  R.,  tailor. 

Kirk,  John  L.,  laborer. 

Kupple,  John. 

Kuhns  &  Bros.,  clothiers. 

Lawson,  J.  F..  traveling  salesman. 

Eeuth,  Fred,  cigar-maker. 

JLent,  J.  P.,  farmer. 

-Lafever,  F.  K.,  laborer,  I.  &.  St.  L.  R.  R. 

Linn,  P.  B.,  groceryman. 

J^ong,  W.  W.,  farmer. 

Lynch,  Thomas,  laborer,  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R 

Lindig,  Charles,  tailor. 

Lynch,  Pat,  laborer,  I.  &.  St.  L.  R.  R. 

Lynn,  G.  W.,  insurance  agent. 

Lawler,  F.  M.,  machinist. 

Larkins,  John,  laborer,  I.  &  St.  L.  shops. 

La  Clair,  Paul,  carpenter. 

Lytle,  F.  M.,  clerk,  with  Ira  James. 

Linder,  VYm.,  groceryman. 

J  binder,  John  W.,  farmer. 

JJnder.  Elisha,  farmer. 

Leach,  Jas.  W.,  farmer. 

La  Grand,  Elizabeth. 

Lippert,  W.  K.,  farmer. 

Love,  Thomas. 

La  Grand,  Philip,  farmer. 

Luby,  S.  Z..  farmer. 

Linder,  Nathan,  farmer. 

Linder,  John  H.,  farmer. 

Lane,  T.  P.  C,  farmer. 

Lewis,  W.  H.,  agent.  L  &.  St.  L.  R.  R. 


Lenox,  Wm.,  Mattoon  Foundry. 

Mayer,  W.  H.,  loan  agent. 

Mayer  &  Rose,  attorneys. 

Malona,  M.,  laborer. 

Murry,  James  F.,  laborer. 

Manning,  Charles,  stock-dealer. 

Mason,  W.  T.,  laborer. 

Malinder,  John,  laborer,  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  K 

Mitchell,  James  S.,  laborer. 

Miller,  Wm.  F.,  carpenter. 

Montage,  G.  A.,  clerk  with  S.  Isaac. 

Mitchell,  J.  M.,  saddler. 

Montgomery,  M.,  Mrs. 

Mayer,  John,  groceryman. 

Miller,  Richard,  laborer. 

Mason. Peter,  laborer. 

Morris,  W.  E.,  Mrs. 

Morgan,  J.  J.,  laborer. 

Masonhall,  J.  P.,  laborer. 

Morse,  L.  F.  physician. 

Mattock,  J.  H.,  clerk,  with  Kahns. 

Minter,  Richard,  marble  agent. 

Morgan,  Geo.  H.,  farmer. 

Moran  &  Phillips,  carriage-makers. 

Munson,  S.,  Mrs. 

Murry,  T.  S..  cutter  in  tailor-shop. 

Miller,  Geo.  F.,  laborer. 

Michaels,  Charles,  laborer. 

Moneypenny,  S.,  miller. 

Moore,  W.  P.,  laborer. 

Miller,  Osbert,  plasterer. 

Mayer  &  Becker,  grocerymen. 

Moore,  Calvin,  druggist. 

Mulford,  J.  A.,  hide  and  leather  (tealer. 

Madison,  Simon,  gardener. 

Meyer,  Lawrence,  gardener. 

Montgomery,  Tyra,  florist. 

Mollen,  Patrick,  laborer. 

Michaels,  Jas.  W.,  laborer. 

Mitchell,  T.  S.,  laborer. 

Money,  E.,  farmer. 

Meyers,  I.  C. 

Meyers,  Wm. 

Mattox,  Benjamin  D. 

Mahan,  A.,  laoorer. 

Malsbery,  Samuel,  laborer. 

Mapels,  Harvey,  laborer. 

Miller,  Joseph,  laborer. 

Michael,  J.  H.,  farmer. 

Miller.  ]Aither,  Street  Supervisor. 

Messer,  Daniel,  prop.  Essex  House. 

McDuffer,  H.  F.,  engineer. 

McFarland,  John,  carpenter. 

MclSTair,  J.  L.  Presbyterian  Minister. 

McPherren,  S.  M. 

McKee,  George,  poultry  dealer. 

McShawe,  Edw.,  laborer,  machine-shop. 

McDuffer,  Wm.,  laborer. 

McAcran,  Jas.,  clerk. 

MeCormick,  Thomas,  groceryman. 

McShane,  F.,  boots  and  shoes. 

McKee,  Win.,  City  Marshal. 

McClelland,  J.  O.,  farmer. 

McAcran,  J.  W.,  farmer. 

McClane,  John,  laborer. 

McWhinney,  Leroy,  laborer. 

McFall,  D.  M.,  Dr.,  physician. 

McShane,  Jason,  mach.,  1.  &  St.  L.  R.  R.. 


MATTOON  TOWNSHIP. 


6G7 


McMahon,  Richard,  Roadmaster,  I.  &  St. 

]..  R.R. 
Mclntire,  D.  S.,  attorney. 
Mclntiie,  D.  T.,  attorney, 
McFaddin,  C  B. 
McCurry,  Isaac,  bolt-cutter,  I.  &  St.  L. 

R.  R.  ■ 
McClure,  E.  B.,  Siipt.  I.  &.  St.  L.  R.  R. 
McFadden,  David,  carpenter. 
McQuowB,  Harvey,  miller. 
McDonald,  D.,  foreman  I.  &  St.  L.  shops. 
McPherson,  G.J. 
McFadden,  Wm.  H. 
McPherren,  Thomsis,  farmer. 
McFallon,  Jolin,  farmer. 
McPherrin,  I.  N.,  farmer. 
McQuown,  Dick,  farmer. 
McQuown,  ^y.  A.,  farmer. 
McQuown,  R.  W.,  farmer. 
McElroy,  John,  farmer. 
Moore,  J.  W.,  lumber-dealer. 
Montague,  T.  W.,  stock-dealer. 
Norwell,  Newton,  clerk,  with  Linder. 
Naylor,  Wm.,  molder  (foundry). 
Newcomb,  Oliver,  carpenter. 
Niemeyer,  I.  A., laborer,!. «&  St.  L.  shops. 
Niemeyer,  C  A., painter,  I.  &  St.  L.  shops. 
Noys,  Frank,  law  student. 
Noyes,  E.,  Sr.,  fanner. 
]SIicoll,R.  L. 

Needham,  M.  R.,  drayman. 
Noble,  Charles,  painter. 
Noys,  Eben,  Jr.,  farmer. 
Newport,  Benjamin  S.,  farmer. 
Noys,  Henry,  farmer. 
Nash,  George,  farmer. 
Noys,  Rufus,  farmer. 
Neely,  L.  A.,  train-dispatcher. 
Norvell,  F.  A.,  Constable. 
Oblinger,  D.  H.,  druggist. 
Owings,  Samuel. 
Osborn,  R.  H. 
O'Neal,  Mike,  laborer. 
O'Conner,  Mary  Ann. 
O'Bryan,  David,  laborer. 
Orr,  John  C,  cooper. 
Osbern,  Ameliii. 
O'Neal,  Daniel,  blacksmith, 
Owens,  John,  plasterer. 
Ozee,  Joseph  S.,  plasterer. 
Ozee,  J.  C.,  Dr.,  physician. 
Orendorf,  M.  A.,  farmer. 
Orendorf,  Israel,  farmer. 
Orendorf,  Lewis,  farmer. 
O'Broon,  O.  F.,  farmer. 
Phelan,  John,  agent  Central  R.  R. 
Patterson,  Mary  M. 
Pritchett,  A.,  hiborer. 
Patrick,  T.  C,  farmer. 
Patterson,  N. 
Perry,  David  S.,  engineer. 
Price,  Wm.  P.,  carpenter. 
Pile,  W.  H.  K.,  real  estate. 
Peck,  C.  G.,  foreman  Gazette  office. 
Paugh,  W.  II.,  Dr.,  physician. 
Pearson,  Jas. 
Patterson,  Sarah. 
Peck,  E.  F.,  conductor  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R. 


Pence,  N.,  City  Marshal. 
Parish,  W.  H.,  clerk. 
Perry,  Austiai,  barber. 
Perry,  Joseph. 

Powers,  Patrick,  blacksmith. 
Phillips,  W.  A.,  school-teacher. 
Peebles,  J.  J.,  carpenter,  I.  &  St.  J>.  shops. 
Phillips,  Calvin,  farmer. 
Phelan,  Robert,  ticket  agent  Central  R.  R. 
Parasal,  Lewis. 
Payne,  W.  R..  tailor. 
Patterson,  W.  P.,  farmer. 
Powell,  C.  A.,  sexton  Dodge  Grove  Cem- 
etery. 
Pickett,  A.,  Dr.,  physician. 
Patrick,  John  T. 
Powell,  C.  H.,  farmer. 
Powell,  J.  A.,  farmer. 
Puleston,  W.  H.,  farmer. 
Patterson,  E.  (J.,  farmer. 
Parks.  John,  fanner. 
Powell,  J.  W.,  farmer. 
Pape,  John,  fanner. 
Quick,  David,  carpenter. 
Quintt,  Calvin,  farmer. 
Rose,  E.  P.,  attorney. 
Reynolds,  John,  farmer. 
Richison,  J.  A.,  mail  agent. 
Raw,  John,  laborer. 
Roach,  George,  farmer. 
Rinkin,  John,  painter. 
Randolph,  A.  F.,  brickmason. 
Rice,  V.  T.  S.,  bookbinder. 
Roach,  Robert,  laborer. 
Regett,  Charles,  laborer. 
Roberts,  L.  G.,  dentist. 
Roberts,  R.  B.,  dentist. 
Roose,  C.  A.,  poultry-dealer. 
Russell,  George,  l)rass(itter. 
Rapp,  John,  Mrs. 
Rhoten,  Thomas,  farmer. 
Reaf,  M.,  Mrs. 
Roberts,  G.,  laborer. 
Redding,  Robert,  farmer. 
Rose,  T.  B. 

Richmond,  J.,  City  Mill  proprietor. 
Robb,  Charles,  laborer. 
Raw,  George,  laborer. 
Run,  I.,  laljorer. 
Raw,  Thomas,  laborer. 
Rudy,  J.  O.,  real  estate  and  life  insu  ranee  s 
Riddle,  II.  S.,  gardener. 
Riddle,  Janies  M.,  gardener. 
Ringwalt,  Jacob,  carpenter. 
Rathenputer,  L. 
Revew,  A.  G. 

Ruth,  Joseph,  engineer  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  1*. 
Rutherford,  Ellen,  widow  of  AVm.  R. 
Rapp,  Tobias,  watchman  I.&St.  L.  R.  M 
Ritter,  Henry,  cigar  manufacturer. 
Rice,  U.  T.  S.,  bookbinder. 
Rodgers,  J.  C.,  farmer. 
Rightsell,  C.  K.,  farmer. 
Rightsell,  J.  R.,  farmer. 
Rightsell,  Ilepsibah,  farmer. 
Rutherford,  R.  B.,  farmer. 
Rand,  Parker,  farmer. 
Rand,  James  W.,  farmer. 


668 


TAX-l'AYEKS  OF  COLES  COUNTY: 


Roach,  Lewis,  fanner. 

Rust,  J...  II.,  farmer. 

Ross,  Wel)b.  enjxiiieer  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R. 

Smith,  George,  pla.sLerer. 

Smith  &  .lones,  lumher-dealers. 

Smitli,  S.  C,  lumber  dealer. 

Shafer,  (Jeorge,  watchman  I.  &  St.  J..  H. 

li.  shops. 
Smitii,  V.  M..  Mrs. 

Stevens,  Jacoli,  enjjriiieer  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R. 
SteeU',  W.  11.,  Cashier  M.  N.  Bank. 
Scrader,  Ernest. 
Schrock,   W.  11.,  freijiht  conductor  1.  & 

St.  L.  R.  R. 
Sathoff,  Fred,  farmer. 
Stowers.  John,  laborer. 
Suthern,  ,1.  T.,  travelinu  aj?ent. 
Stevens,  W.  'r.,  hiborej-. 
Shoup,  Lewis,  engineer  I.  &St.  L.  R.  R. 
JShaw,  George  W.,  boot  and  shoe  dealer. 
-Summers,    A.    M.,    Mi-s.   groceries    and 

queensware. 
Scott.  James  L.,  groceryman. 
Shrader,  J.  W.,  restaurant. 
Shannon.  A.  R.,  cooper. 
Stregel,  Lewis,  shoemaker. 
Stewart,  C.  farmer. 
Smith.  John,  farmer. 
Stott,  O.,  farmer. 
Scliticker,  Valentine,  upliolsterer. 
Sullivan,  D.  O.,  boarding-house. 
Summerlain,  Leon,  printer. 
Soixth,  Ollie,  groceries. 
Smith,  Carinda  F. 
Smith,  M.  J).,  cigars  and  tobacco. 
Stillwell,  H.  M. 
Sneller,  Andrew. 
Sanders.  S.  K. 
Sell  aw  an,  Eliza  J. 
Switzer.  John,  farmer. 
Spangler,  AV.  IL,  janitor  AVest  Side  School. 
Strickland.  S.  II.,  engineer  1.  &St.  L.R.  R. 
Swartzlander,  Lucy  A. 
Spanagle,  John,  blacksmith. 
Steely,  James,  engineer  dispatcher. 
Snider,  John,  laborer  I.  &  St.  L.  shops. 
Stumj),  Jacob,  machinist  I.  I'y:  St.  L.  shops. 
Simpson.   Wni.,  nightwatchman  I.  &  St. 

L.  R.  R. 
Sapp.  W.  L..  laborer  I.  &  St.  L.  shop. 
Smith,  Fred  A.,  laborer. 
Shrock,  E.  S.,  insurance  agent. 
Sensibough.  II.  ('.,  livery  and  sale  stable. 
Savage,  John,  laborer. 
Stevens,  A.,  physician. 
Shirk,  John,  farmer. 
Shirk,  W.  II.,  farmer. 
Swits,  John,  farmer. 
Sawyer,  John  I.,  farmer. 
Sawyer,  Charles,  fanner. 
Sawyer,  Irrad  1)..  farmer. 
Sawyer,  Isaac,  fanner. 
Sawyer,  Nathan,  farmer. 
Sawyer,  John,  farmer. 
Sawyer,  John,  Jr.,  fanner. 
Snajjp,  ^V.  A.,  farmer. 
Snapp,  Jonathan,  farnun-, 
Snapp.  J.  M..  stock-dealer. 


Smith,  P.  J.,  laborer. 

Sanders,  A.,  laborer. 

Sanders,  John. 

Sullivan,  Thomas,  farmer. 

Scott,  Charles,  farmer. 

Sours,  Paul,  larmer. 

Smiley,  Richard,  farmer. 

Smiley,  ^Y.  N.,  farmer. 

Smiley,  J.  J.,  farmer. 

Sparks,  E..  fanner. 

Snider,  David,  engineer. 

Stanhop.  Matt. 

Smith,  George  G. 

Stock(lale,  John. 

Stubbins  »fc  Bro.,  i)rop's  of  Dole  House. 

Sanborn,  A.  J.,  master  mechanic  I.  &  St. 

L.  R.  R.  slK.p.s. 
Silvers,  J.  ().,  farmer. 
Sellers,  Uriah,  carpenter. 
Shadwick.  M.,  laborer. 
Tillatson,  Charles,  groceryman. 
Tivner,  J.  II..  groceryman. 
Tilly,  F.  G.,  yardmaster,  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  It 
Thoad.  Max  M.,  brewer. 
Tate,  W.  S.,  gaslitter. 
Thomburg,  Charles  F.,  painter. 
Tute.  W.  J.,  stonecutter. 
Tremble,  I.  W..  farmer. 
True,  F.  G. 

Thode,  John,  cari)enter. 
True,  S.  AV.,  weigher. 
Taylor,  Maggie,  >Iiss. 
Thomitson,  Robert,  laborer. 
Thompson,  M.  P..  laborer    I.  &  St.   L. 

shops. 
Toby,  J.  R.,  funiiture-dealer. 
Thomas,  Jacob,  barber. 
Toby,  M.  T.,  furniture. 
Tower,  D.  B.,  carpenter. 
Thornburg,  J.  F.,  laborer  1.  &  St.  L.  shop.s. 
Tufts,  J.  S.,  foreman  freight-car  iei)aii- 

shops. 
Taylor,  Mariah. 
Tucker,  AVin.,  carpenter. 
Thacher.  J.,  laborer. 
Turner,  J.,  laborer. 
Taylor,  CJeorge  D.,  laborer. 
Telfer,  I.  R.,  small-fruit  farmer. 
Tucker,  Thomas,  hotel — Drecker  House. 
Tirnem,  Patrick,  laborer. 
Taylor,  Wni.,  laborer. 
Tremble,  J.  R.,  farmer. 
Tucker,  J.  D..  i)lasterer. 
Thomas,  J.  M.,  carpenter. 
Tremble,  H.  M.,  farmer. 
Thoinjison,  G.  ^\.,  laborer. 
Upholi',  Christian,  farmer. 
Vinning,  George  A.,  groceryman. 
Vicker,  G.  C,  laborer. 
Voight,  John  T.,  blacksmith. 
Wright,  Henry,  farmer. 
Wilson,  Win.  E.,  farmer. 
Watchler,  F.  IL,  not  in  city. 
Walsh,  Patrick,  laborer. 
AVilliains,  AVni..  farmer. 
Wachler,  J.  II. ,  saloon. 
AVoods.  Charles,  clerk  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R. 
Wiles,  A.  P. 


ASHMORE  TOWNSHIP. 


669 


White,  F.  A.,  laborer. 

Wilson,  Josiali  T.,  farmer. 

Wright,  S.  F.,  Mrs. 

Weymouth,  C.  G.,  insurance  agent. 

West,  L.  C,  Miss. 

Wilson.  Emma,  Mrs. 

Wilson,  Susan  (i. 

Warner,  W.  K.,  farmer. 

White,  K.  M.,  shoemaker. 

Welch,  Jason,  laborer. 

Walsh,  E.,  laborer. 

Watson,  H.  (".,  laborer  I.  &  8t.  L.  shops. 

Welch,  p.  H.,  laborer. 

Walsh,  Michael,  groceryman. 

Williams,  W.  W.,  physician. 

Witte,  Ileibert,  painter. 

Wooderson,  A.  H.,  shoemaker. 

Williams,  M.  H.,  tailor. 

Woodbury,  W.  H.,  farmer. 

W(Jods,  Wiiidfield,  printer. 

Woods,  T.  ri,  printer. 

Woods  Brothers,  Jownal  office. 

Watson,  John  F.,  carpenter. 

Walton,  J.  M.,  carpenter. 

Wilson,  J.  H.,  farmer. 

Wallace,  C  E.,  farmer. 

Webb,  J.  E.,  lab(jrer. 

Weaver,  T.  R.,  druggist. 

Weaver,  G.  W.,  farmer. 

Ward,  J.  B„  laborer  I.  &  St.  L.  shops. 

Williams,  D.  S.,  stock-dealer. 

Wood,  John  W.,  farmer. 

Walkup,  W.  A.,  carpenter. 

Walsh,  Wm.,  farmer. 


Washington,  W.  T.,  laborer. 

Weaver,  Ij.  D.,  painter. 

West,  Arthur,  laborer. 

Warriner,  Frank,  saddler. 

Warriner,  L.,  saddler. 

Wilburn,  Willis,  laborer. 

Wutkins,  Louis,  laborer. 

Walkins,  W.  F.,  laborer. 

Wright,  J.  W.,  gi-ain-dealer. 

Walther,  E.,  farmer. 

Wood,  Reuben,  farmer. 

Wilson,  Mathew,  farmer. 

We.st,  G.,  farmer. 

Williams,  Jcjhn,  farmer. 

Wicker,  Elias,  farmer. 

Wicker,  L.  II.,  farmer. 

Wicker,  Jeremha,  farmer. 

Watson,  M.,  farmer. 

Waddil,  W.  H.,  farmer. 

Waddil,  W.  G.,  farmer. 

Waddil,  J.  C.,  farmer. 

Warner,  Wm.,  farmer. 

Waggoner,  George  D.,  farmer. 

Wami)ler,  T.  W.,  attorney. 

Wolsev,  R.  W.,  trainmaster  I.  «fc  St. 

R.  li. 
Young,  T.  R.,  attorney. 
Young,  John  C,  preacher. 
Yants  &  Brothers,  blacksmiths. 
Yants,  E.  B.,  blacksmith. 
Yants,  John  E.,  blacksmith. 
Yoong,  D.  W.,  pliotograph  gallery. 
Zachelmyer,  .\dam,  laborer. 


ASHMORE    TOWNSHIP. 


Absence,  George. 

Ashmore,  Jasper,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Austin,  T.  C.  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Aldrich,  J.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Austin,  W.  T).,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Arterljurn,  Vance,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Arterburn,  Green,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Anderson,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Allarnang,  W.  A.,  lab. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Austin,  W.  is".,  butcher,  Ashmore. 

Arbuckle.  Robt.,  far.;  P.  O.  Aslimore. 

Ashmore,  O.  F.,  retired  merchant,  Ash- 
more. 

Ashmore,  S.  C,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Ault,  J.  C,  blacksmith,  Ashmore- 

Austin.  T.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Austin,  W.  F  ,  merchant,  Ashmore. 

Ashuiore,  H.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Ashmore,  Elizabeth. 

Austin,  Susan,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Austin,  Brown  &  Kimball,  hardware  and 
lumbei',  Ashmore. 

Barnett,  Craven,  far. ;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 

Bitner,  Abraham,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Brooks,  B.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Brooks,  A.  J.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Black,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 


Boyer,  F.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Bennett,  A.  H.,  laborer ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Boyd,  Robert,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Bean,  W.  H. 

Baber,  Wrn.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Burns,  Martin,  far.;  P.  O.  McPherson. 
Bonsman,  Jackson,  far.;  P.  0.  Westfield. 
Bull,  T.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Brooks,  W.  A.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 
Brooks, R.  W..  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Bitner,  I.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 
Brown,  (jcorge  I.,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfield.  . 
Bennett,  John,  laborer,  Ashmore. 
Brown,  Jerome  A.,  far.;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 
Beck,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Kansas. 
Birch,  AVm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore 
Burges,  Martha  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Boatman,  C.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Brown,  C.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Bratton,  John  moved  away. 
Barnes,  M.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Bitner,  W.  D.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Barnes,  R.  C  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Barnes,  Marcus,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore 
Barnes,  G.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Boyer.  W.  L.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Black,  Frank,  laborer,  Ashmore. 


670 


TAX-PAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY: 


Bennett,  Ham,  f;ir. ;  P.  O.  Aslimore. 

Brooks,  Arch.,  far. ;  P.  O  Ashmore. 

Brewer,  W.  N.,  I'ar.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Ball,  Geo.  W.,  moved  away. 

Bitner,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  ().  Ashmore. 

Bitner,  Wm.,  far.;  V.  O.  Ashmore. 

Bacon,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Bovell,  S.  J.,  Rev.,  Pastor  Presbyterian 
Church,  Ashmore. 

Brown.  Job  W.,  retired  farmer ;  P.  O.  Ash- 
more. 

Brooks,  IT.  E.,  dentist,  Ashmore. 

Byers,  George,  laborer,  Ashmore. 

Barnet,  Martha,  widow. 

Bray,  Chris,  railroad  foreman,  Ashmore. 

Brown,  J.    A.,  merchant    and    railroad 
ag(!nt,  Ashmore. 

Brown,  Geo.  A.,  merchant,  Ashmore. 

Brewer,  A.  T.,  far.;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 

Brown,  Wm.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Brown,  J.  0.,  laboi-er,  Ashmore. 

Brown,  E.  C,  dry  goods  clerk,  Ashmore. 

Brown,  R.  B.,  carpenter,  Ashmore. 

Campbell,  F.  P.,  laborer,  Ashmore. 

Cox,  W.  L.,  gardener,  Ashmore. 

Cooper,  Larkin,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Cutler,  N.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Combs,  O.  P.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Collins,  Elijah,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Cummins,  L.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Conly.  V.  R.,  far. ;  P.  .0.  Westfield. 

Courtney,  Isaac,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Courtney,  I.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Cooper,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Courtney,  Elisha,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Childress,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Cooper,  Floyd,  moved  away. 
Clark,  I.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Courtney,  M.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Cxitler,  I.  N.,  moved  awav. 
Childress,  J.  N.,  far. ;  P.  b.  Ashmore. 
Cornwell.  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore, 
Childress,  J.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmoi'e. 
Cutler,  B.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Cutler,  B.  F.,  Jr.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
(look,  W.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Cary,  J.  S.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Childress,  John,  lar. ;  P.  0.  Aslimore. 
Childress, R.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Cornwell,  Hiram,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Childress,  B.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Coan,  Peter, far. ;  P.  O.  Ashnune. 
Campbell,  Sol.,  far. ;  P.  ().  Ashmore. 
Case,  Joel,  far.;  P.  O.  Aslimore. 
Cr.me,  Albert,  far.;  P.  O.  McPherson. 
Cutler,  Wm.  P.,  far. ;  P.  ().  Ashmore. 
Cossel,  Isaac,  far.;  P.  ().  Ashmore. 
Cheesman,  A.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore, 
Comstock,  Levi,  far.;  P.  O.  Kansas. 
Conly,  Joliii,  far.;  P.  O.  AVestfleld. 
Cox,  Mary  J.,  widow,  Ashmore. 
Coulson,  L.  M.,  shoemaker,  Ashmore. 
Comstock,  W.  R.,  druggist,  Ashmore. 
Coon,  Adam,  carpenter,  Ashmore. 
Coulson,  J.  C.,  harness-maker,  Ashmore. 
Coulson,  John,  laborer,  Ashmore. 
Carter,  Shelton,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Dudley,  Jane,  widow,  Ashmore. 


Downliam,B.  F.,  laborer,  McPherson. 
Dotson,  W.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Davis,  Nathaniel,  merchant,  Ashmore. 
Dudley,  Eli,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Dudley,  J.  E.,  far. ;  P.O.  Ashmore. 
Dutro,  Geo.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Davis,  David,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Dudley  &  Co.,  stoves  and  tinware,  Ash- 
more. 
Edwards,  A.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Edwards,  Ambros, far. ;  P.O.Charleston. 
Epperson,  Thurz,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfield. 
Ely,  Martin,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Evans,  John  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Ely,  Minerva,  moved  away. 
Edwards,  Daniel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston- 
Foi'd,  James,  laborer,  Ashmore. 
Flenner,  A.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 
Ferris,  B.  J., far.;  P.  O.  Kansas. 
Fisher,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 
Flenner,  Isaac,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 
Franklin,  W.  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Frazer,  Milton,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Franklin  John,  hotel-keeper,  Ashmore. 
Flora,  Isaac,  carpenter,  Ashmore, 
Ford,  H.  F.,  laborer,  Ashmore. 
Fell,  L.  C,  school-teacher,  Ashmore. 
Green,  Wm.  P..  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Galbreath,  W.  H.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Ashmore- 
Gilbert,  Rosalie,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Gilbert,  J.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Green,  N.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Green,  C.  E.,  moved  away. 
Galbreath,  Wm.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Griffin,  John  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Galbreath,  John  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Gilbert,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Green,  John  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Golliday,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Galbreath,  Catharine,  far  ;    P.  0.  Ash- 
more. 
Grant,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  McPherson. 
Galbreath,  G.  F.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 
Galbreath,  Jas.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Goodnight,  T.  C.,far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Goodnight,  H.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Goodnight,  S.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Aslimore. 
Gressel,  Alfred,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore, 
Galbreath,  R.  V.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Goliday,  Jacob,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Galbreath,  F.  N.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Gilbert,  Lafe,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Galbreath,  W.  H.,  Jr.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ash- 
more. 
Hensley,  Willard,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Hallock,  Geo.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Hogue,  W.  W.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 
Hawkins,  .lolin,  school-teacher,  Ashmore. 
Humphries,  Elizabeth,  widow,  Ashmore. 
Hogue,  Martlia  J.,  Avidow,  Kansas. 
Hall,  Benjamin,  far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Howell,  J.  E.,  school-teacher;  Newman. 
Hawkins,  0.  D.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Hall,  Edward,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Hamilton,  L.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Ilonii.  W.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Honn,  D.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 
Henry,  Anderson,  far.;  P.  O.  Kansas;. 


ASHMORE  TOWNSHIP. 


671 


Hogue,  C.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Hallock,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Aslimore. 

Henry,  B.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Humphries,  W.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Hammond,  Garrett,  far. ;  P.  O.  McPher- 
son. 

Hawkins,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Halloek,  T.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Hite,  Marcus,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

House,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Hogue,  Thomas  W.,  Constable,  Ashmore. 

Honn,  P.  K.,  minister,  Ashmore. 

Hollingsworth,  Mary,  far. ;   P.  O.   Ash- 
more. 

Henry,  Benj.  T.,  far.;  P.  0.  Charleston. 

Hartzell,  Sarah,  widow,  Ashmore. 

Honn,  L.  H.,  physician,  Ashmore. 

Hogue,  A.  N.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston.  . 

Hay  worth,  C.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Ingrliam,  Peter,  far. ;  P.  O.  McPlierson. 

Jackson,  W-  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

John,  Linder,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Johnson,  Thos.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Jackson,  M.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Johnson,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Johnson,  Henry,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Johnson,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Johnson,  R.  V.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Kingley,  H.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Kimball,  Gurdeon,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Khune,  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Kearns,  J.  B.,  far.;  P.O-  Ashmore. 

Kearns,  W.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Kiddle,  H.  H.,  gone. 

Kincaid,    Thomas,    wagon-maker,    Ash- 
more. 

Kimball,  W.  C,  merchant,  Ashmore. 

Lang,  Lewis,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Lawler,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Longinbaugh,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  McPher- 
son. 

Laffarty,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  McPherson. 

LafEarty,  J.  C,  far.;  P.  O.  McPherson. 

Leishbrook,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  McPherson. 

Lane,  B.  F.,  Jr..  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Logan,  S.  F.,  fur. ;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 

Latler,  James,  moved  away. 

Larne,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Lang,  John  A.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 

Lanman,  Frank,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Little,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Lewis,  D.  W.,  moved  away. 

Lane,  Jeremiah,  far. ;  P.  6.  Ashmore. 

Lacy,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Lawd,  Peter  B.,  laborer,  Ashmore. 

Louthan,  F.  N".,far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Larne,  W.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Morrill,  M.  G.,  far.;  P.  O.  McPherson. 

McGuin,  Emmit,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Mayfield,  Robert,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Moody,  David,  far. ;  P.  0.  Ashmore, 

Moore,  W.  T.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 

McKnight,  Geo.  lii.,  far. ;  P.  O.  McPher- 
son. 

McLain,  C.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

McDavit,  C.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Moontz,  Andrew,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Milner,  Morris,  far. ;  P,  O.  Ashmore. 


Mitchell,  R.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Mock,  W.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

McConnaha,  J.  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Moffatt,  J.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

McKnight,  E.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  McPherson. 

Moore,  I.  ]^.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Mack,  W.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

McConnaha,  W.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Morris,  D.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Moody,  Isaac,  blacksmith,  Ashmore. 

Moody,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Moore,  J.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Moore  &  Carter,  tile  manufacturers,  Ash- 
more. 

Mitchell,  John  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Moffett,  James,  far.;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 

McDavitt,  J.  jST.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Moody,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

March,  W.  T.,  carpenter,  Ashmore. 

Mell,  John,  blacksmith,  Ashmore 

Monroe,  Elias,  merchant  and  Postmaster, 
Ashmore. 

McDavid,  A.  B.,  minister,  Ashmore. 

Miller,  Chris,  miller,  Ashmore. 

Moore,  L.  D.,  far. ;  P.  0-  Ashmore. 

Myers,  F.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  McPherson. 

Milburn,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Moore,  Lawson. 

Maxey,  W.  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

McDavitt,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  xVshmore. 

Mock,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Nugant,  T.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Nay,  G.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Olmsted,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

O'Brien,  Thos.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Ogle,  Atkin,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

O'Brien,  Sarah,  widow,  Ashmore. 

O'Brien,  George,  merchant,  Aslimore. 

Pinnel,  Elisha,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Perry,  Richard,  far. ;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 

Prather,  A.  E.,  Mrs.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ash- 
more. 

Prather,  Luke,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Prince,  W.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Padgett,  J.  W.,  moved  away. 

Pollard,  G.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Phelps,  C.  D.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 

Peters,  Jesse,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Phelps,  Josiah,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Peyton,  John  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Payne,  W.  K.,  retired  merchant,  Ashmore. 

Parcell,  P.  B.,  blacksmith,  Ashmore. 

Parker,  John  B.,  moved  away. 

Roop,  Amanda,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Rickets,  Joshua,  keeper  County  House, 
grocery  and  grain  dealer,  Ashmore. 

Randell,  J.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Robertson,  A.  T.,  druggist  and  Notary 
Public,  Ashmore. 

Rice,  J.  A.,  moved  away. 

Roe,  George  A.,  moved  away. 

Redmon,  IH.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Reed,  C  R.,  far.;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 

Reed,  G.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Redden,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Shoot,  M.  T.,  laborer,  Ashmore. 

Steele,  J.  E.,  minister,  Kansas. 

Shuttz,  A.  J„  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 


672 


TAX-rAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY 


Smith,  Mde.  T..  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Snyder,  W.  A.,  far. ;  P.  ().  Ashmore. 

Stark,  Wm.,  moved  away. 

Smith,  W.  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Aslimore. 

Smith,  J.  G..  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Smith,  Cliarlotte  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Shafer.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  McPherson. 

Swickard,  David,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfield. 

Slioots,  A.  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Sublett,  Thomas  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Shafer,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  McPherson. 

Smith,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Snyder,  Isaac,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Sublet,  Colbert,  far. ;  P.  O.  :McPherson. 

Schraumer.  Gottlieb,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ash- 
more. 

Smith,  John  I).,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Smith,  J.  ^y.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Stoddard,  O.  D.,  carpenter,  Ashmore. 

Stanly,  W.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 

Shaver,  Jonathan,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Stark,  J.  T.,  moved  away. 

Sublett,  Wm.,  laborer,  Ashmore. 

Smith,  John  M.,  school-teacher,  Ashmore. 

Smith,  Anderson. 

Snyder,  John  R.,  dry  goods  merchant, 
Ashmore. 

Shleppey,  liobert,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Shoots,  Tilford  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Shoots,  John  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Stone,  W.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Sousley,  C,  retired,  Ashmore. 

Stoddard,  C.  ('.,  shoemaker,  Ashmore. 

Steele,  A.  T.,  physician,  Ashmore. 

Shleppey,  P.  M.,  grocer,  Ashmore. 

Thompson,  Henry,  laborer,  McPherson. 

Thompson,  Alonzo,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Temple,  Thos.  W.,  far.:  P.  O.  McPher- 
son. 

Thrasher,  Thos.  R.,  laborer,  Ashmore. 

Turner,  Fountain,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Thrasher,  R.  P..  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Timmons,  J.  D.,far.;  P.  (.).  Ashmore. 

Tyler,  W.  II.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Todd,  Wm.  A.,  laborer,  Ashmore. 

Thomas,  Charles,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Thrasher,  Pascal,  laborer,  Ashmore. 

Thomas,  J.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Thomas,  J.  O.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Timmons,  C  V.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Tlirasher,  Allison,  laborer,  Ashmore. 

Trotter,  O.  N.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Tyrell.  Edward,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Tyrell,  Walter,  far. :  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Tutwiler,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Timmons,  T.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Thompson,  Serilda,  widow,  Ashmore. 

Vanlandingham,  W.,  laborer',  Ashmore. 

Van  Dyke,  Josepli,  physician. 

Walton,  A., far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Walton,  Jolm,  far.;  P.  ().  Cliarleston. 

Walker,  Joseph,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

AV alters,  W.  H.,  moved  away. 

Walters,  (ieoi-ge,  moved  away. 

Walters,  Jacob,  moved  away. 


Walters,  Elizabeth,  dead. 

Walker,  Geo.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  McPherson. 

Walton,  A.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Walton,  Eliza,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Waters,  Robert,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore 

Waters,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore, 

Walters,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Walters,  David,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Walker,  John  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  McPlierson. 

Walters,  Peter,  moved  away. 

Wallace,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Watts,  S.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
«  Walker,  Wm.  A.,  died. 

Walton,  T.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Watson,  M.  J.,  moved  away. 

Waters,  A.  J.,  merchant,  dry  goods  and 
groceries,  Ashmore. 

Waters,  Richard,    merchant,  dry   goods 
and  groceries :  P.  O.  iVshmore. 

Waters,  A.  J. 

Waters,  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Waters,  C  W.,  blacksmith,  Ashmore. 

Waters,  F.  M.,  merchant,  dry  goods,  Ash- 
more. 

Wicker,  ISTatlianiel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Wiley,  Aiden,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Wilhoit,  J.  0.,  far. :  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Wilson,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Westbrook,  N.  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Aslimore 

Wells,  James,  far.:  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Wilson,  Elias,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Wickham,]^.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Woodworth,  John,  blacksmith,  Ashmore. 

Woodrum,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Woods,  Thomas  M.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 

Wood  &  Hicks,  saw-mill,  Ashmore. 

Wood,  L.  G.,  saw-mill,  Ashmore. 

Woodworth,  M.  N.,  far. ;  P.  O.  McPher- 
son. 

Woodworth,  D.  D.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Ashmore. 

Woods,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  0.  Westfield. 

Wicker,  J.  N.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Wicker.  Daniel,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore 

Wright,  Wm.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore 

White,  Peter,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Wellner,  Israel,  laborer,  Ashmore. 

Wolf,  H.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Wiley,  Thornton*,  far.;  P.  O.  Kansas 

Wright,  J.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Wright,  Robert,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore 

Wright,  Jason  A. 

Wright,  Charles  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Wright,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Wiekum,  ().  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Wells,  Jolin,  far.;  P.  O.  xVshmore. 

Wooilyard,  Sarah,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Woodworth,  D.  S.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Woodworth,  E.  R.,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Wliite,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Yeager,  Chai'les,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Yount,  J.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  McPlierson. 

Zimmerman,  James,  far.;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 

Zimmerman,  Jacob,  merchant,  Ashmore. 

Zimmerman   &  Monroe,  merchants,  dry 
goods,  boots  and  shoes,  Ashmore. 


PLEASANT  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 


673 


PLEASANT    GROVE    TOWNSHIP. 


Anderson,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Armstrong,  W.  G.,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Adams,  David,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Albright,  Philip,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Ambler,  D.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Alison,  T.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Anderson,  Mary,  farmer. 
Armstrong,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Bauehman,  J.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cami)bell. 
Baker,  John,  Jr.,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Bates,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Baker,  Jacob,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Beals,  O.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Best,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Balch,  Wallace,  far. :  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Baker,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Balch,  W.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Best,  li.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Brasier,  W.  II.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Beals,  R.  N.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Beals,  Jesse,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Bovell,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Balch,  G.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Balch  Sisters,  fars.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Brown,  A.  F. 

Bryant  Nathan,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Best,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Balch,  W.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Bidle,  G.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Balch,  T.  E.,  far.;  P.  ().  Campbell. 
Baughman,  Aaron,  far.;   P.  O.  Campbell. 
Balch, T.  C,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Casady,  James,  far. ;  P.  0.  Campbell. 
Cecil,  H.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Camp1)ell,  W.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Carter,  M.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Carter,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Cooper,  I.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Childress,  C.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Campbell,  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Coon,  Fred,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Childress,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Chowning,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Chaney,  W.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.. Campbell. 
Crume,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Clancy,  J.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Clabaugh,  Catherine,  far. ;  P.  0.  Lama. 
Cartwright,  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Carter,  Winston,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Dexter,  C.  J.,  physician.  Mattoon. 
Dornblaser,  J.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Diehl,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Diehl,  T.  J.,  far.:  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Diehl,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Doyle,  James,  far. ;  P.  0.  Larna. 
Dewitt,  Lem.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Dryden,  David,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Diehl,  Daniel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Duvall,  P.  M.,  physician,  Campbell. 
Douglas,  jGeorge,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Drewry,  Peter,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Easton,  Whig,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Ewing,  J.  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Ewing,  W.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Edman,  Joseph  W..  far. ;   P.  O.  Campbell 


Erwin,  J.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Erwin,  James,  far. ;  P.  0.  Campbell. 
Edman,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Edman,  Jacob,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Edman,  JosephJr.,  carp.,  Campbell. 
Ferguson,  J.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Ferguson,  W.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Funkhouser,  ^V.  L.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mat- 
toon. 
Funkhouser,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Freeman,  W.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Furry,  Peter,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Foote,  Grandison,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Freeman,  N.  S.,  physician,  Campbell. 
Farris,  James,  far. ;  P.O.  Charleston. 
Farris,  J.  D.,far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Furry,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cam])bell. 
Greeson,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Gray,  D.  L.,  far.;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Gray,  A.  D.,  far.;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Gammill,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Mattoon. 
Gammill,  Elizabeth,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna, 
Gordon,  J.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Gordon,  E.  P.,  far.;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Gordon  W.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Goodwin,  L.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Green,  M.  C,  farmer. 
Grimes,  T.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Glenn,  B.  G.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Hall,  J.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Hill,  Taylor,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Hill,  N.B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Hill,  Elizal)eth,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Hughes,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Haibrooks,  Geo.,  physician,  Larna. 
Hayes,  Margaret,  far. ;  P.  (3.  Larna. 
Horton,  W.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Hortenstine,  Henry,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Howard,  Simon,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Howard,  Heiiry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Ilulsapple,  Barney,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Hardwick,  Robt.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Hash,  Henry,  far. ,  P.  0.  Johnstown. 
Plackley,  J.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Harris,  Geo.,  far.;  P.  0.  Campbell. 
Harris,  A.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Hutson,  N.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Ingram,  J.  C,  far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Icenogle,  Riley,  far. ;  P.  O.  l^arna. 
Jackson,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Johnstown. 
Jeffries,  John,  far. ;  P.  ().  Mattoon. 
Jeffries,  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Jeffries,  J.  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Jones,  A.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Jeffries,  James,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Jones,  J.  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Johnstown. 
King,  J.  W.  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Kelley,  L.,  far. :  P.  ().  Charleston. 
Kelley,  H.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Kensell,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
King,  Eli,  tar. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Killough,  A.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Kirkland,  John  R.,  carpenter,  Campbell. 
Landrus,  James  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Landrus,  Harry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 


674 


TAX-PAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY: 


Lyman,  B.,  Rev.,  C.  P.  minister;  Larna. 
L>andrus,  Reuben,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Leitch,  C.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Landrus,  Albert,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Miller,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Miller,  Ceplias,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Morrison,  W.  N.,  far. ;  P.  O.  I^arna. 
McGinnis,  Lewis,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Miller,  J.  L.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
McGinnis,  Levi,  far. ;  P.  C).  Mattoon. 
Morris,  S.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Morgan,  J.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Matliews  &  Adams,  merchants,  Camp- 
bell. 
Mathews,  C,  merchant,  Campbell. 
Mathews,  Matt,  miller,  Campbell. 
McDonald,  C  A.,  far. :  P.  0.  Larna. 
Miller,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
McDonald,  K  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
McDonald,  J.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Monfort,  I.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Mullen,  C.,far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
McConnell,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Mathews,  Wiley,  far;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Nees.  Lizzie,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Newman,  W.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
ISTichols,  C.  far.:  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Nott,  S.  M.,  far. ;  P.  ().  Campbell. 
Nicholson,  P.  N..  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Nees.  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Nees,  James,  Jr.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Nicholson,  A.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Nees,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Larna. 
Nees,  Elizabeth,  far.;  P.O.  Larna. 
Neal,  J.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
O'Zee,  far.:  P.  0.  Mattoon. 
Odell,  A.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Owens,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Odell,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Papham,  Francis,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Parker,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Price,  T.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Phipps,  J.  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Price,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Plummer,  Wm., far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Paxton,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Parkison,  Andrew,  far. ;   P.  O.  Campbell. 
Perring,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Phipps,  Jacob,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Routt,  E.  B.,  far.:  P.  O.  Larna. 
Rodgers,  M.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Rodgers,  J.  W.,  Sr.,  far.;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Rodgers,  I.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Robins,  Nancy,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Rodgers,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Rodgers,  T.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Roberts.  Charles,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Rodgers,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 


;  P.  O.  Larna. 
P.  O.  Campbell. 


Rodgers,  C.  P.  &  Co.,  merchants,  Camp- 
bell. 
Royer,  Jesse,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Riley,  Nimrod,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Sharer,  Sarah. 

Shoemaker.  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Stanza,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Smith, Gilbert,  far.;  P.  0.  Campbell. 
Shoemaker,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Smith,  J.  E. 

Schee,  J.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Schee,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Smith,  R.  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Snowden,  J.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Suowden,  Guss,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Smith,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Striewalt,  K.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Lavna. 
Smith,  W.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Sims,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Snider,  Mag.,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Spies,  Philip,  far. ;  P.  0.  Campbell. 
Tomberlin,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Tomason,  Tom,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Taylor,  S.  I.,  far.;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Taylor,  Isaac,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Teeter,  R.  F.,  far. 
Taylor,  Elijah,  far. 
Teets,  George,  far. ; 
Vaugn,  George. 
White,  Lee,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Wilson,  Ann,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Warsham,  C.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Wilson,  J.  N.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
White,  J.  C,  blacksmith;  Campbell. 
White,  J.  D.,  shoemaker;  Campbell. 
Walters,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
White,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  0.  Campbell. 
Worden,  Margaret,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Whitnev,  Trueman.  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Walker,"^  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Williams,  Dellia,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
White,  Monroe,  far.;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Whitney,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Walker,  A.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Wilson,  G.  L.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Wood,  J.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
White,  Isaac,  far. ;  P.  O.  Campbell. 
Wilson,  S.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Whitstrand,  Andrew,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Walker,  A.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Whitney,  W.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Willianis,  Reubin,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Walker,  W.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Williams,  S.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon, 
Worsham,  Elizabeth, far. ; P.  O.  Campbell. 
Williams,  D.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Larna. 
Wright,  W.  P.,  far.;  P.  O.  Johnstown. 
York,  A.  Y.,far.;P.  O.  Larna. 


BUTTON  TOWNSHIP. 


675 


HUTTON    TOWNSHIP. 


Ashby,  Edwin,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Alexander,  L.  F.,  far.;    P.  O.  Charleston. 
Ashby,  John  K.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Adams,  Eliiah,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona 
Adams,  E.  Girard,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Adams,  William,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Adams,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Anderson,  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Anderson,  E.,  Jr.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Abston,  William,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Ashby,  S.  P.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Anderson,  Barth.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Anderson,  Jasper,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Ashby,  Philip,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Axton,  Alexander,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Brooks,  B.  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston, 
Bennett.  I.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Biddle,  George  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Bennett,  A.,  far.  and  min. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Brown,  David,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Brown,  Wm.  F.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Brandenburg,  C.  P.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Brandenburg,  W.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Bates,  Lafayette,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Beavers,  Solomon,  tar. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Boyd,  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Beavers,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Beavers,  M.,  far. ;  P.  O-  Hutton. 
Brown,  John  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Brown,  Francis,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Baker,  Basie,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Bensley,  T.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Bidle,  George,  far. ;  P.  0.  Westfleld. 
Buchannan,  Geo.,  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Baker,  Abel,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Biggs,  Freeman,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Bishop,  W.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Bromley,  A.,  far.,  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Babers,  Elijah,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Beavers,  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Bates,  Reuben,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Brandenbui-g,  H.  L.,  far.;  P.  0.  Hutton. 
Bratman,  R.  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Brandenburg,  S.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Hutton. 
Beavers,  Albert,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Beavers,  Barnett,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Brown,  Jeremiah,  far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Bates,  George  W.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Bates,  Henry,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Beavers,  Wm.,  Jr..  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Bell,  Henry,  fax.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Black,  David,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Bell,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Bell,  John  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Baker,  Andrew,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Bales,  Richard,  far. ;  P.  0.  Diona. 
Bishop,  M.  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Bishop,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Bills,  S.  S.,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Butler,  A.  C,  Dr..  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Brady,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Bensley,  Allen,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Brewer,  Bryant,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Branderburg,  C.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 


Bell,  James  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Branderburg,  W.  F.,  f  ai'. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Branderburg,  Ford,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Bruce,  Franklin,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Bryant,  Aaron,  farmer. 
Beavers,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Bennett,  Elias,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Brandenburg,  Jason,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Blythe,  P.  M. 

Berkley,  Wm.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Berkley,  J.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Burt,  J.  G  ,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Bennett,  Henry,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Bennett,  Hiram,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Brandenburg,  James,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Buchannan,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Conley,  Moses,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Connely,  E.  R.,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Connoliey,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Cox,  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Connoliey,  Emorv,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Connoliey,  Geo.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Connoliey,  W.  R.,  far.;  P.  O,  Westfleld. 
Connely,' J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Cottinghain,  F.  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Cooper,  Larkin,  far. ;  P.  O.  Chaileston. 
Cook,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Cook,  H.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Cox,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Cooper,  Jeremiah  C.,  far. ;   P.  O.  Hutton. 
Cox,  Jas.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Cottingham,  J.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Cartwright,  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Cox,  W.  R.  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Connoliey,  Jas.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Connoliey,  E.  P.,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Cox,  Abel,  farmer. 

Cottingham,  L.  C,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Cooper,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Connoliey,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Cox  Adam,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Connoliey,  E.  R.,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Connoliey,  F.  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Crosby,  M.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Decker,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Decker,  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Davis,  S.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Dallas,  John  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Dallas,  Jas.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Dallas,  Geo.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  AVestfleld. 
Davis,  C.  P.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Hutton. 
Deverick,  Thos.  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Davis,  Riley,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Davee,  Z.  L.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Davis,  Roswell,  far. ;  P.  O.  Casey. 
Dodds,  Wm.,  far. :  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Davis,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Duvan,  O.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Davis,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Decker,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Dallas,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld. 
Devrick,  Jason  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Deverick,  Jas.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Evinger,  David,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfleld 


676 


TAX-PAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY 


I 


Eviuger,  AV.  H.,  far.;  P.O.  Westfield. 

Easton,  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Edmaii,  R.,  far.;  P.  O.  Huttfin. 

Eaton,  Jesse,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 

Erwin,  Win.  li..,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 

Edman,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ilutton. 

Edman,  lleddick,  far.;  P.  O.  Hiitton. 

Endsley,  Andrew,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Edwards,  Jabes,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 

Easton,  Daniel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 

Etherington,  W.  H.,  farmer. 

Easton,  M.  O.,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona: 

Edwards,  Monroe,  far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 

Endsley,  T.  L.,  merchant,  Hutton. 

Easton,  John  ,S..  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Franklin,  John,  Dr.,  Diona. 

French,  Samuel,  blacksmith  and  wagon- 
maker,  Hutton. 

French,  A.  A.,  blacksmith  and  wagon- 
maker,  Hutton. 

Flenner,  J.  B.,  far.;  P.  ().  Westtield. 

Ford,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Fogler,  D.  E.,far.;  P.  O.  Westfield. 

Freeman,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 

Fitzpatrick,  ]Sr.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Fletcher,  Thomas,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Goldman,  L. 

Gossett,  Andrew,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Goble,  D.  II., far.;  P.  O.  Westfield. 

Garrison,  Bartleima,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Gwinn,  Charles  H.,  far. :  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Goble,  Irvin,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Goble,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfield. 

Goble,  Lewis,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfield. 

Goble,  B.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfield, 

Gwinn,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Goodman,  G.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Goodman,  Thomas,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfield. 

Gibson,  Wm.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

(Jrant,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Gossett,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Giffin,  Elizabeth,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Gossett,  Luke,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Gossett,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Gilbert,  Ezekiel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Gilbert,  E.  H.,  far.;  P.  0.  Charleston. 

(irwinn,  R.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Gwinn,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O  Charleston. 

Garner,  J.  S..  physician,  Hutton. 

Gilbert, E.  Jr.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Goble,  G.  B.,  Charleston. 

(xoble,  Josej)!),  far.;  P.  O.  Westfield. 

Green,  Wm.  8. 

Grant,  John  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Handley,  John,  Diona. 

Horseley,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Haddock,  N.,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 

Hamlin,  Norman,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Hutton,  Joliii,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 

Hutton,  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 

Haddock,  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 

Handle)^  J.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 

Horseley,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Hall,  Michael,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Hall,  Stephen,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Handley,  Jos.,  Sr.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 

Hall,  Nancy,  farmer. 

Hutton,  Alfred,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 


Ingram,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston 
Ingram,  Thomas,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton 
Ingram,  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Ingram,  Jas.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Jenkins,  Jas.,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Johns,  J.  II.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charle.ston 
Johns,  E.  R.,  farmer. 
Johns,  Franklin,  far.;  P.  O.  Ilutton. 
Johns,  Seton,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Johnslow,  W.  B.,  farmer. 
Johns,  Ge(jrge  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Jenkins,  John,  Hutton. 
Jenkins,  B.  M.,  dead. 
Johns,  Joshua,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston 
Jenkins,  B.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Kelley,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Kackley,  H.  A.,  farmer. 
Kiser,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Kite,  John,  far. :  P.  O.  Westfield. 
Kellv,  Thomas,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston 
Kackley,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Kackley,  Pierce,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Kites,  Jas.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Westfield. 
Lee,  John  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Lenau,  Wm.  L.,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfield 
Lee,  Owen,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 
Levee,  Wm.  T. 

I^eitch,  Jos.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Levee,  Thomas. 

Letner,  Lewis,  far.  ;'P.  O.  Charleston. 
Law,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Law,  Harbit,  fai-. ;  P.  O.  AVestfield. 
Lanaberry,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Lawver,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Lennox,  J.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Casey. 
Landers,  Myron,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Lawyer,  C.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Lemming,  N.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
McMorris,  S.  L..  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
McMorris,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
McKinzie,  Jas.,  far. :  P.  O.  Charleston, 
McMorris,  1.  N.,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 
McMorris.  B.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
McGahan,   Alexander,  far.;  P.  0.  Hut- 
ton. 
McMorris,  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Mullen,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Martin.  David,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Martin,  G.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Martin,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Martin,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Moore,  Levi,  far. ;  P.  0.  Diona. 
Miller.  B.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Martin,  C  R.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Diona. 
Moore,  A.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Morgan,  Jas. 
Moore,  W.  L. 
Mullen,  Frances. 

Mahoney,  L.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Murphy;  J.  IT.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Melton,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Merritt.  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Moore,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Neal,  A.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Newell,  Thomas,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Neal,  Martin,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Osborn,  J.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Parker,  Sarah  A. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 


EAST  OAKLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


677 


Parker,  J.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfield. 
Parker,  D.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 
Parker,  Jepther. 

Piper,  W.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 
Penley,  J.  W. 

Piper,  J.  O.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 
Parker,  John  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 
Parker,  Nathaniel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 
Eogers,  Hiram. 

Runnels,  Martin,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Rogers.  S.  S. 

Rosencrantz,  C  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Rennels,  Edmund,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Rennels,  John  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Rhodes,  Wm.  R.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Roden,  W.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Rennels,  Jas.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Rennels,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Rennels,  Jas.,  Jr.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Rennels,  Wm.  R..  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Rennels,  Riley,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Rennels,  Newton,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Riggins,  Lafyette,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Rennels,  Jonn,  far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Richardson,  John,  far.;  P.  0.  Westfield. 
Rennels,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Rennels,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Riggins,  R.  S.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Rennels,  Marion,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Rennels,  Joel  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Robinson,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Smith,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 
Scott,  Zach.,  far.;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Scott,  J.PM.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Smoot,  Jas.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 
Smith,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Steelesman,  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Stansberrv,  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 
Stewart,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 
Smith,  J.  G.,  farmer. 
Stewart,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P'.  O.  Westfield. 
Stewart,  Wm.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 
Short,  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hutton. 
Stewart,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 
Sargent,  John  S.,  far. ;  I*.  0.  Hutton. 
Sargent.  Nancy,  far. :  P.  ().  Hutton 


Strader,  John. 

Sanders,  Jas.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Shafer,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Spitter,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Swisher,  Lockard.  fni". ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Sublett,  W.  H.,  far.;  P.  0.  Charleston. 

Smith,  Thomas  N.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charles- 
ton. 

Shafer,  Alexander,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
i  Smith,  G.  W.,  Jr.,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfield. 
I  Troxal,  Edmund,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Thompson,  F.,  far.;  P.  0.  Hutton. 

Tippy,  Levi,  far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 

Tippy,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Tippy,  Albert,  far. :  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Tucker,  A.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Turner,  Thomas. 

Thornton,  T.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Tippey.  .John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Troxal,  John,  far. ;  P.  ( ).  Westfield. 

Timmons,  L.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 

Weaver,  David,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Waltrip,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Walker,  Jackson,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston, 

Waltrip,  Martha,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 

Walker,  Ransom,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Wilson,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Diona. 

Wilson,  Wm.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Diona. 

Wiley,  R.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

White,  Silas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Waltrip,  Mary,  farmer. 

Waltrip,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Walker,  W.  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Williams,  John.  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Weaver,  Nathaniel,  farmer. 

Walker,  A.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Wilcox,  S.  S.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

White,  Isaac,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Ward,  A.  J. 

Weber,  F.  C.,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfield. 

Williams,  W.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Westfield. 

Walker,  J.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Walker,  J.  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hutton. 

Williams,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Wells,  Charles  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 

Wells,  R.  O.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Westfield. 


EAST    OAKLAND    TOWNSHIP. 


Ashmore,  J.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Ashmore,  J.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Ashmore,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Ashmore,  Martha  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Ashmore,  G.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Ashmore,  G.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Ashmore,  H.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Ashmore,  S.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 
Ammerman,  W.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Ammerman,  W.   M.,  sewing   machines; 

P.  O.  Oakland. 
Annin,  S.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Annin,  \^.  ^Y.,  far. :  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Annin,  M.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Allen,  W.  Z.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 


Allen,  S.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Applegate,  Lucinda,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Anderson,  Allie  M. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Black,  J.  S.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Barwell,  John, ret.  farmer;  P. O.  Oakland. 
Barwell,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
BroAvn,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Brown,  W.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Brown,  J.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Brown,  W.  W.,  sad.  and  harness,   Oak- 
land. 
Brown,  W.,  wagon-maker;  P.O.  Oakland. 
Black,  S.  W.,  dead ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Black,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Black,  W.  J.,  butcher,  Oakland. 


678 


TAX  PAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY: 


Black,  Margaret  Mrs.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Busbey,  W.  J..,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Busbey,  J.  H..  merchant,  Oakland. 
Busbey,  AV.  D.,  sad.  and  harness,  Oak- 
land. 
Butcher,  I.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Braking,  Ezekiel,  boot  and   shoe,   Oak- 
land. 
Brading,  Jasper,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Bell,  Catherine,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Brodie,  Vigina  Mrs. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Buckler,  W.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Bradford,  J.  P.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Buckler,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Burton,  J.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Bales,  John,  tar. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Bales,  James,  dead. 

Bland,  S.  T.,  physician ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Beasley,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Brannon,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Barbour,  W.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Blevins,  J.  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Blevins,  I.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 
Bratton,  Charles,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 
Bandy,  Ann 
Brothers,  G.  W. 

Bailey,  David,  laborer,  Oakland. 
Bowman,  W.  M.,  carpenter,  Oakland. 
Bolan,  Charles,  laborer.  Oakland. 
Ball,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Burns,  Robert,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Blair,  Ruth  Miss;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Curtis,  Pheliander,  dead ;  P.  0.  Oakland. 
Curtis,  Charles,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Campbell,  I.  P.,  far.;  P.  O-  Oakland. 
Campbell,  J.  P.,    preacher   and    editor, 

Oakland. 
Campbell,  David,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 
Combs,  W.  v.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Combs,  Jos.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Collins.  Win.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Collins,  D.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Crawford,  Louisa ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Crawford,  John  G.,  farmer  and  stock. ; 
P.  O.  Oakland. 

Coffin,  T.  S.,  merchant,  Oakland. 

Coffin,  W.  H.,  agricultural  dealer,  Oak- 
land. 

Clark,  R.    B.,  groceries   and  hardware, 
Oakland. 

Clark,  O.  M.,  clerk,  Oakland. 

Cook,  Reuben,  far. ;  P.  O.  Isabel. 

Cash,  L.  S.,  merchant  and   Pres.  bank, 
Oakland. 

Cash,  Adeline,  merchant,  Oakland. 

Cash,  S.  M.,  dead. 

Conaghan,  Ed.,   groceries    and   notions, 
Oakland. 

Cox,  Jacob,  moved. 

Clapp,  Malinda  H..  far.,  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Carrol,  Mary,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Cusick,  J.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Cambridge,  S.  A., far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Carrico,  Isaac 

Cole,  Richard,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Canaday,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Coley,  R.  L,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Clinard,  Philips,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 


Chapman,  A.  N.,  grocer,  Oakland. 
Clement,  Cliarles,  butcher,  Oakland. 
Conner,  N.  Mrs.,  trader,  Oakland. 
Comstock,  George,  far. ;  P.  0.  Oakland. 
Carter,  L.  D.,  stock-dealer,  Oakland. 
Carnes,  Abel,  far. ;  P.  O.  OakUnid. 
Dougherty,  Andy,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Dollar,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Dix,  O.  dead. 
Deross,  I.  A.,  left. 
Dennis,  Jesse,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Duglas,  Clara. 

Dean,  Abram,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Donavan,  Thomas,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Duncan,  T.  H..  merchant,  Oakland. 
Duer,  I^.  R.,  teacher,  Oakland. 
Dunseth,  A.  A.,  carpenter,  Oakland. 
Daugherty,  Hugh,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Daugherty,  John,  far.,  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Edson,  James,  lumber;  Oakland. 
Eckard,  W.  S.,  moved. 
Eckard,  R.  C,  laborer,  Oakland. 
Eads,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Eishel,  J.  G.,  carpenter,  Oakland. 
Foltz,  A.  1.,  far.,  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Fenneghan,  Ed.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Pry,  Caleb,  laborer,  Oakland. 
Flenner,  A.  D.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Fisher,  Solomon,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Frederic,  H.  A.,  hotel,  Oakland. 
Forsyth,  Robert,  merchant,  Oakland. 
Gillette,  .Teptha,  ret. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Gobert,  Peter,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Gomell,  John,  ret. ;  P,  O.  Oakland. 
Ghilkeson.  Wm.,  laborer,  Oakland. 

Grace,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.,  Oakland. 

Gear,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Gilbert,  Samuel,  boots  and  shoes,  Oak- 
land. 

Gilbert,  M.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Gline,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Hackett,  M.  F.,  ret. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Hackett,  G.  F..  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Hackett,  S.  A.  Mrs. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Hudson,  L.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Hudson,  John.  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

House,  M.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Hall,  Thomas  R.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Hunter,  Jesse,  boots   and   shoes,    Oak- 
land. 

Hodge,  Thomas;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Harmon,  Samuel,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Hamilton,  I.  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Holiday,  George. 

Hite,  Jane  Mrs.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Hite,  Thomas,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Hite,  Hamilton,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Hite,  Hiram,  Jr.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Hite,  Hiram,  Sr.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Howell,  I.  AV.,  laborer,  Oakland. 

Holding,  R.  S.,  drugs,  Oakland. 

Hunt,  Wm..  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Hunt,  J.,  mill,  Oakland. 

Hunt  &  Co.,  mill,  Oakland. 

Hanners,  W.  R..  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Hanners,  R.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland, 

Hanners,  P.  O.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Hickev,  W.  O.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 


EAST  OAKLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


679 


Hickey,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Hickey,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Harris,  J.  M.,  moved. 
Henderson,  J .  M.,  painter,  Oakland. 
Henderson,  Wm.,  blacksmith,  Oakland. 
Hollis,  E.  W.,  laborer,  Oakland. 
Hendrix,  Solomon,  retired  ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Hendrix,  Charles,  retired ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Jones,  Elisha,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Jones,  Abigal,  Mrs.  hotel,  Oakland. 
James,  Firman,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
James,  C  G.,  laborer,  Oakland. 
Joy,  S.  S.,  merchant,  Oakland. 
Jennings,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Jacobs,  C.  M.,  clerk,  Oakland. 
Kurtz,  George,  teller  in  bank,  Oakland. 
Kurtz,  M.  A.  Mrs.,  milliner,  Oakland. 
Kurtz,  H.  C,  ex.  agent.  Oakland. 
Kearns,  Silas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Kenney.  Sarah  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Keys,  Lewis,  merchant,  Oakland. 
Ketchum,  E.  H.,  cooper,  Oakland. 
Kite  Brothers,  farmers;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Kurtz,  E.  A.,  carpenter,  Oakland. 
Kurtz,  P.  M.  Mrs. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
J.,auher,  J.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Lauher,  1.  K.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
].iongnecker,    Samuel,    insurance    agent, 

Oakland. 
Longnecker,  I.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O-  Oakland. 
Jxtngnecker,  P.  .T,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Lamb,  Martha  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Lamb,  Edward,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Lamb,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Luce,  Moses,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Luce,  M.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.Oakland. 
Larrimer,  R.  F.,  merchant,  Oakland. 
Larrimer  &  Co.,  merchants,  Oakland. 
Lawson,  J.  R.,  bj.mber;  Oakland. 
Lyons,  Peter,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
J^ansdown.  J.  I.,  far.  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Lovell,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Land,  Wm..  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Liston,  J.  E.,  saddles  and  harness,  Oak- 
land. 
Lacey,  Wm.  C.,  M.  E.  minister,  Oakland. 
Mitchell,  D.  W.,  retired,  Oakland, 
Mitchell,  Sarah  C,  dead,  Oakland. 
Mitchell,  W.  T. 

Mitchell,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Mitchell,  J.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Moseley,  Robert,  moved ;  Oakland. 
Miller.  J.  D.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Miller,  J.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Milburn,  Ewing,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Mock,  T.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Montgomery,  Jane,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Muhnix,  Noah,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Miller,  David,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Minor,  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Martin,  David,  far. ;  P.  O-  Oakland. 
Moore,  C,  &  Sons,  druggists,  Oakland. 
Moody,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Moody,  Bryant,  far. :  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Moody,  E.M.,  blacksmith,  Oakland. 
McGeary,  J.,  insurance  agent,  Oakland. 
McClelland,  C  J., merchant,  Oakland. 
McClelland,  T.  J.,  clerk.  Oakland. 


McCall,  T.  J.,  moved;  Oakland. 

McCormac,  I.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

McConkey,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

McGragor,  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Mclntire,  I.  O.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Nichols,  J.,  miller,  Oakland. 

Newman,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  0.  Oakland. 

Patton,  R.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Patton,  J.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Patterson,  Mary  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Patterson,  T.  R.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Parker,  I.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Parker,  Rebecca,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Pemberton,  H.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Pemberton,  C.  D.,  laborer,  Oakland. 

Pemberton,  J.  J.,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Oakland. 

Pleasant,  I.  F.,  laborer ;  Oakland. 

Pratt,  J.  J.,  moved;  Oakland. 

Poulson,  Benjamin,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Powers,  D.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Parker,  Hannah. 

Pepper,  D.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Parrish,  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Pierson,  James,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Payne,  S.  K.,  boarding-house,  Oakland. 

Peake,  W.  J.,  physician,  Oakland. 

Poor.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Rutherford,  H.,  physician,  Oakland. 

Rutherford,  John,  Cashier  bank,  Oak- 
land. 

Reel,  S.  A.,  physician  and  far.,  Oakland. 

Reel,  J.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Reeder,  J.  S.,  drayman,  Oakland. 

Ramsey,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Ramsey,  W.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Ramsey,  J.  F.,  far;  P  O.  Oakland. 

Roberts,  Thomas,  far. ;  P  O.  Oakland. 

Roberts,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Roberts,  Elizabeth,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Roberts,  J.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Roberts,  W.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Roberts,  S.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Reed,  B.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Reed,  R.  D.,  painter,  Oakland. 

Reeds,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Rohn,  Francis,  moved. 

Richie,  H.  P.,  wagon-maker,  Oakland. 

Redden,  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Ruth,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Roland,  Nathaniel,  far.  ;P.  O.  Oakland. 

Riley,  John,  laborer,  Oakland. 

Rice,  D.  A.,  ex-R.  R.  agent,  Oakland. 

Redmon,  W.  G.,  barber,  Oakland. 

Rader,  Mary,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Reese,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Swinford,  W.  H..  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Swinford,  E.  N.,far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Swinford,  C  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Swinford,  G.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Swinford,  W.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Swinford,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Swinford,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Swinford,  G.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Swinford,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Swinford,  E.  S.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Swinford,  F.  M..  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Swinford,  S.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 


680 


TAX-PAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY: 


Swinford,  A.  L., far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Swinford,  M.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Swinford,  J.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Swinford,  J.  M.,  far.;  P.  0.  Oakland. 
Sutton,  A.  J.  L.  C,  dead. 
Sutton.  W.  M..  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Seals,  Eran,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Seals,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Shields,  W.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Shields.  W.  C,  far.,  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Stumj).  J.K.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Stuinp,  Jane,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Smith,  Marv  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Smith,  W.  6.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Sublet,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Sublet,  James, far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Smith,  N.  P.,  bookseller;  Oakland. 
Smith.  Jacob,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Smith,  B.  F. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Stokes,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Stokes,  J.  ^y.,  far.; P.  0.  Oakland. 
Sargent,  Elizabeth,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Schrierer,  Rodolph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Skelton,  Chailes,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Slater,  J.  G.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Seilhymer,  J.,  book  agent,  Oakland. 
Tibbs,  J.  E.,  pliotographer,  Oakland. 
Thornton,  L.  C,  Postmaster,  Oakland. 
Titus,  J.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Titus,  Jeremiah,  far. ;  P.  0.  Oakland. 
Titus,  Jonas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Taylor,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Turner,  J.  W.,  physician,  Oakland. 
Temples,  Wm.,  fiir. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Tinsley,  Sarah  C,  far. ;  P.  0.  Oakland. 
Yandeventer,  A.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Vandeventer,  James,  moved ;  Oakland. 


Vandeventer,  Mary  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oak- 
land. 

Vandeventer,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Vandeventer,  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Valodin,  M.  B.,  farmer  and  stock-dealer, 
Oakland. 

Varner,  Peter,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Valandengham,  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Welsh,  R.  J.,  bricklayer,  Oakland. 

Welsh,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Williamson,  J.  H.,  moved. 

White,  E.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Williams,  B.  P.,  moved. 

Williams,  M.  R.,  Constable,  Oakland. 

Williams,  H,  D.,  merchant,  Oakland. 

Winkler,  J.  H.,  lawyer,  Oakland. 

Winkler,  David,  blacksmith,  Oakland. 

Winkler  &  Moody,  blacksmiths,  Oakland. 

Wright,  J.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Warriner,  J.  C,  moved. 

Whalen,  Pat,  far. ;  P.  0.  Oakland. 

Warden.  E.  H.,  painter,  Oakland. 

Wells,  Townson,  painter,  Oakland. 

Woolley,  A.  J. 

Wass,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Widdermooth,  Geo.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Yaniwine,  Jacob  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Yaniwine,  John  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kansas. 

Young,  Alex.,  moved. 

Young,  Thos.,  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Yoong,  Robert,  far.,  P.  O.  Oakland. 

York,  N.  L.,  far.;  P.  0.  Oakland. 

Yeargin.  J.  S.,  editor  Ledger,  Oakland. 

Zimmerman,  W.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 

Zimmerman,  J.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmox'e. 

Zailey,  Samuel,  miller,  Oakland. 


MORGAN    TOWNSHIP. 


Adkins,  R.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Annins,  John,  far.;  P.  O-  Oakland. 
Archer,  E.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Alman,  Arthur,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Baker,  James,  far.;  P.  O.  Cliarleston. 
Broadfield,  Jonas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Bush,  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Bush.  r>.  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Busbey.  J.  1 1.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Beaslev,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Beasley,  G.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Bryant,  Wm.,  fai-.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Bryant,  Elisha,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Bryant,  Ely,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cliarleston. 
Bowers,  O. C,  far.;  P.  O.  Cliarleston. 
Brown,  W.  V.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Collins,  Sarah,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Clapp,  Emanuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Carter,  Joseph,  far.;  P.  O.  Hardin. 
Carter,  T.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Raidin. 
Carter,  W.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Curtis.  Ira,  far.;  P.  O.  Ilinnsboro. 
Curtis,  S.  N.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Curtis,  D.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 


Clark,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Clark,  (xeorge,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Clark,  C  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Clark,  A.  J.  far, ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Clark,  A.  D.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Rardin. 
Crispin,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Craig,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Craig,  Lafayette,  far. ;  P.O.  Charleston. 
Combs,  T.  J.,  far. :  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Combs,  W.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hinesl)oro. 
Crist,  W.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Collins,  Marv,  far. ;  P.  0.  Rardin. 
Carnev,  D.  H.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Chambers,  Henry,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Collins,  Aivron,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Cobble,  P.  II.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Clapp,  Michael,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Collins,  J.  J.,  far.;  P.  O-  Charleston. 
Craig,  1.  N.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Clair,  M.  E.,  far. :  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Daugherty,  Prank,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Daugherty,  Wesley,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charles- 
ton. 
Daugherty,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 


EAST  OAKLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


681 


"Daugherty.  J.  B.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Daugherty,  B.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Davis,  Narcissa,  far. ;  P.O.  Charleston. 
Done,  Elizabeth,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Ersan,  C.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Plorer,  Shep.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Pleetwood,  Geo.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashniore. 
Fleetwood,  John,  far. ;  P.O.  Ashmore. 
Ferree,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Ferguson,  M.  L.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Fleener,  W.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Fleetwood,  X.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
•Galbreath.  Aris,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Galbreath,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hardin. 
Galbreath,  W.  li.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Gilbert,  Elizabeth,  far.;  P.  O.  Pardin. 
Gilbert,  L.  M..  far.;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Golliday,  Henry,  fai-. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Galiton,  Solomon,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Gerard,  Jackson  ;  P.  O.  Hinesboro. 
Gerard,  Eli,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hinesboro. 
Green,  I.  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Hudson,  Jesse,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Hill,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Hancock,  T.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Honsel,  Francis,  far.;  P.  0.  Oakland. 
Johnson,  W.  H.,  far. ;  P.  ().  Charleston. 
Johnson,  S.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hinesboro. 
Johnson,  Edward,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Johnson,  G.  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Johnson,  T.  P.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Jones,  J.  B.  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Jarvis,  Maria,  far. :  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Kirki>atric,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Kin,  ,Tohn,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Krier,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Long,  J.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Lispcomb,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Lee,  Bruce,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Lipscomb,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Lanmon,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Lipincott,  James,  far. ;  P.  O-  Hinesboro. 
Lipincott,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hinesboro. 
Larimee,  W.  H.  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Morgan,  Melvin,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Morgan,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Morgan,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Morgan,  Robert,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Morgan,  H.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Morgan,  J^enard,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Montgomery,  G.  W.  liev. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Myers,  Janies. 

Markley,  Z.  P.,  far,;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Markley,  Jesse,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Moody,  David,  far.;  P.O.  Rardin. 
Montgomery,  J.  T.  Dr. ;  P  O.  Charleston. 
Micheal,  Jasper,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
McGragor.  Will,  far.;  P.  O.  Cliarleston. 
McGragor,  John.  fai-. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
McGahey,  Dunlap,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
McKina,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
McAlister,  D.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
McLain,  W.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
^Tock,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Xesbit.  G.  L.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 


Oliver,  G.  M.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
O'Hair,  M.  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
O'Dell,  F.  M.,  far.:  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Peterson,  Albert,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Peterson,  Charley,  far.;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Palmer,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Palmer,  M.  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Piifer,  George,  far.;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Parker,  F.  M..  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Parker,  J.  C.,  far.;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
P.  O.  Rardin. 
P.  O.  Rardin. 
P.  0.  Rardin. 
;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
P.  O.  Rardin. 
P.  O.  Charleston. 
P.  O.  Charleston. 
P.  O.  Chiirleston. 


Rardin.  J.  L..  far. 
Rardin,  J.  H.,  far. ; 
Rardin,  B.  F.,  far. : 
Rardin,  David,  far. 
Rardin,  Sam,  far. 
Roberts,  Isaac,  far. 
Roberts,  W  D.,  far.; 
Roberts,  A.  D..  far. 


Roberts,  I.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Roberts,  Alfred,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Rankins,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Rogers,  N.  E.,  far. ;  P  O.  Rardin. 
Runals,  W.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Russel,  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Rhoden,  J.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Rhoden,  Jim,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Rouse,  W.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Robinson,  Fred,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Sailer,  J.  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Swinford,  S.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cliarleston. 
Smith,  J.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Sain,  I.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Stits,  N.  S.,far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Shafer.  Solomon,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Shafer,  Wm,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Taylor  ,Peter,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Taylor.,  J.  T.,  far.;  P.  O  Rardin. 
Taylor,  Oliver,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Taylor,  E.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Taylor,  W.  H.  far.;  P.  0.  Oakland. 
Tipton,  Jonathan,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Thatcher,  J.  W.  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Tolen,  J.  H.,far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Tomson,  G.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Towler,  H.  G.,far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Yandeveiiter,  Wesley,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin 
Vandeventer.  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin 
White,  George,  far.;  P.  O.  Rardin 
Winkel black,  John,  far.; 

t(m. 
Winkelblack,  Robert,  far. 

ton. 
Winkelblack,  Mason,  far. 

ton. 

Williams,  J.  B.  &  Co.,  far.;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Winkler,  R.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rardin. 
Wriglit,  Robert,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Walton,  Andrew,  far.;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Wiley,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Woodfall,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Wainscott,  J.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Ashmore. 
Whanger,  Samuel,  far.;  P.  O.  Hinesboro. 
Washam,  Martha,  far. ;  P.  O.  Oakland. 
Wells,  James,  far. ;  P.  0.  Rardin. 
Wilkins,  Thomas,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 


P.  O.  Charles- 
;  P.  O.  Charles- 
;  P.  0.  Charles- 


682 


TAX-PAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY ; 


SEVEN    HICKORY    TOWNSHIP. 


Arterbiirn,  W.  T.,  f.-ir.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Andre,  M.,  far. ;  V.  O.  Charleston. 

Adkins,  J.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Armstrong,  Geo.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Austin,  Breedlove. 

Bradford,  A.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hinesboro. 

Bain,;A.  A.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Baldwin,  T.  J. 

Bastic,  H.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Baker,  Geo.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Bruce,  Jason  M.,  far. :  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Bruce,  J.  W. 

Baker,  G-  B.,  fanner. 

Beck,  D.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Brown,  Malissa,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Brady,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Babbs,  J.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Braddock,  David,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Braddock,  J.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Brooks,  J.  N.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Brinegar,  T.  C.,  farmer. 

Brinegar,  R.  N.,  farmer. 

Brinegar,  E.  P.,  farmer. 

Brinegar,  J.  P.,  farmer. 

Buckler,  Green,  farmer. 

Bush  Bros.,  fars. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Bryant,  Harry,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Bryant,  B.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Baker,  Geo.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Beckham,  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Babb,  C.  P.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Bishop,  S.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Borch'elt,  Henry,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Ballinger.  J.  A.,  far.;  P.  0.  Charleston. 

Burge,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Burge,  W.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Curlin,  Charles  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hinesboro. 

Clapi),  Eman,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hinesboro. 

Coughlin,  Peter,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Cochran,  W.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Collins,  G.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Covert,  John,  farmer. 

Cooke,  Geo.  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Cottingham,  J.  K.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Childress,  J.  K.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hinesboro. 

Cofer,  Thomas  IST.,  far.;  P,  O.  Areola. 

Cooke,  E.  E.,  farmer. 

Cooper,  Stephen,  farmer. 

Carney,  D.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Craig,  A.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Dodge,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Donaldson,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Davis,  G.  O.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Detrick,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  ClKirleston. 

Davis,  J.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Dunnifer,  E.  R.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Downev,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Downey,  Patrick,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Davis,  Eliphas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cliarlcston. 

Davis,  Thomas  D„  far. ;  P.  O.  Charles- 
ton. 

Downey,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Dittlmore,  Henry,  far.;  P.  O.  Charles- 
ton. 

Dice,  Jacob,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 


Devore,  Peter  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Davis,  H.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Davis,  A.  D.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Driscoll,  James,  far. ;  P-  O.  Charleston. 
Donaldson,  B.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Emhuff,  Stephen,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cliarleston. 
Emhuff,  Wm.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Eversole,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cliarleston. 
Enlow,  Clarence,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Foster,  J.  J.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Areola. 
Furry,  C  G.,  far.;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Ferbrache,  J.  U.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Frazier,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Frazier,  T.  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Ferbrache,  S.  D.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Farrell,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Foulk,  W.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Foreman.  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Foreman,  I.  P.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Foreman,  W.  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Foreman,  J,  R.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Fritts,  John  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Ferree,  G.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Fowler,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Friddle,  Simpson,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Foster,  Eli,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hinesboro. 
Fitch,  J.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Chaiiest<m. 
Graham,  Mrs.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Garner,  J.  L.,  far.;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Graham,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Gregg,  Harmon,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Green,  H.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Ginser,  C.  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston 
Glasco,  Sarah,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Garver.  Philip,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Grant,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Grant,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Gray,  Jesse  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Groves,  John  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Garrett,  Samuel. 
Gamble,  J.  F. 

Hardin,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Rural  Retreat. 
Hefner,  W.  R. 

Hobart,  J.  R.,  physician,  Ashmore. 
Henderson,  W.  L.,  fai'. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Harden,  J.  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Harden,  F.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Henry,  Elisha,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Hyseil,  W.  H. 

Hardwick,  Jason  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charles- 
ton. 
Hoburt,  F.  E.,  farmer. 
Halsey,  J.  H.,  farmer. 
Honn,  Andrew  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt> 
Hoon,  Isaac  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Honn,  A.  C,  far.;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Honn,  Jno.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Harry,  Jacob,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hancock,  Jno.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Helton,  H.  Clay,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Harr,  Joseph,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Hancock,  W.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston 
Helton,  L.  H.,  far.:  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Hood,  John. 
Hood,  R.  W. 


SEVEN   HICKORY  TOWNSHIP. 


t)8a 


Hood,  E.  C. 
Hann,  Jacob. 
Hood,  L.  11. 
Hood,  J.  M. 

Jenkins,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Johnson,  Wni.  M. 

Jackson,  Jason  S.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Jones,  Hosier,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston, 
Johnson,  Chas.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Jarvis,  Wm.,  far. :  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Kizer,  George  W. 

Kinzel,  J.  O.,  far.:  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Kizer,  William. 

Kemp,  George  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Kirby,  James. 

Kinzel,  W.  O.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Kinztl,  Arthur,  far.;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Koontz,  Wm.  H..  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Koontz,  J.  G.  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Linkhart,  Silas,  far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Linkhart,  W.  K.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Linkhart,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Linkhart,  Joshua  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charles- 
ton. 
Lander,  B.  L. 
liong,  S  N. 
Lander,  Nancy. 

Lockhard,  Hiram,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Law.  P.  G.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Lohrey,  Philip,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Moore,  Matson. 

Moran,  Tim.,  far. :  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Moran,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Massey,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Mock,  J.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Mohler,  David,  far. :  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Mock,  Catharine. 

Murphy,  M.  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Murphy,  Sibby,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Mundy,  Jason  P.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Mason,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cnarleston. 
Mason,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Murphy,  J.  W.,  far.:  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Murphy,  M.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Miller,  Marion. 

Mathes,  J.  C,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Moler,  Alexander,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Murphy,  C.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
McComas,  Jas.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
McDougle,  W.  H.,  tar. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
McTaggart,  M. 

McMillen,  T.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Kural  Retreat. 
McCarthy,  Daniel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
McNutt,  Mary  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
McNeel,  Joseph,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
McNeel,  D.  W.,  far.;  P.  C.  Charleston. 
McNutt,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
McCallister,  R.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
McGurty,  Owen.  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
McGurty,  Frank,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
McTaggart,  Charles. 
Newman,  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Newman,  Geo.  W.,  far.;  P.O.  Charleston 
Newman,  A.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston, 
Nickles,  Theresa,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Nickles,  Jacob,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Newby,  Elijah,  far,;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Olmstead,  J.  C-,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 


Osburn,  H.  C,  far.;  P.  0.  Charleston. 

O  Hair,  W.  E.,  far.;  P.  O,  Charleston. 

O'Hair,  Dolly  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

O'Hair,  M.  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston, 

O'Hair,  A.  L.,  for.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

O'Hair,  Jesse,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Parr,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rural  Retreat, 

Pfeifer,  Geo.  M.,  far. 

Puree,  Clark,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston, 

Phillips ,  W.  H.,  far. 

Peyton,  Josejjh,  far, ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Parr,  Elisha.  far. ;  P.  O.  Rural  Retreat. 

Pfeifer,  L.  W.  M.,  far. 

Prall,  Cornelius,  far, ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Popham,  Samuel,  far. ;  P,  O,  Charleston. 

Popham,  Sherman,  far. ;  P.  O,  Charles- 
ton. 

Patterson,  Isaiah,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Patterson,  Thomas. 

Perisho,  Isaac,  far, ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Parkison,  J.  D„  far. ;  P,  0.  Charleston. 

Parr,  V,  E.,  far. ;  P,  O.  Rural  Retreat, 

Robison  &  Babbs. 

Rosebrough,  Levi,  far. ;  P,  O,  Charleston.. 

Reat,  Geo.  W.,  fai'. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Rosebrough,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Rhoads,  S.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Reader,  Thomas,  far. ;  P,  O.  Charleston, 

Raper,  G.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Areola. 

Rogers,  Isaac,  far. 

Ramsey,  Samuel,  far.;  P.  O,  Charleston. 

Richardson,  J.  C.,  far, ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Race,  Robert  W„  far. 

Snider,  R,  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Steigman,  Carl,  far. :  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Sti'eck,  Leobold. 

Snyder,  John  R. 

Sain,  Homer,  far.;  P.  O,  Charleston, 

Swinford,  B,  F..  far,;  P.  O,  Charleston. 

Swinford,  L.,  far. ;  P.  O,  Charleston, 

Stites,  Anna,  far. 

Schouten,  A.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Rural  Retreat. 

Smith,  J.  N„  far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 

Sain,  V,  D,,  far, ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Sain,  J.  Q.,  far. ;  P.  O,  Hinesboro, 

Sain,  Milton,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Stites,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O,  Hinesboro. 

Stites,  T.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Hinesboro. 

Springer,  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Smith,  Nancy  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Skelton,  Elizabeth  A.,  far, ;  P.  O,  Charles- 
ton. 

Shonten,  Ephraim,  far. ;  P.  0.  Rural  Re- 
treat. 

Story,  J,  M.,  far, ;  P,  O.  Charleston. 

Seipel,  Adam,  far,;  P.  0.  Charleston. 

Thissell,  Winthrop,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charles- 
ton, 

Todd,D,  P„  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Taber,  J.  W.,  far, ;  P.  O,  Charleston. 

Toland,  Geo,  A.,  far, ;  P,  O.  Charleston. 

Tuttle,  Wm.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charlestnn. 

Traver,  &  Nixon,  far. ;  P.  O,  Charleston - 

Tyler,  M.  A, 

Todd,  M.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston, 

Tyler,  Moses. 

Todd,  A.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Tarvin,  F.  F,,  far,;  P,  O.  Charleston. 


•684 


TAX-PAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY: 


Toland,  Jason  O.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Thissell,  M.  K.,  Mrs.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charles- 
ton. 

White,  Jolin,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Winkleblack,  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Winklebhicie,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charles- 
ton. 

Whelivn,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Willson,  A.  P.,  far. :  P.  O.  Cliarleston. 

Wyeth,  Albert,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hinesboro. 

Welsh,  Patrick,  far.,  P.  O.  Charleston. 


Walker,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Watkins,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Watkins,  Kobt.  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Watkins,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Warren,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Walden,  A.  N..  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Ward,  D.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Wyeth,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  0.  Rural  Retreat. 
Welte,  P.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Wheatly,  Jas.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hinesboro. 
Wyeth,  Tliomas  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hinesboro. 


HUMBOLT    TOWNSHIP. 


Allen,  A.  R. 

Anderson,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Ashmore,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Ashmore,  Levina,  widow ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Ash,  Smith,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 

Arey,  R.,  far. ;  P.  ().  Areola. 

Ashbrook,  I.  H. 

Ashbrook,  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 

Ashbrook,  Thorn.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Ashbrook,  S.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Arend,  G.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Anderson,  Mary,  widov/ ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Ashbrook,  J.  W. 

Ashbrook,  Albert,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 

Archer,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Himibolt. 

Allen,  F.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Ashworth,  G.  I.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Ashworth,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Ashworth,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Anderson,  Ervin. 

Anderson,  J.  T. 

Brewer,  G.  W.,  widow  ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Barr,  R.  P.,  teacher,  Humbolt. 

Bowman,  D.  A.,  blacksmith,  Humbolt. 

Boruff,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Brown.  H.  T. 

Barr,  L.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Bracv,  T.  W. 

Bowman.  P.  C.  far. :  P.  O.  Areola. 

Bowman,  D.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 

Boyd,  A. 

Beal,  James  M.,  Areola. 

Burns,  William,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 

Barriclaw,  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 

Barriclaw,  L.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Areola. 

Burgner,  G.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Byl,  William,  far.;  P.O.  Humbolt. 

Bugh,  Jacol),  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Burgess,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Bloom,  George,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Boyd,  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Burgess,  Patrick,  far. ;  P.  O.  tlumbolt. 

Bruce,  William,  far.;  P.O.  Humbolt. 

Beavers  Brothers,  fars. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Bown,  Thomas,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Brewer,  J.  N.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Blume,  Henry,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Bishop,  C.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Baird,  James  A.,  far. ;   P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Baird,  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 


Bean,  Elias,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Beard,  N.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Black,  J.  ^Y.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Brown,  Richard,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Bonham,  J.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Brotherson,  Chris. 
Bougart,  L.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Bond,  Thomas,  far.;  P.  0  Charleston. 
Bond,  J.  N.,  far.:  P.  0.  Charleston. 
Bond,  C.  G.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Barr,  John. 

Brewster,  Jesse,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Braun,  M.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Cowton,  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Crum,  W.  A.,  far.;  P.  0.  Cook's  Mill. 
Campbell,  J.  S.,  far. ;  Cook's  Mill. 
Cadwell,  D.  D.     ' 
Cora,  W.  T. 

Combs,  J.,far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Carlton,  J.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Chambers,  P.  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Chambers,  J.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Combs,  W.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Casper,  F. 
Cline,  Corlenius. 
Clark,  H.  S.,  attorney,  Mattoon. 
Christ,  Harvev,  laborer,  Humbolt. 
Chambers,  L.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Davis,  Maria,  widow,  Humbolt. 
Dixon,  J.  T.,  tar.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Doran,  G.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Dovl,  W.  A. 

Donley,  W.  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Dunn,  Joseph,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Dunn,  William,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Dunn,  Walter,  far. ;  P.  0.  Humbolt. 
Dunner,  Thomas,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Daugherty,S.  D.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Daugherty,  A.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Doran,  S.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Dubes,  Thomas,  far.;  P.  O. Humbolt. 
Driscoll,  J.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Driscoll,  Jason,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Dunner.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Huml)olt. 
Dulin,  J.,  saddler,  Humbolt. 
Davis,  Joseph,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Duncan,  S.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Deputv,  S.  F. 
Ellis,  J.  B. 
Ernst,  Jacob,  far.;  P:  O.  Humbolt. 


HUMBOLT   TOWNSHIP. 


685 


Easton,  C  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Edgar,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Elkin,  Clark,  carpenter,  Humbolt. 
Easter,  Jacob,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Earrar,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Eawkner,  J.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Fear,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Freeman,  J.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Fowler,  R.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Ferris,  Daniel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Flowerden,  Joseph,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Gray  &  Danner,  gen.  mdse.,  Humbolt. 
Goodell,  J.  A. 

Guilfoil,  Thos.,  grocer,  Paris,  family  here. 
Grooms,  Alfred,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Greene,  E.  E.,  Douglas  Co. 
Gasaway,  S.  H.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Humbolt. 
Gray,  G.  W.,  gen.  mdse. ;  Humbolt. 
Gardner,  P.  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Gardner,  L.  V.,  far. ;  P.  O.   Areola. 
Gardner,  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Gillespie,  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Gideon,  John  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Groves,  Samuel,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Herman,  John. 

Huber,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Huber,  I.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Huber,  John,  far. ;  P.O.  Charleston, 
Hill,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Hill,  R.  S.,  far. ;   P.  O.  Charleston. 
Hunt,  Alfred. 

Hackleman,  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hilligoss,  S.  p.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hancock,  J.  P.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hashbarger,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hashbarger,  Jacob,  far. ;   P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hutcheson,  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hood,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Hartford,  W.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Henley,  William. 

Hashbarger,  J.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Harris,  Daniel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Honn,  Peter,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hammon,  J.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Hill,  R.  C,  minister,  Charleston. 
Hill,  J.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hill,  J.  W. 

Hoots,  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hester,  J.  R. 

Holden,  Kate,  gen.  mdse.,  Humbolt. 
Holden,  J.  T.,  gen.  mdse.,  Humbolt. 
Howell,  E.  L.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hendric,  H.  H. 

Harrington,  P.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hoferkamp,  G.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Horn,  George  1^.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Homer,  E. 

Hester,  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hubbart,  N.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hoots,  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hines,  J.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hagans,  J.  C.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hmnbolt. 
Hagans,  J.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hawkins,  W.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hutchison,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Holtgrew,  H.  H. 

Irwin,  Israel,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Jarvis,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Areola. 


Jayness,  O.  T. 

Jennings,  E.,  grain-dealer,  Mattoon. 
Jennings,  J. 

Jennings,  I.,  grain,  Mattoon. 
Jones,  G.  B. 

Johnson  Brothers,  fars. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Jarvis,  Robert,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Kelsay,  Robert,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Kennedy,  W.  B.,  wagon  mfg.,  Humbolt. 
Keenan,  R.,  tank-tender  on  R.  R.,  Mattoon. 
Knabel,  Fred,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Knollenberg,  Fred,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Kelsey,  J.  L.,  far.;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Kercheval,  E.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Kersey,  Joseph,  laborer.  Areola. 
Loziei",  Alice,  Humbolt. 
Louthan,  G.  W.,  Kansas. 
Louthan,  M.  L. 
Louthan,  J.  F. 

Louthan,  D.  B.,  far.;  P.  ().  Humbolt. 
Larue,  J.  M.,  far. ;   P.  O.  Etna. 
Larue,  Jacob,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Lewis,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Longnecker,  J.  M.,  musician,  Humbolt. 
McKinney,  David,  far.;  P.  O.  Areola. 
McMillen,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
McMillen,  Robert,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
McNutt,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
McN'utt,  S.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
McKinzie,  W.  J. 

McBride,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
McConnell,  George,  far. ;    P.  O.  Humbolt. 
McCabe,  P.,  far.;  P.  O.  Areola. 
McDonald,  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Moren,  E.  L.,  laborer,  Humbolt. 
Moore,  A.  F.,  teacher,  Humbolt. 
Moore,  John  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Moore,  George,  far. ;  P.  0.  Humbolt. 
Moore,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Moore,  Hozey,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Moody,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Martin,  G.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Martin,  John. 
Mickey,  W.  R. 
]Moler  Peter. 

Miller,  F.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.Charleston. 
Miller,  Alonza,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Moler,  T.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Mull,  W.K,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Morrell,  J.  R.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Magee,  Ira,  laborer,  Humbolt. 
Murphy,  Mary,  widow,  Humbolt. 
Mohleiihoff,  W..  far. ;  P.  0.  Mattoon. 
Mohlenhoff,  II.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Martin,  J.  A. 
Mitchell,  Eli. 

MafEet,  W.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Mathney,  N.  C 

Morrison,  George,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Macarty,  C. 

Madden,  R.  L.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Magee,  C.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Mull,  Mary  A.,  widow,  Humbolt. 
Maxwell,  L.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Newman,  T.,  far.;  P.O.  Charleston. 
Newby,  Joseph,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
ISTewnian,  J.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Newman,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 


686 


TAX-PAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY; 


NickoisoTi,  W.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Newman,  A.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Newman,  J.  D.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Charleston. 

Nolte,  (xeorge,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Nolte,  Henry,  far.;  P.  0.  Mattoon. 

Orcntt,  L.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Orcutt  &  Bro.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Hvimbolt. 

Odell,  C.  M.,  physician,  Humbolt. 

Palmer,  W.  H. 

Powell,  Ira. 

Potts,  H.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 

Pearsons,  W.  L. 

Pendergast, Thos.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Pate,  Jeremey,  far.;  P.  O.  Areola. 

Popham,  C.  P.,  far.;  P.  O.Charleston. 

Patterson,  R.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Poorman,  W.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Poorman.  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

lleedy,  Michael. 

Ritten house.  L. 

Rice,  R.  R. 

Reynolds,  George,  far.;  P.  O.  Areola. 

Roberts,  Daniel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 

Roberts,  John,  far.;  P.  0.  Humbolt. 

Rosebraugh,  J.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Ragan,  Edmond,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Redman,  J.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Redman,  B.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Rankin,  M.  T.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Humbolt. 

Smith  &  McClure. 

Shoemaker,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 

Stilebour,  Charles,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Scott,  Edward. 

Shea,  Bartholomew. 

Smith,  M.  J. 

Shoemaker,  James  D.,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 

Shoemaker,  William,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 

Stephenson,  A.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Stephenson,  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Stephenson,  Alfred. 

Stephenson,  M.  G.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Sayre,  L.  B. 

Shaffer,  L.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Shea,  Daniel. 

Schroatman,  Mary. 

Sellers,  Mi  rah. 

Strong,  Oliver,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt, 

Sullivan,  Daniel,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Shrader.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Plumbolt. 

Strick,  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon, 

Steele,  W.  A. 

Sutherland,  A.  H.,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 

Humbolt. 
Skinner,  8.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Stevens, Clemenzy,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Stevens,  L.  A.,  fiir. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Scott,  J.  W.,far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Scott,  W.  0. 

Snider,  W.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Scofield,  W.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Schrader,  Chris,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Sutten,  Isabelle,  widow,  Humbolt. 
Seaman,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 


Stevens,  M.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Sullivan,  Dennis,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt 

Sweazey,  G.  W. 

Staggs,  J.  J. 

Sneed,  Samuel. 

Skidmore,  William,  farmer. 

Stiles,  Andrew,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Stewart,  H.  L.,  physician,  Humbolt. 

Strong,  -Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Sanders,  Nancy,  widow,  Humbolt. 

Thomas,  Richard,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon 

Thomas,  Robert. 

Tucker,  Cyrus,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Tyler,  E.  T..  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

True,  J.  L.,  corn-buyer,  Humbolt. 

Thornton,  W.  H. 

Thornton,  George,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Trimmons,  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Tinch,  D.,  Constable,  Humbolt. 

Tinch,  Erank,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Tinch,  Andrew,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt 

Tinch,  Richard,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Tinch,  Alexander,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Todd,  G.  N.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Thompson,  M.  A. 

Tyler,  Henry,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Taylor,  T.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Terry,  G.  H.,  grocer,  Humbolt. 

Vellam,  T. 

Vancampen,  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Vantreber,  Lewis. 

Vandalen  &  Lanphier,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Woods,  G.  W.,  Justice  of  Peace,  Humbolt. 

Wells,  Diana,  widow,  Humbolt. 

Walters,  E.  P. 

Wiess,  Frederick,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Wade,  Mary,  widow,  Humbolt. 

Wampler,  J.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O-  Humbolt. 

Wright,  William,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Walls,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Wintermete,  A.  B.,  far. ;   P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Watkins,  Fred,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Westru]),  Charles,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Watkins,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Wallace,  W.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Watkins,  E.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Walters,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Woods,  W.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 

Willson,  Perry,  far.;  P.  O.  Areola. 

Willson,  R.  M..  far.;  P.  O.  Areola. 

Willson,  William. 

Whisman,  A.W. 

Whitesell,  Allen,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 

Whitesell,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  (Miarleston. 

Whitesell,  Lizzie. 

Whitesell,  -Margaret. 

Whitesell,  C  S. 

Whitmer,  Adam,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Young,  David,  dead. 

Y  oung,  J.  B..  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 

Young,  B. 

Zerburg,  Clemens. 


NORTH  OKAW  TOWNSHIP. 


687 


NORTH    OKAW    TOWNSHIP. 


Anderson,  John ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Ames,  N.  C,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Ames,  O.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
xVshwortb,  M.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Albright,  Geo.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Ashworth,  L.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Akers,  Jacob,  far. :  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Adams,  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Akers,  W.  J.,  far.;  P.  0.  Cook's  Mills. 
Akers,  Sarah,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Ames,  N".  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Akers,  N".,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Akers,  Geo.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Ashworth,  .J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Allison,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
AUiman,    Mark,    wagon-maker.    Cook's 

Mills. 
Bloom,  B.  C. 
Butts,  E.  T. 

Beatty,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Burwell,  J.  N.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Bratherton,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Burwell,  John,  far.,  P.  0.  Cook's  Mills. 
Brannin,  O.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Boyer,  Sheltou,  far.;  P.  ().  Mattoon. 
Blvthe,  J.  W.,  farmer. 
Barnitt,  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Baker,  James,  far.;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Brant,  Zimri,  far. ;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Baldridge,  Margaret,  far. ;   P.  O.  Cook's 

Mills. 
Boyle,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  0.  Cook's  Mills. 
Bailv,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Benson,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Bruster,  J.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Bigelow,  A.  J  .  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Blvthe,  Silas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Beatty,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Bigelow,  J.  S.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Butler.  W.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Butler,  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Barker,  W.  C,  minister.  Cook's  Mills. 
Brannin,    Lewery,    far.;    1'.    O.   Fuller's 

Point. 
Cross.  William,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Cramer,  S.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Cramer,  Morris,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Cree,  William,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Childress,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Currens,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Crum,  D.  A.,  merchant.  Cook's  Mills. 
Cobb,  James,  far. ;  P.  0.  Humbolt. 
Cox,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Coak,  L.  M.,  farmer. 
Crean,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Cousins,  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Carlile,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Carlile,  George,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Coon,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Caster,  Gabriel. 

Cutright,  D.  B.,far.;  P.  0.  Mattoon. 
Cheney,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Cheney,  J.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Cooper,  Stirling,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Campbell,  Hiram,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 


Cook,  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 

Curry,  W.  F. 

Checkley,  Elizabeth,  far.;   P.    O.  Cook's 

Mills. 
Curry,  J.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Conlin,  John,  far. ;  P.  0.  Cook's  Mills. 
Conlin,  Mike,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Crum,  H.  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Cook,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Crum,  J.  H.,  physician,  Cook's  Mills. 
Cook,  Elizabeth,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Deverice,  E.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Divens,  T.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Divens,  L.,  far.;  P.  0.  Humbolt. 
Divens,  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Daily,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Denning,  Newton,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Duncan,  D.,  far.;  P.  0.  Cook's  Mills. 
Duncan,  J.,  far  ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Duncan,  H.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Dunn,  Thomas,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Daugherty,  S.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Daugherty,  S.    L.,  far.;    P.   O.  Fuller's 

Point. 
Duckworth,  E.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Davis,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Dunn,  B.  N.,  farmer. 
!  Dunn.  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Dunn,  P.  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Daily,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Dixon,  David,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Dunn,  Ann,  farmer. 
Dunn,  J.  W. 
Daugherty,  Dennis,  far.;   P.  O.  Fuller's 

Point. 
Dole,  Frank  D.,  far. :  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Dolan,  Timothy,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Ellison,  Johnson,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Ellison,  James,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Ellis,  S.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Ellis,  S.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Ellison,  S.  D.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Ellis,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Ellison,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Ellis,  John  C.  far. :  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Ellison,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Ellison,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Eaton,  M.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Ellis,  P.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Ellison,  Moses,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Ellis,  H.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Ellison,  L.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Ellis,  J.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Ellis,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Elliot,  Robert,  far. ;  P.  0.  Mattoon. 
Ellis,  J.  K.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Fuller,  W.  N.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Cook's  Mills. 
Ficklin,  O.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Flemmings,  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Flemmings,  Jackson,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's 

Mills. 
Furnace,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Frost,  H.  L.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Foster,  J.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Frost,  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 


688 


TAX-PAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY: 


Frost,  C.  H.,  fill. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Fiirniss,  Thos.,  far.;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Frost  Abbie.  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Finlev,  W.  P.,  far.:  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Foster,  J.  N.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Gearhart,  Amelia,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Gearhart,  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Gearhart,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Gearhart,  W.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Graham,  W.  W.,  far. ;  P.  ().  Cook's  Mills. 
Graham,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Green,  Early,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Gibson,  J.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Graninger,  L.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Grant,  Levi,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Green,  B.  F..  far. ;  P.  O.  Ilunibolt. 
Grisson.  Charles,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Griffin,  W.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Gilmer,  W.  A.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Cook's  Mills. 
Graham,  E.  A.,  far.;  P.O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Grant,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Gilbert,  J.  A.,  far.;  P.  ().  Cook's  Mills. 
Guyett,  jSTapoleon,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Gasten,  L.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Gilbert,  E.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Gray,  Geo.,  far,;  P.  O.  Ilumbolt. 
(honinger, Elizabeth,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Hixon,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hearn,  J.  C,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hammer,  W.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hearn,  E.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hitch,  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hurst,  J.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hurst,  W.  R.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hoel,  W.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Houghland,  J.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hobert,  B.  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hayes,  W.  H.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hamilton.  8.,  far. :  P.  ().  Cook's  Mills. 
Hamilton.  J.,  far.;  P.  ().  Cook's  Mills. 
Hall,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Ilutton,  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Jlutton,  A.,  far.:  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hoots,  Ellen,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Houghland,  W.  11.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Cook's  Mills. 
Haney,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hunter,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hopper,  J.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hayes,  Job  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hopper,  Dudley,  far. ;  P.  ().  Cook's  Mills. 
Haybrack,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hearn,  W.  M.,  far. ;  P.  ().  Cook's  Mills. 
Hoats,  John,  far,;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Haskins, Thomas, far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hunt,  J.  M..  far. :  P.  ().  Cook's  Mills. 
Hearn,  J.  Y.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hoots,  W.  A.,  far. ;  P.  ().  Humbolt. 
Hamilton,  James,  far. ;  P.  ( ).  Cook's  Mills. 
Hoots,  D.  F.,  far.;  P.  ().  Humbolt. 
Harning,  P.  A.,  far.;  P.  U.  Mattoon. 
Hamilton,  J.  R.,  far.;  P.  ().  Cook's  Mills. 
Hoats,  John,  Jr.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Hilagass,  Geo.,  far.;  P.  ().  Mattoon. 
Hinkle,  Mary  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Hopper,  W.  R.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hopper,  J.  S.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hoats,  Sanford,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Haskins,  W.  L.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 


Hearn,  E.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Hagin,  Jaines.  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 


Johnson  Bros.,  fars 
Jones,  L.  A.,  far. ;  P. 
Jones,  J.  v.,  far.;  P. 
Jackson,  M.  B.,  far. ; 
Jenkins,  H.  D.,  far. ; 
Janes,  Wm.,  far. ;  P. 
Johnson,  Arthur,  far. ; 
Johnson,  J.,  far.;  P.  O 
Jackson,  Samuel,  far.; 


P 
O 
O. 
P. 
P. 

o. 


O.  Ilumbolt. 
Cook's  Mills. 
Cook's  Mills. 
O.  Fuller's  Point. 
().  Areola. 
Cook's  Mills. 
P.  0.  Cook's  Mills. 
Cook's  Mills. 
P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 


P. 
P. 


Cook's  Mills. 
Cook's  Mills. 


P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 


Jackson,  B.  H.,  far. 
Jackson,  Wm.,  far. 
Johns,  Daniel,  far. 
Kitchen,  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Kitchen,  Thos.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Kidwell,  Mary  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Kessel,  M.  J., "far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Kessel,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Lidster,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Lee,  James,  far. ;  P.  0.  Areola. 
Lewis,  J.  W..  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Little  John  J).,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Langston,  W.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Long,  Mike,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Longston,  M.  A. 
Mclntire.  S.  C 

Morrell,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
McKinstry,  Geo.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
McBride,  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
McKinstry,  Jonah,  far.,  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Miller,  Rebecca,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Morris,  J.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
McNear  &  Lnthan,  fars. ;  F.  O.  Huml)olt. 
Miller,  Rachael,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
McKie,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Mesterson,  J.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Markley,  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Miller,  A.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Morgan,  H.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Murphy,  Peter,  far. ;  P.  ( ).  Cook's  Mills. 
Miers,  Wm.  L.,  far. ;  P.  ().  Cook's  Mills. 
Miller,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  ().  Cook's  Mills. 
McGnin,  Isaac,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
McKinnen,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Miers,  Jacob,  far. ;  P.  O,  Cook's  Mills. 
McNear,  O.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Miers,  Henjamin,  far.;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Monroe,  A.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Martin,  H.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Markley,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Neff,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Nees,  Leander,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Nees,  Francis,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Osbern,  Permelia,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon, 
Perry,  Lewis. 
Potter,  O.  H. 

Phillips.  W.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point 
Prince,  Noali,  far. ;  P.  ( ).  Cook's  Mills. 
Phillips,  J.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 


I 


Perry,  Frank. 
Phillips,  Calvin,  far. 
Potter,  Oliver,  far. ; 
Phillips,  W.  C,  far.; 
Phillips,  J.  W.,  far.; 
Phillips,  M.  K.,  far.; 
Phillips,  M.,  far. ;  P. 
Peaco(!k,  John,  far.; 


;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
P,  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
O.  Fuller's  Point 
P.  O.  Arthur. 


LA  FAYETTE  TOWNSHIP. 


m9 


Price,  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Patterson,  E.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Powers,  J.  L.,  far.;  P.  O  Mattoon. 
Purdy,  W.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Prentice,  J.  O.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Parkhurst,  M.  M.,  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Pickering,  R.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Coles  Station. 
Rice,  J.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Rust,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Mattoon. 
Rice,  J.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Rice,  Amos,  tar. :  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Rightsell,  Win.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Rightsell,  Jas.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Puller's  Point. 
Smith,  J.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Smith,  James,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Stuterman,  W.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Smith,  W.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Smith,  Thomas  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Stull,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  0.  Cook's  Mills. 
Sutten,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Stevens,  Warren,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Smith,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Spidel,  John, far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Sutten,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Stull,  A.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Shields,  W.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Skinner,  James,  far. :  P.  O.  Areola. 
Stevens,  F.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Senteney,  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Sanders,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Skidraore,  J.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Smith,  Wm.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Stevens,  L.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Sutherland,  D.  W.  far. ;  P.  O.  Humbolt. 
Stull,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Senteney, Mark,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Sutton,  Clark,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Tipsoward,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 


Turner,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Thornberry,  R.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Taylor,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Taylor,  Jerome,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Trotter,  J.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Tremble,  Leuis,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Vaughn,  J.  W.,  minister,  Fuller's  Point. 
Vise,  H.  B.,  farmer. 

Wood,  Dumas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Williams,  John,  far.;  P.  O.Cook's  Mills. 
Willbaum,  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Wells,  Wm.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Miljis.. 
Walfe,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  xircola. 
Webbe,  Jacob,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Weekley,  C  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Whitley,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Cooks  Mills. 
Whitley,  Fields,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills, 
Wiser,  Uriah,  far. ;  P.  O.  Arthur. 
Wiser,  Daniel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Arthur. 
Wiser,  Prior,  far. ;  P.  O.  Arthur. 
Wright,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
W^hitley,  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Welsh,  Benj.,  far.:  P.  O.  Fuller's  Point. 
Whitley,  W.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Willie,  W.  H.,  far. :  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Webb,  Jesse,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Wilbert,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Wells,  R.  W.,  far.:  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Webb,  Robt.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Areola. 
Whicker.  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Wilson,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
White,  J.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Weathers,  R.  W.,  Constable,  Cook's  Mills. 
Wright,  F.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
Wiser,  Ferry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Cook's  Mills. 
W^iley,  Francis  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Fuller's- 
Point. 


LA  FAYETTE    TOWNSHIP. 


Aye,  R.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Ashmore,  L.  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Ashmore,  R.,  far.;  P.  0.  Mattoon. 
Ashbrook,  James  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Ashbrook,  E.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Burtle,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Bass,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Burrows.  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Bailey,  A.  W..  far.;  P.  U.  Loxa. 
Balch,  S.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Bailey,  D.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Boggs,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Ballinges,  Levi  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Boyd,  Joseph  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Burgnes,  A.  C.  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Briant,  James  T.  O.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Berry,  Geo.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Brady,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Bowlin,  H.  B..  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Borrows,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Baldwin,  W.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Burrow,  W.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Bush,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 


Ballinger,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Burgner,  C,  far.:  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Curgea,  Geo.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Chitton,  J.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Cory,  Luther,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Cissna,  James,  far. :  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Covery,  W.  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Chism,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Cooper,  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Cunningham,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Carter,  Theodore,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Coplen,  A.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Clark,  E.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Cleghorn,  Geo.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Casadye,  Peter,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Clark,  John  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Clark,  T.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Chrites,  C.  P., far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Chrites,  S.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Clark,  G.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Douglass,  Martha,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Douglass,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Doty,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 


€90 


TAX-PAYERS  OF  COLES  COUNTY- 


Day,  T.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Davis,  6.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Dikot,  Mary  P. 

Davies,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Dornblaser,  A.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattooii. 
DeNeffs,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Earnhart,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Eddes,  Terry  R.,  laborer,  Loxa. 
Eaton,  Daniel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Forbes,  A.  C  ,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Einch,  Mathew,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Eisher,  Elizabeth,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Erost,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Erazier,  Henry,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Eunkhouser,  W.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Eurry,  Daniel,  far. ;  P.O.  Mattoon. 
Griffith,  Charles,  far. ;  P.  0.  Mattoon. 
Gidern,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Gilliland,  Emeline. 
Hodges,  Susan,  far. ;  P.  ().  Mattoon. 
Hamilton,  Erank,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Hermon,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Hawkins,  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Hawkins,  Mary  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Hurst,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Hosier,  Albert,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Hayes,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Hodges,  I.  N.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Hamann,  F.  D. 

Hayes,  I.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Hayes,  V.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Hail,  Cornelius,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
House,  Chas.,  farmer. 
Hill,  Jonah,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Herman,  Albert,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Hancock, E.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Harman,  Sam'l,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Johnson,  Erank,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Jones,  W.  K.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Jones,  W.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Jones,  T.  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Jefferies,  ,T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Jones,  Susan,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Johnson,  E.  S.,  far.;  P.  O  Loxa. 
Johnson,  John,  far.  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Johnson,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Jones,  B.  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Kerchgrobes,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Kahn  Bros.,  merchants,  Mattoon. 
Kincaid,  W.  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Lister,  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Lawhorn,  D.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Lonss,  Marv  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Lee,  T.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Leitch,  AV.  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Leitch,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Lawson,  Henry,  far.;  P.  ().  Mattoon. 
Moore,  Mary  E.,  Mattoon. 
Montz,  John  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Monroe,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Millers  Bros.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Millar,  Michael,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Miller,  G.  V.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Miller,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Miller,  Adam,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Miller,  Jasper,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Montgomery,  R.  D.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Mattoon,  C. 


Molton,  Levi,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Maffet,  D.  H.,  far.  and  carp.,  Mattoon. 
Mason,  K.,  merchant,  Loxa. 
Mason  Bros.,  merchants,  Loxa. 
Martin,  D.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Mock,  Joseph  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Moore,  J.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Monroe,  Lewis,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Miller  &  Smith,  tile-factory,  Mattoon. 
Mason,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Myers,  Jacob,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Mason,  C  R.,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Marymee.  John  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Martin,  A.  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Martin,  Alex.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Martin,  Martha,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
McCrory,  Frank,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
McCrory,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
McPheron,  S.  B.,  far. ;  P.  0.  Mattoon. 
McAdams,  M.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Nickelson,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
jS"abb,  Hamilton,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
O'Brian,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Owings,  Benjamin,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Prichard,  Noah,  fai\ ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Phipps,  James,  far,;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Phipps,  T.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Phipps,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Phipps,  J.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Peterson,  A.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Quinn,  John,  laborer,  l^oxa. 
Ransdell,  James  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Ransdell,  Wm.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Robnitt,  Amos,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Remes,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Riley,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Raines,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Robinson,  R.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Rutan,  Henry  D.,  laborer,  Loxa. 
Richardson,  Ira,  far.;  P.  0.  Mattoon. 
Robison,  Zac.  plasterer,  Mattoon. 
Reed,  J.  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Smitt,  W.  A. 

Shays,  Martin,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Smitt,  P.  C. 
Spurgeon,  Mary,  Loxa. 
Spidell,  Benjamin,  carpenter,  Loxa. 
Smitt.  Wm.  T. 
Stamper,  Isaac. 

Sexton,  Michael,  laborer,  Loxa. 
Swing,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Shinn,  B.  B.,  far.;  P.  O. Mattoon. 
Shinn,  G.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Spriggs,  W.,  far.;  P.  0.  Mattoon. 
Sutes,  L.  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Smitt,  John. 
Stores,  W.  H. 
Scholes,  George. 

Sawyer.  Jed.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Scott,  Wilson,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Sligar,  Peter,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Smith,  Alison. 

Sawin,  Isaac  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Smith,  Joel. 

Shephard,  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  ]..oxa. 
Sawin,  J.  G.,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Spidel,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Shinn,  Aaron,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 


PARADISE  TOWNSHIP. 


691 


Shinn,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Stump,  M.  F.,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Smith,  Elislia,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Smith,  Henry,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Turney,  J.  B.,far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Threlkeld,  Thos.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Charleston. 
Talbott,  J.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Talbott,  J.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Turney,  Daniel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Turney,  B.  I).,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Tempell,  Wm.,  far.;  P.  ().  Mattoon. 
Threlkeld,  M.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Vanmeter,  Samuel,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Yan  Deren,  Theopolis,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Vanse,  W.  11.,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Vannatta,  I.  N.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Vanse,  E.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Vickrory,  AVm.  T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 


Wells,  Isaac,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Wyatt,  C.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Wood,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Weaver,  Jacob,farnier. 
Weaver,  Peter. 

Waltrip,  Joseph,  far  ;  P.  0.  Mattoon. 
Waltrip,  Alex.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Wood,  Wm.,  farmer. 
Wic(jff,  D.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
White,  David,  farmer. 
Williams,  L.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Warren,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Williams,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Williams,  T.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Williams,  U.  E.  Y.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Williams,  Miner,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Wible,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Loxa. 
Whiclur,  Thomas,  far.;  P.  O.  Loxa. 


PARADISE    TOWNSHIP. 


Alexandria,  H.  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  E^tna. 

Alexandria,  Margaret,  far.  ;P.  O.  Paradise. 

Apperson,  Sidney,  far.;  P.  0.  Mattoon. 

Appersou.  W.  W'.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Alston,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Anderson,  W.  H.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Etna. 

Able,  B.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 

Allison,  C.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 

Alston,  E.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

A kers,  Joshua,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Baker.  William  IL,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 

Benetiel,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 

Beneliel,  B.  N.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Butler,  J.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 

Bingamin,  J.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 

Butler,  J.  Z.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 

Bresee,  J.  M..  far. ;  P.  O.  P:tna, 

Benetiel,  Diantha,  far.;  P.  O.  Etna. 

Bradley,  Patrick,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Baker,  Alfred,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 

Bishop,  C.  W.,  physician,  Etna. 

Bartlet,  Robeit,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 

Capps,  H.  S.,  miller,  Mattoon. 

Champion,  William,  far. ;  P.  0.  Paradise. 

Crabtree,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 

Coleman,  J.  A.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Cami)bell,  C.  C,  far.;  Paradise. 

Campbell.  James  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 

Campbell,  Mary  A.,  far. ;   P.  O.  Paradise. 

Cross,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 

Coleman,  Eliza,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Campbell,  J.  H.,  school-teacher.  Paradise. 

Crook,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 

Cook,  Frederick,  far.;  P.  O. Paradise. 

Curry,  R.  N.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Coleman,  J.  B.,  far. ;  P.  ().  Paradise. 

Cavins,  Joseph,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 

Coleman,  Allen,  far.;  P.  ().  Etna. 

Caldwell,  G.  C.,far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
^v.  Cooper,  G.  A.,  school-teacher,  Etna. 
^.  Corn  well,  John,  far.:  P.O.  Etna. 

Cooper,  J.  W.,  Etna. 

Coleman,  Edwin,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 


Cash.  William,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Debell,  J.T.,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Ditamore,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Drish,  W.  IL  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Deckard,  J.  P.,  physician.  Paradise. 
Deckard,  J.  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Dornblaser,  P.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Dil worth,  P.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Deckard,  Jane,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Doran,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Ellis,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Enoss,  Solomon,  far.;  P.  ().  Etna. 
Eldridge,  Lee,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Eaton,  William  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna, 
Eldridge,  George,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Floyd,  Aaron,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Ferguson,  Thomas,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Fuller,  Starling,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Fuller,  William,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Floyd,  Moses,  far.;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Flovd,  Joseph,  far. :  P.  O.  Etna. 
Fox.  Jahue,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Farmer,  Henry,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Ferguson,  W.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Gore,  Joseph  F.,  far.;  P.  O. Mattoon. 
Giinnaway,  J.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Gannaway,  S.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Greenewalt,  W^  R.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Gannaway.  D.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Gannaway,  R.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Green,  A.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Gammill,  L.  Y.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Gannaway,  R.,  far. ;  P.  ().  Paradise. 
Gannaway,  J.  W.,  fai-.;  P.  O.  Pai-adise. 
Gore.M.  H.,  far.;  P.  ().  Etna. 
Gannaway,  S.  F..  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Gannaway,  W.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Hart,  James.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Hovious,  S.  D.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Hamblin,  B.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Haste,  F.  C,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Hart,  Albert  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Hayden,  Welthy,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 

3 


692 


TAX-PAYERS  OP  COLES  COUNTY. 


Hayden,  Henry,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Harden,  Moses,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Hines,  Jolin  C,  far.;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Harpin,  William,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Houehin,  Albert,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Hart,  A.  W.,  far.;  P.  O. Paradise. 
Hart,  John  S.,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Highland,  Eobert,  far. ;  P.  0.  Etna. 
Horsley,  B.  L..  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Hyatt,  Caroline  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Highland,  James,  far.;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Hendrix,  Miles  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Hendrix,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  I'aradise. 
Hendrix,  Samuel,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Horsley,  Simon,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Houston,  P.  M.,  far.;  P.  O-  Mattoon. 
Henlev,  T.  D.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Hendrix,  W.  C.  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Hendrix,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Hart,  A.  Y.,  Sr.,  Postmaster,  Paradise. 
Hart,  Isaac,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Hart,  Thomas, far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Hart,  A.  Y.,  Jr.,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Hart,  J.  D.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Jones,  Martin,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Jones,  W.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Jones,  A.  P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Jones,  J.  M.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Jeffries,  John  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Jeffries,  Thomas,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Jones,  E..  far. ;  P.  0.  Etna. 
Johnson,  D.  Mc.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Kenedy,  P.  G.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Kleur,Fr§d,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Lowinaster,  James  A.,  fai'. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Lockliart,  Levy,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Livers,  T.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Love,  James  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Love,  William,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Ledgwood.  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Lowmaster,  John,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Major,  S.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
McGlashon.  W.  G.,  physician,  Paradise. 
McMannis,  Taylor,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Mattox,  J.  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Miller,  S.  W.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon, 
Mattox,  A.  C..  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Montgomery,  (J.  O.,  far. ;  P.  (3.  Etna. 
Mayhew,  J.  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Morrison.  B.  F.,  school-teacher,  Paradise. 
McClelland,  R.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
McLain.  .J.  I).,  far.;  P.  ().  Mattoon. 
Michael.  W.  H.,  far.;  P.  ().  Mattoon. 
Michael,  Ileiiry,  far. :  P.  ().  Mattoon. 
Montgomery,  Franklin,  far.;    P.  O.  Etna. 
Montgomery,  Albeit,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Montgomery,  James  M.,  far.:  P.  O.  Etna. 
Montgomery,  J.  W.,  merchant,  Etna. 
Moss,  J.  A.,  far.;  P.  ().  Etna. 
Morrison.  J.  O.,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Miller,  Tliomas,  far.;  P.O.  Mattoon. 
Morrison,  G.  C,  fai. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Mathues,  J.  H..  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Mathues,  G.  W.,  far. ;  I*.  O.  Paradise. 
Mathues,  H.  B.,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 


Montgomery  &  Tate,  merchants,  Etna. 
Norris,  Edward,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Newport,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Nicholas,  J.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Odell,  Clarence,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Ohm,  William,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Overton,  Miles,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Overton,  Starling,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Overton,  Jesse,  Jr.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Overton,  Jesse,  Sr.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Peters,  Lewis,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Peters,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Payton,  William  J.,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Payton,  S.  A.,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Parker,  H.  C,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Phillip,  R.  S.,far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Rutger,  O.  O.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Raines,  Jacob,  Paradise  Tp.,  Ashmore. 
Richardson.  Emos,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Reed,  G.  H.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Reed,  William  H.,  far. ;  P.  O.  M!ittoon. 
Rhodes,  Margaret,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Roy,  James  M.,  far.;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Surber,  AVilliam  N.,  far. ;   P.  O.  Paradise. 
Surber,  Hiram,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Stalleup,  William,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Sanders,  P.  C,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
South,  Granville,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Spillman,  C.,far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Spillman,  O.P.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Shull,  J.  R.  F.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Smith,  Miron,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Snyder,  Susan,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Schoonover,  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Tremble,  James,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Thomas,  G.  L.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Tewel,  L.  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Taylor,  Smith,  far.:  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Thomas,  John  AV.,  far. ;  P.  O-  Mattoon. 
Tewel,  T.  R.,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Thomas,  William,  far. ;   P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Tate,  Abner,  far. ;  P.  0.  Mattoon. 
Thomas,  John,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Tremble,  David,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Tremble.  J.  PI,  far. ;  P.  O. JMattoon. 
Tate.  R.'  B.,  merchant,  Etna. 
Vandeventer  J.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Vanderen,  S.  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Woldridge,  J.  F.,  far.:  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Weiser,  S.  E.,  far.;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Walden.  William,  far. ;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Wilson,  G.  W.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Wilson,  Marv  S.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Wilson,  Marv  E.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Wilson,  G.  T.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Etna. 
Waller,  Robert,  far. :  P.  O.  Etna. 
Wheat,  B.  C,  far. :  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Williams,  J.  PL,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Wilson.  John  A.,  far. :  P.  O.  P^aradise. 
Waelddlo,  J.  B.,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Wood,  II.  M.,  far. ;  P.  ().  Paradise. 
Wiieat,  C.  G.,  far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 
Willison,  Newton,  far. ;  P.  O.  Mattoon. 
Yocom,  T.  C.,far.;  P.  O.  Paradise. 


BUSINESS   DIRECTORY. 


CHARLESTON. 

Ashmore  &  Mitchell  (successors 

to   B.    M.   Payne),   Boots  and   Shoes, 
south  of  the  Public  Square. 

Bain,  A.  N.,  &  Co.,  Manufacturers 
of  Stoves,  Hollow-ware,  Iron  House- 
fronts  and  all  kinds  of  Castings.  Es- 
tablished 1857. 

Bishop,  Prank  L„  Proprietor  of  the 
Bee  Hive  Store.  Headquarters  for 
Dry  Goods  and  Millinery.  Black  Cash- 
meres, Alpacas,  Mohairs  and  Silks  a 
Specialty.  Also  Agent  for  Wm.  Hall 
&  Co.'s  Jamestown  Mohairs.  We  buy 
for  cash,  sell  strictly  for  cash,  and  cash 
customers  will  find  it  to  their  advantage 
to  trade  with  us. 

BriggS,  C.  R.,  Portrait  and  Live-Stock 
Painter,  southwest  corner  Public  Square. 

Brown,  Jacob  I.,  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  General  Collector.  Office, 
Owen's  Block,  east  side  Public  Square. 
Collections  promptly  attended  to. 

Charleston   Plaindealer,  The, 

Published  every  Thursday  by  M.  A. 
McConnell  &  Co.,  at  82  per  year.  Of- 
fice in  "  Plaindealer "  Building,  on 
Lafayette  street. 

Charleston  Courier,  The,  Issued 

every  Thursday,  E.  B.  Buck,  Editor 
and  Proprietor.  Terms  —  $1.50  per 
year  in  advance.  If  not  paid  in  advance, 
50  cents  extra  will  be  charged.  Clubs 
of  ten  from  one  post  office,  $1  per  year, 
invariably   in  advance.      All   kinds  of 


Job  Printiug  executed  in  the  best  style 
of  the  art,  promptly  and  at  reasonable 
rates. 

Charleston  Hotel,  West  Side  of 

Public  Square,  Daniel  A.  Van  Sickle, 
Proprietor ;  Joseph  Venneman,  Clerk. 
First-class  in  all  its  appointments.  Free 
bus  to  and  from  the  depot. 

Chambers,  W.  M.,  M.  D.,  Physi- 
cian and  Surgeon. 

Connolly,  James  A.,  Attorney  at 

Law.  United  States  Attorney,  South- 
ern District  of  Illinois. 

Calvert,  D.  H.,  Proprietor  Crystal 
Palace  Drug  Store.  Dealer  in  Pure 
Drugs,  Medicines,  Paints,  Oils.  Dye- 
stuffs,  Toilet  Articles,  Perfumery,  and 
Manufacturer  of  Bitter  Sweet,  the 
greatest  tonic  of  the  age.  West  side 
Public  Square. 

Davis,  Jewell,  Dr.,  Physician  and 
Surgeon. 

Davis,  Warren,  Dealer  in  Choice 
Family  Groceries. 

Dunn  &  Connolly,  Attorneys  at 
Law. 

First  National  Bank,  T.  G.  Cham- 
bers, President ;  W.  E.  McCrory, 
Cashier ;  Curtis  L.  Davis,  Teller.  Does 
a  general  banking  business.  Exchange 
bought  and  sold.  East  side  Public 
Square.  • 

Ginther,  Wm.  E.,  Dealer  in  Hard- 
ware and  Agricultural  Implements.  Also 
General  Insurance  Agent.     Represents 


694 


BUSINESS  DIRECTORY. 


Home,  N.  Y.;  Continental,  N.  Y.; 
Phcenix,  Brooklyn;  Insurance  Co.  of 
North  America,  Philadelphia ;  Pennsyl- 
vania, Philadelphia;  Franklin,  Phila- 
delphia ;  Royal,  Liverpool ;  North  Brit- 
ish and  Mercantile,  Imperial  and 
Northern  and  others. 

Gramesly,  C,  Liquor  Dealer,  No. 
5  west  side  Public  Square. 

Harrah,  J.  P.,  Attorney  at  Law. 
Office  with  0.  B.  Ficklin,  south  side 
Public  Square. 

Huron,  Eli,  City  Book  Store.  Dealer 
in  Music  and  Musical  Instruments,  Toys, 
Notions  and  Fancy  Goods,  No  8  west 
side  of  Square. 

March,  T.  J.,  Sr.,  Dealer  in  Furni- 
ture. 

Miller,  J.  M.,  Dealer  in  Dry  Goods, 
Clothing,  Hats  and  Caps,  Boots  and 
Shoes,  Notions,  etc.,  northeast  corner  of 
Square. 

Minton,  Alvey  &  Van  Meter, 

Proprietors  of  the  City  Mills.  Dealers 
in  Flour,  Meal,  Bran,  Ship-stuflF,  Grain, 
etc.     Custom  grinding  a  specialty. 

Mitchell,  I.  B.,  Dealer  in  Groceries 
and  Provisions,  northeast  corner  Public 
Square.     Sells  strictly  for  cash. 

Monroe  &  Co.,  Manufacturers  and 
Dealers  in  Flour,  Feed  and  Meal,  whole- 
sale and  retail.     Terms,  cash. 

Neal,  J.  W.,  M.  D.,  Physician  and 
Surgeon.  Attends  all  calls  promptly. 
Office  over  Wright,  Hodgen  &  Co.'s 
store. 

Neal,  J.  F.,  Dealer  in  Groceries  and 
Provisions,  north  side  of  the  Public 
Square. 

Patton,  W.  ^.,  M.  D.,  Physician 
and  Surgeon,  east  side  Public   Square. 

Poxton  &  Mitchell,  Dealers  in 
Books,  Stationery,  Toys,  etc. 


Perkins,  A.,  Dealer  in  Family  Gro- 
ceries. 

Peterson  &  Adams,   Attorneys  at 

Law.     Office  in  Court  House. 
PreVO,  A,  H.,  Stock -raiser  and  Breeder 

of  Poland-China  Swine. 

Ray  &  Hampton,  Dry  Goods  and 
Notions,  Boots  and  Shoes,  Hats  and 
Caps,  No.  4  west  side. 

RickettS,  William,  Land  Agent  and 
Conveyancer,  southwest  corner  Public 
Square. 

Second   National   Bank,  I    H. 

Johnston,  President;  Charles  Clary, 
Cashier;  Felix  Johnston,  Book  Teller. 
Southeast  corner  Public  Square. 

Shepard  &  Alexander,  Breeders 

and  Shippers  of  Thoroughbred  Poland- 
China  Swine. 

Shriver,  A.  C,  &  Sons,  Wholesale 

and  Retail  Dealers  in  Stoves,  Tinware, 
Queensware,  Glassware,  Cutlery  and 
Plated  Goods,  south  side  Square. 

Silverthorn,  L.  L.,  M.  D.,  Physi- 
cian and  Surgeon. 

Steigman,  Wilson  &  Co.,  Pork- 
Packers  and  Dealers  in  Provisions. 

Stoddert,  T.,  &  Son,  Dealers  in 
Dry  Goods,  Notions,  Carpets,  etc.,  No. 
3  west  side. 

Stoddert,  R.,  &  Sons,  Dealers  in 
Hardware,  Lumber  and  Building  Ma- 
terial of  all  kinds,  southeast  corner 
Public  Square.  Agent  for  Schuttler 
Wagon  and  Brown  Corn-Planter. 

Traver  &  Nixon,  Dealers  in  and 
Manufacturers  of  Brooms,  Brushes, 
etc.,  also  dealers  in  broom-corn  and 
broom  machinery,  broom-corn  machinery 
and  broom  material.    Established  1864. 

Vail,  Isaac,  Livery,  Sale  and  Feed 
Stable. 

Van  Meter,  S.,  M.  D.,  Physician 
and  Surgeon. 


BUSINESS   DIRECTORY- 


695 


Weber  Brothers,  Bakery  and  Res- 
taurant. Dealers  in  Confectionery, 
Fruit,  Cigars,  Tobacco,  etc.  Oysters 
and  Ice  Cream  in  their  season.  North- 
west corner  Public  Square. 

Weiss  &  Frommel,  Proprietors 
Charleston  Woolen-Mills,  Manufacturers 
and  Wholesale  Dealers  in  Woolen 
Goods. 

Wiley  &  Neal,  Attorneys  at  Law. 
Office  east  side  Public  Square. 

Wright,  HodgeD  &  Co.,  Whole- 
sale and  Retail  Dealers  in  Groceries  and 
Provisions,  corner  of  Jackson  and  La 
Fayette  streets. 

MATTOON. 

Alshuler,  M.,  &  Co.,  Dealers  in  Dry 
Goods  and  Notions ;  the  only  one-price 
store  in  the  city.  Staple]  and  fancy 
goods,  with  all  the  novelties  of  the  sea- 
son, at  lowest  cash  prices. 

Aubert,  J.  L.,  County  Surveyor. 
Office,  head  of  First  street.  All  bus- 
iness neatly  executed  and  promptly  at- 
tended to. 

Ayer,  J.  I.,  Dealer  in  Books,  Station- 
ery and  Music.  Complete  stock  of 
Music  and  Picture-frames  always  on 
hand.  Broadway  avenue,  under  Dole 
House. 

Beall,  J.  J,,  Attorney  at  Law.  Office 
with  Craig  Brothers.  Collections  and 
remittances  promptly  made. 

Benefiel,  J.  B.,  Boss  Meat  Mar- 
ket, Western  avenue.  The  best  meat 
the  market  affi)rds  at  the  lowest  cash 
prices. 

Bcstwick,  C.  B.,  &  Co.,  Publishers 
and  Proprietors  Mattoon  Weekly  Ga- 
zette. All  kinds  of  Commercial  Print- 
ing promptly  executed  in  the  latest 
styles. 


Bridges,  V.  R.,  M.  D.,  oldest  prac- 
titioner in  the  township.  Office,  Broad- 
way avenue,  between  Second  and  Third 
streets;  residence,  corner  Third  and 
Richmond. 

Burgess,  William,  the  oldest  Boot 
and  Shoe  House  in  the  city.  Manu- 
factures to  order  and  deals  in  Custom- 
Made  Boots,  Shoes  and  Rubbers. 
Motto :  "  Good  goods,  quick  sales  and 
small  profits."     No.  4  East  Broadway. 

Campbell,  S.  A.,  Surgical  Dentist- 
Special  attention  given  to  filling  Teeth 
with  Gold.  Dental  Parlors  in  Gold- 
gart's  Block,  over  Isaac's  Clothing 
Store. 

CaSSell,  J.  D.,  Restaurant  and  Con- 
fectionery, Broadway  avenue,  three 
doors  west  of  First  street. 

Clark  &  Scott,  Attorneys  at  Law. 
Office  over  Matioon  National  Bank. 
Special  attention  given  to  practice  in 
State  and  Federal  Courts. 

Craig,  Jas.  W.  &  I.  B.,  Attorneys 
at  Law.  Office  in  F.  and  M.  Bank 
Building.  Practice  in  State  Courts, 
and  loan  money  on  farms  and  city  prop- 
erty. 

Dora,  J.  W.,  M.  D.,  Physician  and 
Surgeon.  Office  and  residence,  Bast 
Broadway,  between  Third  and  Fourth 
streets. 

Donnell,  John  K.,  Wholesale  Grocer, 
No.  10  East  Broadway.  Coal  Oil  a 
specialty. 

Drish,  J.  F,,  Dealer  in  Hardware, 
Stoves,  Tinware,  Agricultural  Imple- 
ments, Builders'  Supplies,  etc.,  Broad- 
way avenue,  east  First  National  Bank. 

Everharty,  M.,  City  Meat  Market, 
west  end  Broadway  avenue. 

Garthwait,  Frank,  Commission  and 
Auction  Merchant,  Broadway  avenue, 
opposite  Dole  House. 


696 


BUSINESS  DIRECTORY. 


Gibbs,  J.  M.,  Livery  and  Sale  Stables, 

Union  street,  south   of   Broadway    av. 
Gogin,  O.  W.,  Justice  of   the  Peace. 

Collections  promptly  made  and  remitted. 

Office,  north  side  Broadway  avenue. 
Gray,  R.  M.,  Prosecuting  Attorney  of 

Coles  County.     Office,  Broadway  ave. 

Hanna,  John  W.,  under  Dole  House, 
Dealer  in  Books,  Music  and  Stationery, 
School  and  College  Text-Books  and 
School  Supplies  of  every  kind. 

Hasbrouck,    Abram,    Mayor  of 

City,  and  Dealer  in  Hardware,  Agricult- 
ural Implements,  Stoves,  Tinware,  etc., 
Broadway  avenue,  two  doors  east  of 
First  street. 

Hughes,  JaS.  F.,  Attorney  at  Law. 
Office  over  First  National  Bank.  Gives 
prompt  attention  to  practice  in  the  vari- 
ous Courts  of  the  State  and  in  United 
States  Court. 

Hunt,  John,  Meat  Market,  corner  of 
Broadway  and  Second  street.  Best  of 
meat  always  on  hand,  cheap  for  cash. 

Jackson,  Ira  B.,  Insurance  Agent. 
Represents  the  following  reliable  Com- 
panies:  Home,  N.  Y.;  Franklin,  Phila- 
delphia; Underwriters,  N.  Y.;  Manhat- 
tan, Girard,  German-American,  Conti- 
nental, Travelers'  Accident,  Railway 
Passengers'^ Assurance,  etc.,  etc.  Office 
up-stairs,  Broadway  avenue,  first  door 
east  I.  C.  R.  R. 

James,  Ira,  Wholesale  Dealer  in  Coal 
Oil.  Country  merchants  supplied  on 
short  notice. 

Jonte,  Theodore,  Dealer  in  Har- 
ness, Saddles,  Whips,  etc.  Harness 
made  to  order.  All  goods  cheap  for 
cash.     Sign,  big  saddle,  Broadway  ave. 

Kahn  Bros.,  oldest  established  Cloth- 
ing House  in  the  city.  Merchant  Tail- 
oring Department  full  and  complete  at 
all  times.  East  Broadway,  five  doors 
south  Mattoon  National  Bank. 


Kemper,  P.  A.,  M.  D.,  Physician 
and  Surgeon.  Office  over  Kilner's 
Drug  Store,  Broadway  avenue.  All 
calls  promptly  attended,  day  and  night. 

Kilner,  George  T.,  Druggist,  oldest 

established  business  in  the  city.  Full 
line  of  Drugs  on  hand  at  all  times; 
Wines  and  Liquors  for  Medicinal  Pur- 
poses. 

Linn,  P.  B.,  Groceries  and  Provisions, 
corner  Broadway  avenue  and  Fifth 
street.  The  most  goods  for  the  least 
cash,  is  my  motto. 

Logan,  Tifl3.n  P.,  District  Western 
Emigrant  Agent  for  Kansas  Lands. 
Also  deals  in  Wood  and  Coal.  Office 
in  Mattoon  National  Bank  Building. 

McCormick  &  Ewing,  Dealers  in 
Staple  and  Fancy  Groceries  and  Provis- 
ions, Broadway  avenue,  between  Second 
and  Third  streets. 

McPadden,  R.  H.,  Police  Justice 
and  Pension  Attorney.  Office  over  F. 
and  M.  Bank,  Broadway  avenue.  Pen- 
sions procured ;  charges  moderate. 

Magee,  Harvey  W.,  Attorney  at 

Law.  Office  up-stairs,  first  door  east 
National  Bank.  Money  to  loan  on  im- 
proved farms  and  city  property. 

MeSSer,  Daniel,  Proprietor  Essex 
House.  First-class  accommodations. 
Charges  moderate. 

Moore,  John  W.,  Lumber-Yard,  and 
Dealer  in  Sash,  Doors  and  Blinds,  west 
end  Broadway  avenue. 

Morse,  L.  P.,  M.  D.,  Homeopathic 
Physician  and  Surgeon.  Office  corner 
First  street  and  Wabash  avenue.  All 
calls  promptly  attended  day   and  night. 

Mulford,  J.  A.,  Wholesale  Dealer  in 
Leather,  Hides,  Furs,  Shoe-Findings, 
etc.,  west  end  Broadway  avenue. 

Paugh,  W.  H.,  M.  D.,  Physician  and 
Surgeon.  Office,  First  street,  opposite 
Post  Office. 


BUSINESS   DIRECTORY. 


697 


Pile,  W.  H.  K.,  Real  Estate  and  In- 
surance Agent.  Farms  and  City  Prop- 
erty for  sale  or  rent.  Insurance  in 
reliable  Companies  at  low  rates. 

Rickett,  A.  J.,  M.  D.,  Physician  and 
Surgeon.  Office,  First  street,  opposite 
Post  Office. 

Roberts,  L.  G.,  Practical  and  Sur- 
gical Dentist.  Teeth  filled  and  extracted 
without  pain.  Full  or  partial  sets  made 
to  order  and  warranted  to  give  satisfac- 
tion. 

Scott,  Jas.  L.,  Dealer  in  Fancy  and 
Staple  Groceries  and  Provisions.  Large 
stock,  low  prices.     East  Broadway. 

Soules,  John  W.,  Meat  Market,  be- 
tween Second  and  Third  Streets,  south 
side  Broadway  avenue. 

Sumerlin,  Adolf,  Attorney  at  Law 
and  Editor  Mattoon  Weeldy  Gommer- 
cial.  Will  give  prompt  attention  to  all 
business  intrusted  to  his  care. 

Woods,  T.  E.,  &  Bro.,  Editors  and 
Proprietors  Daily  and  Weekly  Journal^ 
First  street,  south  of  Post  Office. 


ASHMORE. 

Ashmore,  H.  B.,  Breeder  and  Ship- 
per of  Thoroughbred  Poland-China 
Hogs. 

Austin,  Brown  &  Kimball,  Deal- 
ers in  Furniture,  Lumber,  Lime,  Hair, 
Cement,  Paints,  Oils,  Hardware,  Howe 
Sewing  Machines,  Farm  Implements. 
Also  Undertakers  and  Builders. 

ComstOCk,  W.  R.,  Dealer  in  Gro- 
ceries, Drugs,  Medicines,  Chemicals, 
Fine  Toilet  Soap,  Fancy  Hair  and  Tooth 
Brushes,  Perfumery  and  Fancy  Toilet 
Articles,  Trusses  and  Shoulder-braces, 
Grass  and  Garden  Seeds,  Pure  Wines 
and  Liquors  for  Medicinal  Purposes, 
Paints,  Oils,  Varnishes  and  Dye-stuffs, 
Letter-paper,    Pens,    Ink,     Envelopes, 


Glass,  Putty,  Carbon  Oil,  Lamps  and 
Chimneys.  Physicians'  prescriptions 
accurately  compounded. 

Lane,  Jeremiah,  Breeder  of  Fine 
Horses.  Proprietor  of  the  celebrated 
stallion,  "  Red  Buck."  This  horse  is  a 
beautiful  chestnut  brown,  fully  sixteen 
hands  high,  fourteen  years  old  ;  sired  by 
Sir  Dick  ;  he  by  old  Imported  Packelet, 
the  noted  race-horse  of  Kentucky.  To 
judges  of  good  stock  this  splendid  horse 
will  quickly  recommend  himself.  One- 
half  mile  east  of  Ashmore. 

RickettS,  Joshua,  Dealer  in  Grocer- 
ies and  Provisions,  Queensware,  Glass- 
ware, Notions,  Grain  and  Country  Pro- 
duce. 

Robertson,  A.  T.,  M.  D.,  Physician 
and  Surgeon.  Dealer  in  Drugs,  Medi- 
cines, etc. 

Steele,   A.  T.,  M.  D.,  Physician  and 

Surgeon. 

Waters,  P.  M.,  "The  Boss"  Dry 
Goods  and  Clothing,  Staple  and  Fancy 
Notions  Merchant.  Where  cash  does 
wonders.  Boots  and  shoes  a  specialty. 
Produce  taken  in  exchange  for  goods. 

Zimmerman  &  Monroe,  Dealers 

in  Dry  Goods  and  Notions,  Boots  and 
Shoes,  Hats   and  Caps,  Stationery,  etc. 

OAKLAND. 

Annin,  Martin  W.,  Carpenter,  Con- 
tractor and  Builder.  Shop  at  Lawson's 
lumber-yard. 

Busbey,  Wm.  D.,  Manufacturer  of 
and  Dealer  in  Harness,  Saddles,  Collars, 
Bridles,  Whips,  Halters,  Curry-combs, 
etc.  Repairing  done  neatly  and  cheaply. 
All  work  warranted.  Uncle  Sam's 
Harness  Oil. 

Clipper  Mills,  S.  Zarley,  Proprietor. 
All  kinds  of  Flour,  Feed  and  Meal  for 
sale  or  exchange  for  grain.     Also  pro- 


€98 


BUSINESS    DIRECTORY. 


prietor  and  patentee  of  the  Oakland 
Corn-Planter,  patented  October,  1878. 
The  only  j^lanter  manufactured  that 
cultivates  the  ground  and  drops  the 
corn  at  the  same  time.  Seed-valve 
operated  either  by  hand  or  foot.  The 
attention  of  manufacturers  solicited  to 
the  merits  of  the  planter.  State  rights 
for  sale.  For  circulars  giving  full  par- 
ticulars, address  J.  H.  Zarley,  Oakland, 
Coles  Co.,  111. 

Cofl3.n,  T.  S.,  Dealer  in  Dry  Goods, 
Notions,  Hats,  Caps,  Boots,  Shoes,  Etc., 
southeast  corner  Public  Square. 

Conaghan,  Ed.,  Dealer  in  Groceries, 
Clothing,  Boots  and  Shoes,  Hats  and 
Caps,  Notions,  and  Gents'  Furnishing 
Goods,  east  side  Public  Square.  High- 
est price  paid  for  country  produce. 

Cash,  L.  S.  &  S.  M.,  Dealers  in  Dry 
Goods,  Notions,  Boots  and  Shoes,  Hats 
and  Caps,  Clothing,  etc.,  south  side 
Public  Square. 

Clarke,  R.  B.,  Dealer  in  Hardware 
and  Groceries,  Notions  and  Country 
Produce,  east  side  Public  Square. 

JDunseth,  A.  A.,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Police  Magistrate,  and  Special  Collecting 
Agent,  will  attend  promptly  to  all  busi- 
ness intrusted  to  his  care.  Office  with 
J.     H.     Winkler,    in     National    Bank 


building. 


Duncan,  T.  H., 

Merchandise. 


Dealer    in    General 


Edson,  J.  T.,  Agent  in  Illinois  for  W. 
B.  Dickson  &  Co.,  Wholesale  Dealers 
in  Black  Walnut,  Cherry,  Ash  and  all 
kinds  of  Hard  Lumber,  Indianapolis, 
Ind. 

Excelsior  Mill,  W.  0.  Smith,  Pro- 
prietor. Cash  paid  for  all  kinds  of 
grain.  Wheat  and  Corn  taken  in  ex- 
change for  Flour,  Feed  and  Meal,  or 
received    on    denosifc,     North     Walnut 

A.  ' 

street. 


Hunt,  William,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 

Sec.  8,  East  Oakland  Township,  Coles 
Co.,  111. 

Henderson,  Wm.,  Horse-shoer  and 
General  Blacksmith.  Fine  buggy  iron- 
ing a  specialty. 

Kees,  Lewis,  Dealer  in  Dry  Goods, 
Clothing,  Boots  and  Shoes,  Hats  and 
Caps,  Notions,  Gents'  Furnishing 
Goods,  Glass  and  Queensware,  southwest 
corner  Public  Square. 

Larimer,  R.  P.,  Dealer  in  Groceries 
and  Provisions,  Queensware,  Glassware, 
Notions,  etc. 

Lawson,  John  R.,  Dealer  in  Lum- 
ber, Lath,  Shingles,  Lime,  Coal,  Cement, 
and  all  kinds  of  Building  Material,  and 
Dealer  in  Grain. 

Moore,  C,  &  Son,  Dealers  in  Drugs, 
Medicines,  Paints  and  Oils,  Fine  Toilet 
Soaps,  Brushes  and  Perfumery,  Pure 
Wines  and  Liquors  for  Medicinal  use. 
Dye-woods  and  Dye-stuiFs  generally. 
Farmers  and  Physicians  from  the  country 
will  find  our  stock  of  medicines  com- 
plete; warranted  genuine  and  of  the 
best  quality. 

Oakland  Herald,  Dr.  s.  A.  Reel  & 

Co.,  Proprietors;  J.  P.  Campbell,  Editor. 
All  kinds  of  Job  Work  and  Advertising 
done  with  neatness  and  dispatch. 

Oakland  National  Bank.  Capi- 
tal Stock,  $53,000;  Surplus  Fund, 
S28,575.  L.  S.  Cash,  President,  John 
Rutherford,  Cashier.  Directors,  H. 
Rutherford,  W.  B.  Zimmerman,  J.  B. 
Zimmerman,  James  Routledge,  L.  D. 
Carter,  L.  S.  Cash,  John  Rutherford. 

Peak,  W.  J.,  M.  D.,  Physician,  Sur- 
geon and  Accoucheur.  Office,  City 
Drug  Store. 

Reel,  S.  A.,  M.  D.,  Physician  and 
Surgeon.     Office  at  residence. 


BUSINESS   DIRECTORY. 


699 


Shepherd,  J.  P.,  Dealer  in  Watches, 
Clocks,  Jewelry  and  Spectacles.  Fine 
Watcli  llepairing  a  specialty.  South 
side  Public  Square. 

Smith,  N.  P.,  Dealer  in  Books,  Sta- 
tionery, Wall  Paper,  Musical  Instru- 
ments, Sewing  Machines,  Window 
Shades  and  Fixtures,  Notions,  Toys, 
Tobaccos,  etc.,  east  side  Square. 

Thornton,  L.  C,  Dealer  in  Agricul- 
tural Implements.  Agent  for  C.  G. 
Cooper  &  Co.'s  Celebrated  Traction, 
Self-propelling  Farm-Engines,  Nichols, 
Shepherd  &  Co.  Vibrators,  and  Hoover's 
Excelsior  Reapers  and  Mowers,  Post 
Ofl&ce  Building. 

Williams  &  Caster,  Dealers  in  Dry 
Goods,  Clothing,  Boots,  Shoes,  Hats, 
Caps,  Notions,  etc.  West  side  Public 
Square. 

Winkler,  Joe  H.,  Attorney  at  Law. 
Collecting  a  specialty.  Office  in  Na- 
tional Bank  Building. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

Bowman,  D.  A.,  Blacksmithing  and 
General  Jobber.  Horse-shoeing  and 
Plow-work  a  specialty.  All  jobs  war- 
ranted and  woi'k  promptly  attended  to, 
Humbolt,  111. 

Terry,  Geo.  H.,  Groceries  and  Queens- 
ware  of  all  kinds.  Highest  Market 
Prices  paid  for  all  kinds  of  Produce, 
Humbolt,  111. 

Endsley,  T.  L.,  &  Co.,  Dealers  in 
Groceries  and  General  Merchandise, 
Salisbury,  111. 

Garner,  J.  S.,  M.  D.,  Physician  and 
Surgeon,  Salisbury,  111. 

Rardin,  Samuel,  Merchant  and 
Postmaster,  Rardin,  Coles  Co.,  111. 

Montgomery,  J.  T.,  Physician  and 
Surgeon,  Sec.  6,  Morgan  Tp.  P.  0. 
Charleston,  Coles  Co.,  111. 

AxSOn,  P.  R.,  &  Co.,  Abstracters, 
Ileal  Estate  and  Loan  Agents,  Ross 
Block,  Paris,  111.  Loans  from  $500  to 
$20,000.     Lock  Box  837. 


POPULATION   OF   COLES   COUNTY   BY   TOWNSHIPS. 


TOWNSHIPS. 


Ashmore 

Charleston 

Charleston... 
Ea.st  Oakland... 
Seven  Hickory 

Humbolt 

Hutton 

La  Fayette 

Mattoon 

Morgan 

North  Okaw..., 

Paradise 

Vasant  Grove 


Total. 


2088 
4472 
2849 
1500 
1402 
2023 
2196 
1265 
4967 
818 
1711 
1220 
1573 


1870 


Native. 


2059 
4278 
2702 
1477 
1339 
1896 
2176 
12:^9 
4517 
801 
1645 
1208 
1557 


Foreign. 


29 

194 

147 

23 

63 

127 

20 

36 

450 

17 

66 

12 

16 


White. 


2088 
4457 
2834 
1478 
1402 
2023 
2196 
1257 
4793 
818 
1711 
1219 
1573 


Colored. 


15 
15 
22 


174 
*  1 


1860. 


White. 


1277 
2214 


1217 
763 
692 

1727 
734 

1946 
624 


793 
1285 


Colored. 


1 
19 


t\   Ai 


